The new facility houses a state-of-the-art command center to direct maritime operations and collaborate with Joint, interagency and multinational partners. Both commands will share this space, but will have separate areas for their specific mission requirements. Should the need arise, a movable wall that separates USFF's spaces from JFCOM's can be raised to create one large, joint working environment.
For USFF, the new space will be home to the Maritime Operations Center. The MOC provides critical support in the execution of the nation's Maritime Strategy, giving commanders the processes, enabled by interoperable, networked systems, to enhance maritime capabilities.
"Here, our MOC team can perform the full set of mission essential tasks necessary to command and control all of our forces across a full spectrum of operations – from day to day issues all the way up to full crisis response," said Rear Adm. Gerald Beaman, deputy chief of staff for Global Force Management and Joint Operations.
Eight MOCs across the globe together form a network for the integration of maritime forces in any theater and across traditional combatant commander boundaries. Information linked from these MOCs support leadership decision making through greater global maritime domain awareness.
Retired Adm. Edmund Giambastiani, guest speaker for the ceremony, served as JFCOM commander during the planning phase of the building renovation.
"This new facility, and its automation and connectivity, will greatly assist Joint Forces Command and its components in further improving its effectiveness and transparency," said Giambastiani.
For USFF, the facility offers the commander improved access to timely and accurate command and control at the operational level, as well as the ability to work along side JFCOM in times of crisis.
"This space will allow our most important resource, our people, to work more effectively together, and will ensure both U.S. Joint Forces Command and U.S. Fleet Forces Command can continue to take operational warfighting far into the future," said Beaman.
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