In case you missed it

Video recordings from the 2022 C4ISRNET Conference are available below. You can also click here to explore coverage and analysis by C4ISRNET’s editorial team.

The DoD's Data Fabric

Greater levels of complexity in defense and weapons systems have ignited new calls for a common DoD “data fabric”, an information superhighway that would allow for more robust sharing of engineering specs and metadata among battlefield systems that have historically been incompatible. In this panel, we’ll examine service-led efforts to establish a common data fabric, the key considerations in setting such parameters and how they help advance JADC2 functionality.

  • John Turner, Senior Advisor to the Chief Data Officer, U.S. Department of Defense
  • Chris Dougherty, Senior Fellow, Defense Program, CNAS

New capabilities in contested domains

To achieve the Pentagon’s ambitious JADC2 information environment, the Army is modernizing its tactical network by investing in new capability sets that make use of “commercial solutions informed by soldier-led experimentation.” These capability sets, released at a two-year cadence, could potentially reshape the nature of battlefield collaboration and information mobility. With a focus on unified network, the common operating environment, joint/coalition interoperability and command post mobility, the arrangement is expected to rapidly accelerate development and approval of requirements as well as encourage open architecture standards that capitalize on the latest industry innovations. With Capability Sets 23 and 25 on the horizon, we’ll take a closer look at progress on these measures and the impact the service’s experimental approach is having on the battlefield.

  • Maj. Gen. Robert Collins, Program Executive Officer, (PEO C3T), U.S. Army
  • Brig. Gen. Jeth Rey, Director, Network Cross-Functional Team, U.S. Army
  • Brad Neuville, Mission Systems Director, JADC2 Experimentation and Demonstration, Collins Aerospace

SPONSORED BY:

Raising orbital awareness

Whether tracking satellites in medium-earth orbit or monitoring for signs of incoming missiles closer to the surface, expanding visibility of the space domain is a top objective for the Defense Department. In this panel, we’ll look at how the military is improving its ability to observe what’s happening in orbit — from signals captured by terrestrial sensors to satellites stationed at the edge of Earth’s atmosphere, along with the data fusion and transport required to make sense of it all.

  • Stephen Forbes, Project Blackjack Program Manager, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
  • Lt Col Matthew Lintker, Space Delta 2, U.S. Space Force

Instruments of electronic warfare

As networked communications become a priority, the military sees understanding, combatting and even carrying out electronic warfare as necessary to establish information dominance on the battlefield. Controlling the flow of information is a major tactical advantage, and securing communications while disrupting those of adversaries can be the difference between winning and losing. In this panel, experts discuss the tactics and tools available to gain an edge in electronic warfare.

  • Brig. Gen. Tad Clark, Director of Electromagnetic Spectrum Superiority, U.S. Air Force
  • Dave Tremper, Director, Electromagnetic Warfare, OUSD (A&S)A/Platforms & Weapons Portfolio Management, Office of the Secretary of Defense

Winning the tech race

The U.S. military has long enjoyed a technological edge over its adversaries. But that edge is being eroded due to the continuing democratization of information and manufacturing technologies. Near-peer adversaries like Russia and China are taking advantage of new avenues to develop and manufacture technology to close the gap. How is the U.S. responding through organizations such as DARPA, DIU and the AFRL, which have helped maintain that technological edge through research, development and iteration? This panel will discuss what the U.S. needs to do to continue to maintain a tactical advantage through technology.

  • Stefanie Tompkins, Director, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
  • Mike Brown, Director, Defense Innovation Unit

Keynote

  • Lt. Gen. Michael Guetlein,, Commander, Space Systems Command, U.S. Space Force

The algorithm for effective AI leadership

Artificial intelligence is a critical component of next-generation data management, training, modeling and simulations. Finding the right leaders to implement AI successfully is critical to the Department of Defense’s long-term plans. To that end, the DoD has created the position of Chief Digital and AI Officer. This panel discussion will examine what the DoD must do to successfully implement AI across all branches of the military.

  • Kaitlin Bulavinetz, Office of the Chief Software Officer, U.S. Air Force
  • Brett Vaughan, Chief AI Officer, U.S. Navy
  • Nikhil Krishnan, Group Vice President, Product, C3 AI

SPONSORED BY:

Closing Keynote

  • Lt. Gen. Michael Groen, Commander, Joint Artificial Intelligence Center, U.S. Department of Defense