Acquiring the Data Needed to Support Defense Transformation

Abstract

There are several systems that are evolving to support the operational data needs of the warfighter. These include the Combined Information Data Network (CIDNE), Tactical Ground Reporting (TIGR), and the Civil Affairs Operating System (CAOS). However, there are several problems in dealing with these systems with respect to the analyst s needs. For example, the data that are collected by these systems are too atomistic, there are inadequate mechanisms for rolling up the data to deal with strategic questions, and the data are not used to project effectively into the future. The objective of this paper is to explore the data needs for analysts to support senior decision makers in the context of Irregular Warfare (IW) and Stability, Security, Transition, and Reconstruction (SSTR) operations. To focus the effort, consideration is given to the issues posed by senior decision makers for Afghanistan-Pakistan. The result of the study is to formulate recommendations to provide the data needed by analysts to support senior decision makers. To achieve that objective, the paper has adopted the following approach. First, it began with the twenty one questions posed by Major General Flynn, CJ2, International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). Second, it restructured the questions to identify sub-themes associated with these questions. This restructuring gave rise to the following sub-themes: narrative shaping and strategic communication; economics and corruption; security; situational awareness; Taliban-related; and rule of law, norm building, and governance. Each of the questions was analyzed to identify the data that are needed to address these questions. Subsequently, the paper identifies actions to implement these data actions. It critically assesses the recent proposal by MG Flynn to revise the intelligence process and it addresses several forthcoming data activities. In summary, this paper identifies a set of data actions that are need to support the analyst in addressin

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 01, 2010
Accession Number
ADA582299

Entities

People

  • Michael J. Baranick
  • Stuart H. Starr

Organizations

  • National Defense University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Asymmetric Warfare
  • Civil Affairs
  • Department Of Defense
  • Economics
  • Education
  • Information Operations
  • Intelligence Cycle
  • International Security
  • Military Operations
  • National Security
  • Security
  • Situational Awareness
  • Social Sciences
  • Strategic Communications
  • Training
  • War Colleges
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Geospatial Intelligence and Artificial Intelligence Analytics
  • Military and Counterinsurgency Studies.