Completed
An Air Force-directed classified study to assess the planned Advanced Battle Management System (ABMS) communications and systems integration architecture.
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Consensus
·2022
The U.S. Department of Defense is pursuing an improved ability to more closely integrate and operate jointly against agile adversaries through Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2). This framework will seamlessly integrate sensors, networks, platforms, commanders, operators, and weapon system...
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Description
The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine will establish a committee to plan and conduct a classified study to assess the planned Advanced Battle Management System (ABMS) communications and systems integration architecture. The study will examine the technical approach being employed by ABMS and its ability to effectively support the range of system integration desired, while also supporting operational and development agility; and the governance being applied by ABMS and if it is appropriate and sufficient to enable quick development and evolution of capabilities while maintaining appropriate government control over the output.
Specifically, the committee will:
(1) Evaluate the planned ABMS data and communication architecture and compare the architecture anticipated performance characteristics to those needed to support real-time fire control and all-domain sensor-to-shooter data flow, command and control (C2) activities, artificial intelligence (AI)-based patterns-of-life training, battle damage assessment, and other related data-based activities.
(2) Determine any technical gaps and shortfalls in ABMS technology and planned system integration architecture.
(3) Review ABMS governance and recommend how planned organizational and execution plans and processes may be improved to better enable a rapid realization of Joint All Domain Command and Control (JADC2) operations for the Department of the Air Force and the Department of Defense, as a whole.
The committee will convene a data-gathering workshop and four meetings of the study team and other attendees, as required, to gain relevant information. The committee will also provide a classified report summarizing the results from the study, with an unclassified public summary.
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Conflict of Interest Disclosure
Disclosure of Conflict of Interest: Katharina G. McFarland
The conflict of interest policy of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (http://www.nationalacademies.org/coi) prohibits the appointment of an individual to a committee authoring a Consensus Study Report if the individual has a conflict of interest that is relevant to the task to be performed. An exception to this prohibition is permitted if the National Academies determines that the conflict is unavoidable and the conflict is publicly disclosed. A determination of a conflict of interest for an individual is not an assessment of that individual’s actual behavior or character or ability to act objectively despite the conflicting interest.
Katharina McFarland has a conflict of interest in relation to her service on the Committee on the Advanced Battle Management System (ABMS) Consensus Study because of her current service on the Board of Directors of the Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) and Raytheon, which may have or pursue contracts in support of the ABMS.
The National Academies has concluded that for this committee to accomplish the tasks for which it was established its membership must include at least one expert who possesses current industry experience in artificial intelligence and large scale multi-systems design and integration along with inter-military service experience from the Army, Navy, and Marine Corps. Mrs. McFarland’s current industry experience and previous experience as the Acting Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology provide broad expertise in service requirements and operational needs along with extensive experience in defense acquisition and acquisition systems design, research and development of complex defense systems and platforms, AI, and inter-military services operations and mission requirements.
The National Academies has determined that the experience and expertise of Katharina G. McFarland is needed for the committee to accomplish the task for which it has been established. The National Academies could not find another available individual with the equivalent experience and expertise who does not have a conflict of interest. Therefore, the National Academies has concluded that the conflict is unavoidable.
The National Academies believes that Katharina G. McFarland can serve effectively as a member of the committee, and the committee can produce an objective report, taking into account the composition of the committee, the work to be performed, and the procedures to be followed in completing the study.
BIO:
Katharina G. McFarland is currently serving as a commissioner on the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence (NSCAI) and the chair of the Board on Army Research and Development at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Mrs. McFarland also serves on the Board of Directors of SAIC and Exyn Technologies. She retired in January 2017 as Acting Assistant Secretary of the Army (Acquisition, Logistics & Technology). As Assistant Secretary of the Army (Acquisition, Logistics & Technology) and Army Acquisition Executive, Mrs. McFarland oversaw the execution of the Army’s acquisition function, including life cycle management and sustainment of Army weapons systems, research and development of all programs, and the Army Acquisition Corps and greater Army acquisition civilian workforce. Mrs. McFarland also served as the science advisor to the Secretary of the Army and as the Army’s senior research and development official and senior procurement executive. Prior to joining the Department of the Army, Mrs. McFarland served as the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Acquisition). In this role, she was the principal adviser to the Secretary of Defense and the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology & Logistics on all matters related to acquisition and acquisition systems design. Previously, she served as the president of the Defense Acquisition University (DAU). Under her leadership, DAU provided practitioner training, career management, and services to enable the acquisition, technology, logistics, and requirements community to make smart business decisions and deliver timely and affordable capabilities to the Warfighter. Prior to joining DAU, Mrs. McFarland was the Director for Acquisition at the Missile Defense Agency (MDA), a position she held since May, 2006. As MDA’s principal acquisition executive, Mrs. McFarland advised the Director of MDA on all acquisition, contracting and small business decisions. Other core responsibilities included the development of process activities and program policy associated with the execution of the single integrated Ballistic Missile Defense System research, development and test program, and establishment of the Baseline Execution Review to ensure an integrated program execution of the BMDS occurred across the baselines of schedule, cost, performance, contracting, test and operational delivery. Mrs. McFarland began her civil service career in 1986 as a general engineer at Headquarters Marine Corps where she was accredited as a materials, mechanical, civil, and electronics engineer. She has received an Honorary Doctoral of Engineering from the University of Cranfield, United Kingdom; the Presidential Meritorious Executive Rank Award, the Secretary of Defense Medal for Meritorious Civilian Service Award, the Department of the Navy Civilian Tester of the Year Award, and the Navy and United States Marine Corps Commendation Medal for Meritorious Civilian Service. She is Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) Level-III-certified in program management, engineering, and testing as well as having a professional engineer license and having attained her Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.
Disclosure of Conflict of Interest: Paul G. Kaminski (NAE)
The conflict of interest policy of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (http://www.nationalacademies.org/coi) prohibits the appointment of an individual to a committee authoring a Consensus Study Report if the individual has a conflict of interest that is relevant to the task to be performed. An exception to this prohibition is permitted if the National Academies determines that the conflict is unavoidable and the conflict is publicly disclosed. A determination of a conflict of interest for an individual is not an assessment of that individual’s actual behavior or character or ability to act objectively despite the conflicting interest.
Paul Kaminski has a conflict of interest in relation to his service on the Committee on the Advanced Battle Management System (ABMS) Consensus Study because of his current affiliation with or financial interests in defense sector companies that may pursue or have contracts in support of the ABMS, including General Dynamics, The Boeing Company, and Raytheon.
The National Academies has concluded that for this committee to accomplish the tasks for which it was established its membership must include at least one expert who possesses current industry experience in systems design, engineering, and integration. As the chairman and chief executive officer of Technovation, Dr. Kaminski has extensive current experience in innovative research and development in complex defense systems, coupled with extensive current experience in defense acquisition, design architecture, and systems integration. Dr. Kaminski’s understanding of industry capabilities to augment the Air Force’s technical requirements for ABMS are also critical for ensuring that potential technology gaps are identified in the study.
The National Academies has determined that the experience and expertise of Paul G. Kaminski is needed for the committee to accomplish the task for which it has been established. The National Academies could not find another available individual with the equivalent experience and expertise who does not have a conflict of interest. Therefore, the National Academies has concluded that the conflict is unavoidable.
The National Academies believes that Paul G. Kaminski can serve effectively as a member of the committee, and the committee can produce an objective report, taking into account the composition of the committee, the work to be performed, and the procedures to be followed in completing the study.
BIO:
Paul G. Kaminski (NAE) is chairman and chief executive officer of Technovation Inc., a consulting company dedicated to fostering innovation and the development and application of advanced technology. Dr. Kaminski serves on the Board of Directors of LinQuest, Aevex, Covant Technology, QuantiTech, and Seagate Government Solutions. He is a former Undersecretary of Defense (Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics) and was responsible for all Department of Defense (DoD) research, development, and acquisition programs. During his Air Force career, he served as director for low observables technology, with responsibility for overseeing the development, production, and fielding of major “stealth” systems (e.g., F-117, B-2). He also led the initial development of a National Reconnaissance Office space system and related sensor technology. His government advisory memberships have included the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Technical Advisory Board, the Defense Science Board (chairman two times) the President’s Intelligence Advisory Board, the DNI's Senior Advisory Group, and the FBI Director’s Advisory Board. He is a fellow of the Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers and the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. He has authored numerous publications dealing with inertial and terminal guidance system performance, simulation techniques, and Kalman filtering and numerical techniques applied to estimation problems. Dr. Kaminski earned a Ph.D. in aeronautics and astronautics from Stanford University. He received the National Medal of Technology in 2006.
Sponsors
Department of Defense
Staff
Ellen Chou
Lead
Evan Elwell
Ryan Murphy