Page 38 - 21st Century Defense 100th Anniversary WW1

Ships with the Ronald Reagan Carrier
Strike Group and John C. Stennis
Carrier Strike Group transit the
Philippine Sea during dual carrier
operations. The US Navy has patrolled
the Indo-Pacific region routinely
for more than 70 years promoting
regional security, stability and
prosperity. US Navy photo by Mass
Communication Specialist
2nd Class Kaila V. Peters.
David Pyper, left, a Pre-Installation
Test and Check Out (PITCO) Functional
Area Manager and Charlie Nguyen,
Network Integration and Engineering
Facility (NIEF) Lab Manager walk the
floor of the (NIEF) among dozens of
Consolidated Afloat Ships Network
Enterprise Services (CANES) racks
bound for the fleet. US Navy photo by
Rick Naystatt.

Today’s navy relies heavily on cyberwarfare specialists such as their individual areas of operation when problems occur.
computer scientists and engineers to defend it against attacks That can lead to delays that adversely affect shipboard
and deliver the tactical advantages it needs to stay one step networks or Tactical Data Links and degrade C4I mission
ahead of the enemy, which is where it is accustomed to being. readiness and operational availability. Advanced training
These specialists also develop the tools and techniques needed can alleviate such problems, which is one of the navy’s goals
in the increasingly vital information environment that help the as the 21st century progresses.
navy gain an understanding of how its adversaries operate. One complex aspect of the navy’s operations is its multi-level
Doing so guarantees mission success, which has been a navy operations. It has ships afloat as part of the Forward Deployed
hallmark for 243 years.
Naval Force (FDNF), a ground- and sea-based air wing, special
Navy leaders recognize that the most advanced technology units such as the SEALs and Seabees, and a land-based force
packages and systems are as worthless as a warship without a to integrate. That structure sometimes places barriers in the
keel if the sailors who operate them are not properly trained. systems integration process. The navy addresses them
They have set a goal of advanced training for naval personnel, through the networks like Consolidated Afloat Networks
especially in the area of systems integration. and Enterprise Systems (CANES). Basically, if the ships can’t
come to the bases, the bases will come to them to upgrade
An essential complement to CWE is the navy’s Program their technological capabilities.
Executive Office Command, Control, Communications,
Computers and Intelligence (PEO C4I) component, a crucial CANES is managed by the US Navy’s Tactical Networks
part of its Information Warfare (IW) approach. Administrators Program Office (PMW 160), which makes “house calls”
are placing a new emphasis on PEO C41 training to strengthen around the globe to provide critical network, computer, and
a gap in its capabilities integration. cybersecurity capabilities to ships and submarines. In the US
CANES personnel work closely with their partners at Space
The navy has increased its reliance on state-of-the-art and Naval Warfare Systems Center (SPAWAR), Fleet Readiness
technology in recent years, yet integrating the complex Directorate (FRD), and SPAWAR Systems Command (SSC),
systems it has implemented sometimes lags. Administrators which highlights the navy’s need for integration across its
are acting to coordinate the implementation and integration global land, air, and sea operations.
phases. One way is through non-traditional methods of
learning such as simulators and digital learning modules across After CANES is installed on a ship or submarine, the sailors
platforms, systems and networks. Another is more advanced aboard have access to enhanced cybersecurity and upgraded
training to enhance systems integration navy-wide. capabilities that include improved network performance and
enhanced system management tools and storage. That is
Frequently contemporary sailors learn about the specific another way the US Navy stays one step ahead of its adversaries.
systems and programs they manage at the individual level.
But they do not always understand how those systems and The technology of today and the technology of the future are
programs fit within the overall IW sphere of capability. designed to allow the Navy to maintain its global leadership.
Consequently, they cannot troubleshoot effectively across One example of its ability to look ahead and to address all its
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