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Recently, I had the opportunity to moderate a discussion with听defense听leaders听working toward听the听Joint听All-Domain听Command and Control (JADC2) initiative. The panelists discussed the challenges of implementing JADC2 and providing warfighters with information when and where they need it most.听During the discussion, Preston Dunlap, chief architect of the U.S. Air Force and Space Force, posed听perhaps the most pressing question听facing听the United States听when it comes to setting the stage for future battle:听鈥淲ill we be ready, when the time comes, for the uncertainty that we most听certainly will face?鈥�

Intriguing question, right?听As the panelists ruminated over Mr. Dunlap鈥檚 question, they arrived at the short answer:听There is still much work to be done.听As Dr. George听Ka鈥檌liwai听III,听director of Requirements and Resources (J8)听at听U.S. Indo Pacific Command,听so adeptly听summarized,听there is hard work being done within service-centric silos,听and they听are听accomplishing tremendous things听individually, but听there hasn鈥檛 been a united vision to bring听everything听together.听A united vision听is crucial to听ensuring the听Department of Defense (DOD)听is ready for future battle, as it will help improve听interoperability听and information听sharing, all while听reducing听the cost and time it takes to make vital decisions on the battlefield.听But first, DOD needs to听answer another question:听What听is听needed听to听achieve听this听united,听joint听force听solution?

1. Modular听Open Architectures:听The鈥� government is moving toward听open architectures, and for听good听reason.听Adopting an open architecture approach听allows听the flexibility to integrate technology from听various听systems and suppliers,听making it easier for different services听to work together to rapidly upgrade听systems as needed.听To听achieve the vision of a united, joint force solution, the government听needs听to听fully embrace these open architectures and听rise to the challenge of bringing听everything together in a听standardized,听federated manner.
2. Industry Innovation:听DOD听must innovate听and adapt to changing needs, which means that industry听should play a central role in providing software across DOD. How can it听guarantee听it鈥檚 on track?听Col.听Matt听鈥淣omad鈥� Strohmeyer, a fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies and a panelist at the event,听said industry should听make sure听it is conforming听to open architecture requirements. Companies should keep听a close eye on the 鈥痠nformation, requirements, and parameters being听set forth听to ensure what听they鈥檙e听building听will听work with the rest of the department.
3. A听Common Data Fabric:听Perhaps most importantly, DOD听needs a common data fabric听that will bring together a pool of data from听a variety of sources,听allowing听combatant commands to听view听the same听information听from the听start听and听find听attainable听solutions quickly.听As Dr.听Ka鈥檌liwai听noted, DOD must find a minimum viable solution rapidly,听rather than waiting until tomorrow for a solution 鈥痶hat meets the full set of requirements. The consequences of not delivering a 鈥痗apability听are severe. A common dataset will allow DOD to better curate its data and allow the department to get to a minimum viable solution sooner rather than later.
4. A Paradigm Shift:鈥�Col.听Strohmeyer closed out听the discussion听by听coming back to a听pertinent听theme听he raised at the beginning: DOD needs听鈥渁 willingness to challenge鈥� [the] paradigms that we operate under; some听of those听paradigms don鈥檛听necessarily听translate well听into听building,听developing,听and delivering听the听capability that we need听at鈥� the 鈥痵peeds听that we need.鈥澨鼿e noted that DOD often gets stuck in the way听that听they听operate at the tactical, strategic, and operational levels, which hinders interoperability.听He听said听that DOD needs to create听a culture that forces听them听to think differently about听the way that they operate and challenges old听ways of thinking听to听fully develop joint capabilities.

To听achieve a united, joint force solution and听maintain a decision advantage, DOD must be proactive when it comes to adapting its digital infrastructure to changing needs.听Carrying out these key steps will bring disparate data systems together and听create a united front for the digital battlespace, ensuring the joint forces are prepared for the uncertainty they will most certainly face.