Strategic Command to lead EMS training effort

The Defense Department is standing up a new office to improve expertise in electromagnetic spectrum operations under U.S. Strategic Command as part of a new implementation plan.

Brig. Gen. AnnMarie Anthony, deputy director for Joint Electromagnetic Spectrum (EMS) Operations at U.S. Strategic Command, said the Joint EMS Operations Center (JEC), a new two-star led organization, to help with enterprise workforce development and sustainment requirements.

The JEC, in coordination with the Joint Force and military services, would be responsible for professional military education, curriculum and certifications pertaining to EMS operations. It would also have responsibility regarding "training and furthering the EMSO knowledge across the Department of Defense," Anthony told reporters on Aug. 5.

The announcement comes after Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin signed the plan on July 15 that to implement the 2020 Electromagnetic Spectrum Strategy. That implementation plan is classified.

DOD is also rewriting EMS policies in the implementation plan to "establish effective EMS government governance for EMS activities across DOD," Gen. said Darrin Leleux, deputy Director for the Electromagnetic Spectrum Operations Cross Functional Team. Later this year, the DOD's CIO will inherit the EMS strategy and implementation oversight role from the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Anthony said Strategic Command will provide an "operational perspective" to the DOD CIO "as they promulgate policy for the electromagnetic spectrum Enterprise Resource prioritization and Joint Force training and education for the DOD."

So far, there's been a four-part workforce study underway for the past year, starting with evaluating the current state of the EMS workforce with respect to EMS knowledge, skills, and abilities. The goal is to develop a "roadmap" for developing the future force.

Another goal of the strategy is modernizing spectrum IT and developing technologies and tools, including those that promote dynamic spectrum sharing, agility and diversity within frequencies, minimizing electromagnetic frequency footprint and enhanced cyber resiliency.

Battle management

Right now, DOD is developing an electromagnetic battle management tool that would be used by combatant command Joint Electromagnetic Spectrum Operation Cells for joint planning, situational awareness and command and control, Anthony said.

"We are in the process of developing this tool, we are using a rapid software acquisition process. It will feature cloud based data tools and machine to machine and human interactions," Anthony said, adding that the Defense Information Systems Agency is the program manager for the tool while STRATCOM is the operational manager.

Anthony said the effort is still in the beginning stages but a user group has been established along with the first set of requirements. Users and programmers are expected to discuss future plans in the next month.