Convergence Driving DOD Investments and the Need for IT Products

by Lloyd McCoy Jr., Consultant

An analysis of top Department of Defense (DOD) programs and priorities, conducted by immixGroup’s Market Intelligence team, reveals a pattern of investments that emphasize bringing disparate information sources together and eliminating silos. DOD’s aggregate goal is to create a common operating picture for users, whether operating in the battlefield or in a business function. Significant investments in storage, infrastructure consolidation, data mining, and data management are needed for this vision to function.

The Joint Information Environment (JIE) is a manifestation of this trend. The JIE is a concept of unified capabilities characterized by a consolidated IT infrastructure accessible anywhere within DOD. The first component of the JIE, Enterprise Operating Centers, stood up in Germany on July 31. This was the first real step forward toward realizing the JIE concept.  The JIE is one of the most important drivers influencing IT procurement across DOD this year, and you’ll see it reflected in DOD’s budgets and in all of their investments.

Here is a selection of the larger investments involved in shaping how DOD moves toward convergence including requested funding levels for FY14:

Navy

• Next Generation Enterprise Network ($1.8 billion)
• Consolidated Afloat Network Enterprise Services ($410 million)
• Global Command and Control System – Maritime ($56 million)

Army

• Distributed Common Ground System – Army ($295 million)
• Installation Information Infrastructure Modernization Program ($231 million)
• Joint Battle Command Platform ($111 million)

Marine Corps

• Marine Corps Enterprise IT Services ($60 million)
• Common Aviation Command and Control System ($57 million)

Air Force

• Base Information Infrastructure ($160 million)
• Mission Planning Systems Increments III and IV ($145 million)
• Theater Battle Management Core System ($68 million)

Office of the Secretary of Defense

• Defense Information Systems Network ($2.2 billion)
• Defense Enterprise Computing Centers ($1.3 billion)
• Global Command and Control System – Joint ($219 million)

To learn more about the IT product opportunities within the FY14 DOD budget view our recent on-demand Webinar.

immixGroup clients and partners may contact the Market Intelligence team via your account manager to discover more on IT insertion points and key offices within DOD responsible for managing this department-wide effort.