DISA to reassess net-centric program

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — In one of his first moves as the new director of the Defense Information Systems Agency, Air Force Lt. Gen. Charles Croom said he will re-examine the Net-Centric Enterprise Services (NCES) program.

Calling the multi-million dollar initiative “the only transformational program DISA has,” Croom said the nine information technology services need better explanation. “I’m not convinced they are described appropriately.” He spoke today to attendees of the 2005 Army Directors of Information Management/Army Knowledge Management conference.

For example, Croom questioned whether messaging means e-mail or machine-to-machine. He said the U.S. military may also need more than the nine IT services.

In addition to messaging, NCES includes application, collaboration, discovery, mediation, security, storage, user assistance and enterprise systems management. The core, common IT services will create a communications infrastructure allowing warfighters and analysts to more easily access and use U.S. military and intelligence networks by customizing searches and sharing data.

Croom also explained his goals as the new DISA director. Besides re-examining NCES, he wants the agency to “stay at the tip of the spear” in providing voice, video and data services for the military, White House and State Department, and pledged “full and open books” on what the agency charges them.

Croom also wants to strengthen systems architecture, engineering and acquisition. He emphasized configuration and network management, including better operating and defending networks.