Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Dahlgren, a Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) field activity, will host the Coalition Warrior Interoperability Demonstration (CWID) 2009 June 15-25.
The annual event engages information sharing and communication technology solutions to enhance military and agency operational effectiveness. NSWC Dahlgren is hosting CWID's U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Army headquarters in addition to colocated forces from coalition forces, U.S. Coast Guard, National Guard Bureau and the U.S. Navy Strike Cell.
U.S. and coalition warfighters will evaluate 30 interoperability trials (ITs) and eight demonstrations at NSWC Dahlgren throughout the joint chiefs of staff-directed event.
"CWID 09 at Dahlgren is the largest and most complex event we have ever undertaken in our 10 years as a primary site," said CWID Dahlgren-site manager Dennis Warne.
"The large number of interoperability trials and demonstrations this year are very complex, and many are attempting to integrate multiple capabilities in the short time frame of CWID execution."
CWID engages cutting-edge information technology focused on criteria based upon capability gaps and requirements defined by combatant commanders and homeland security forces. It is the only DoD-hosted forum that brings new and emerging information technologies into a global network environment with interagency and multinational partners.
Technologies are approved for participation because they address new information sharing capability that might improve an existing capability. These requirements are in support of objectives articulated and posted annually on the Federal Business Opportunities web site.
While U.S. CWID is not an acquisition venue, the assessment results do support the acquisition process and system life-cycle milestone decisions to efficiently invest budgetary resources and save services', agencies', and stakeholders' resources. A final report inclusive of the demonstration results is submitted to CWID stakeholders, DoD, government agencies and first responders.
The demonstration evaluates technologies and capabilities for exchanging information among coalition partners, military services, government agencies, first responders and U.S. combatant commanders, especially the 2009 host, U.S. Joint Forces Command (USJFCOM). Information sharing technologies leverage decision-making and operational flexibility on the battlefield and during crisis response on the home front.
Technologies may receive one or more of three assessment types during execution. Assessment types are: warfighter/operator utility and technical performance; interoperability/technical ability to exchange usable data; and information assurance, the capability to identify threats and enforce policies. Some developers choose to demonstrate limited versions of their capabilities, just for the environmental exposure CWID provides. These technologies are not formally assessed.
Assessments will be compiled in a final report published later this year. USJFCOM, in its role as the leader for joint capability development, coordinates assessment results to determine which CWID trials meet defined requirements and have the potential to fill identified capability gaps.
USJFCOM is also the host for CWID 2009 and 2010. CWID 2009 is also taking place at partner sites around the world and U.S. locations: Joint Systems Integration Command at USJFCOM, U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps at NSWC Dahlgren, Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Pacific, Homeland Security and Homeland Defense, U.S. Air Force Electronic Systems Center at Hanscom Air Force Base, Homeland Security and Homeland Defense and Maritime Component Command Center at North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command, Peterson Air Force Base.
Government employees, contractors and military members with a secret clearance can register to visit a CWID demonstration site on the CWID web page at www.cwid.js.mil.
Prospective visitors can select the day and time of their CWID tours when they register on the website. Tour dates this year are June 17-19 and June 22-25. Daily tour times are 8:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and noon.
(NNS)
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