RAND Research Topic: Military Information Technology Systems

CANES Contracting Strategies for Full Deployment

May 24, 2012

Examines contracting alternatives for the full deployment phase of the U.S. Navy's Consolidated Afloat Networks and Enterprise Services (CANES) system, which is intended to give the Navy a common set of key command, control, communications, computers, and intelligence networks across the fleet. Recommends a multiple-contract model that assigns the technical, production, and installation functions to the organizations that can provide the best value.

Improving Joint Expeditionary Medical Planning Tools Based on a Patient Flow Approach

Apr 24, 2012

The authors propose a planning concept for U.S. military expeditionary medical care that, by promoting patient flow rate as the common unit of measurement, will help integrate medical planning across treatment and evacuation functions, across the increasing levels of care, and across the different military services.

Army Networks Enable Shared Situational Awareness and Unity of Action

Mar 14, 2012

The ability of U.S. forces to gather, process, and disseminate battlespace information in a networked fashion has given them an advantage in major combat operations. The Army should extend the network to lower echelons; expand it to include host nation, coalition, and other U.S. government partners; and invest more time in developing informal networks.

Army Warfighters' Forums Can Be Innovative and Successful

Dec 5, 2011

Explores leaders' and soldiers' usage of and satisfaction with products and services offered by the Stryker Brigade Combat Team Warfighters' Forum.

Information Systems Technician Rating Stakeholders: Implications for Effective Performance

Nov 18, 2011

The relationships among stakeholders involved in manpower, personnel, and training processes for managing the U.S. Navy information systems technician rating are discussed. The authors examine the effects of these different stakeholders on efficiency and effectiveness measures for the information technician community in general and the Consolidated Afloat Networks and Enterprise Services program specifically.

Improving Soldier and Unit Effectiveness with the Stryker Brigade Combat Team Warfighters' Forum

Oct 12, 2011

Do leaders and soldiers use the Stryker Brigade Combat Team Warfighters' Forum (SWfF)? Does it meet their needs with its products and services, which include a tactical training tool and a handbook derived from combat returnees' experiences? This study asks how SWfF products are associated with knowledge acquisition and tactical proficiency, and it explores ways in which SWfF, and similar forums, could better support tactical units in the future.

Finding Services for an Open Architecture: A Review of Existing Applications and Programs in PEO C4I

Jul 19, 2011

This report investigates the potential software services within the Program Executive Office, Command, Control, Communications, Computers, and Intelligence that could be used as part of a service-oriented architecture.

The Universal Core Information Exchange Framework: Assessing Its Implications for Acquisition Programs

Jun 1, 2011

Universal Core (UCore) 2.0 is a Department of Defense (DoD) and intelligence community information exchange framework that can improve interoperability between DoD information systems. This report reviews UCore pilot programs, implementation issues, and bandwidth demands and identifies issues that should be addressed before UCore implementation is mandated for DoD programs.

Preserving Range and Airspace Access for the Air Force Mission: Striving for a Strategic Vantage Point

May 17, 2011

Air Force range managers are responsible for scheduling the ranges and infrastructures units need for critical, realistic testing and training, sometimes on short notice. They must also supply associated requirements, which requires information and understanding. To aid this, the authors offer an example method that marries the Center Scheduling Enterprise with an update of an existing RAND tool (provided on CD).

What Should Be Classified? A Framework with Application to the Global Force Management Data Initiative

Jan 31, 2011

The Global Force Management Data Initiative was launched to improve aggregation of unclassified force-structure data. Aggregation, though, raised concerns about classification because the system might be attractive to a potential adversary. The authors develop a framework for evaluating classification decisions to determine that, while overall classification is not indicated, the inclusion of some data will require careful consideration.

Should Global Force Management Information Be Classified?

Jan 31, 2011

This research brief describes a method for determining whether information should be classified and applies the method to the Global Force Management Data Initiative.

Chinese Use of Cyberwar as an Anti-Access Strategy: Two Scenarios

Jan 27, 2011

Testimony presented before the U.S. China Economic and Security Review Commission on January 27, 2011.

Navy Network Dependability: Models, Metrics, and Tools

Aug 6, 2010

The Navy is increasingly dependent on networks and associated net-centric operations to conduct military missions, so a vital goal is to establish and maintain dependable networks for ship and multiship networks. The authors develop a framework for measuring the dependability of naval networks and describe a software tool for modeling the impact that individual network components have on overall mission operational availability.

Are Law and Policy Clear and Consistent? Roles and Responsibilities of the Defense Acquisition Executive and the Chief Information Officer

Aug 6, 2010

The roles and responsibilities of defense acquisition officers and chief information officers are governed both by U.S. laws and by Department of Defense (DoD) policy. The authors identify policy governing the design, acquisition, and integration of information technology (IT) and national security systems (NSS) that could lead to potential conflicts among these executives when they exercise their duties in the defense acquisition system, and suggest changes to DoD policy that can resolve these conflicts.

Applications for Navy Unmanned Aircraft Systems

Jun 8, 2010

In this book, RAND provides an evaluation of the Navy's ongoing and proposed unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) programs and describes the most promising applications of those UASs to the Navy's operational tasks. The book identifies robust communications as a key enabler for UASs in many operational tasks and recommends steps the Navy can take to ensure these communications are available.

Implications of Aggregated DoD Information Systems for Information Assurance Certification and Accreditation

Mar 3, 2010

The challenge of securing U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) information systems has grown significantly. A new approach to information assurance certification and accreditation (IA C&A) is needed to effectively extend the IA C&A process to aggregations of systems and improve their security. An examination of current policy shows that a number of changes could enable the IA C&A of aggregations of DoD information systems on a common platform.

Air Force Cyber Command (Provisional) Decision Support

Feb 24, 2010

The Air Force has established an organization to address cyberspace because of its potential effects on core missions and capabilities. RAND has been helping clarify certain details. Among the observations made here are the need for concrete missions and tasks and appropriate strategies, as well as capable personnel to carry them out. But to “fly and fight in cyberspace,” the Air Force will also need to address creating effects in cyberspace.

Human Capital Management for the USAF Cyber Force

Feb 22, 2010

The Air Force is creating a formal organization dedicated to cyberspace capabilities. This organization would provide combat-ready forces trained and equipped to conduct sustained offensive and defensive global operations in and through cyberspace that are fully integrated with air and space operations. This documented briefing identifies and analyzes the human capital management issues associated with the creation of a cyber force.

Opportunities Created by GPS for U.S. Defense, Commercial, and Foreign Policy Interests

Dec 7, 2007

Since the Global Positioning System (GPS) was originally deployed to aid U.S. armed forces in navigation and position location, it has evolved into a resource supporting civil, scientific, and commercial functions—from air traffic control to the Internet—with precision location and timing information.

Designing Systems to Guard Against Terrorist Attacks

Feb 7, 2007

When designing systems to protect people and places against terrorist attacks, government officials should take into account that terrorists actively seek and find ways around defensive measures deployed against them.