15th ICCRTS

Executive Views (EVs) are an emerging framework for command and control (C2) architectures that have shown utility in supporting investment decision making by senior defense leaders. These views provide a novel framework that facilitates collaboration between engineers and decision makers. Engineers traditionally responsible for system and operational views integrate data regarding force structure, platforms, warfighters, transport networks, applications/hardware and manned/unmanned systems in a graphical manner that highlights differences in asset density and distribution for alternative courses of action. Senior decision makers need not have a strong technical background to quickly understand the basis of issue (BOI) and materiel for formations and the impacts on investments, capability gaps, interoperability and portfolio management in today’s system-of-systems (SoS). Success has been achieved in EV applications by the U.S. Army and Joint communities, and EVs are becoming a part of institutionalized management processes. Sometimes referred to as “horseblankets”, EVs have informed trade studies, and modeling and simulation (M&S) efforts. Experiences by the Army using common data visualization tools and efforts to further automate EV development are discussed. Traditional Architecture Development Historians and casual observers of defense information systems will recall many evolutionary paths in design and development approaches. They will remember that over many decades, lessons learned from the multitude of information system developments, were aggregated in efforts by communities of interest. They will remember the consolidation of lessons learned being forged into the formalization and realization of many different methodologies through documented processes and off-the-shelf tools. Primarily, software applications were traditionally the focus of design and development methodologies for information systems. However, information systems also became an integral component of every defense acquisition, from aircraft to armored combat vehicles to small unmanned systems and even to munitions. Additionally, contemporary web-based environments have made the network environment a key consideration in today’s information system design and development. Software development and systems engineering methodologies have become common activities for information system developments that are studied and certified academically and professionally. Today, all major information system developments involve the application of some formal methodology and employ a suite of software tools involving notable investment. Department of Defense (DoD) information system developments traditionally employ processes and tools that are similarly used by other federal agencies and commercial entities.