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Sixth Annual AFCEA International Golden Link Award Winners Announced

AFCEA International is pleased to announce the winners of its sixth annual Golden Link Awards, recognizing government and industry partnerships and innovation in developing and deploying technology solutions to support government operations. The winning projects will be displayed at TechNet International 2006, AFCEA International’s 60th annual defense and IT conference and exposition, at the Washington, D.C. Convention Center June 19-20. The winners will receive their awards during the morning plenary session on Monday, June 19.

U.S. Government Golden Link Award

In the wake of the Hurricane Katrina disaster, U.S. Northern Command’s (USNORTHCOM) Joint Task Force-Katrina (JTF-Katrina) acted as the military’s on-scene representative supporting the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s relief efforts. JTF-Katrina turned to DataPath, Inc., a global solution provider for mission-critical communications, to provide immediate communications support in cooperation with the Army Communications Electronics Life Cycle Management Command’s Special Projects and Homeland Security Office.

For the relief operation, DataPath delivered a network of DataPath ET 3000 Portables, which the military refers to as Satellite Communications Transportable Terminals (STTs), to provide communications to the region. DataPath 3000s use commercial satellites to supply reliable voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) capability, videoconferencing and military communications network access. In addition, DataPath sent a team of 10 support personnel to quickly get the network operational. In coordination with JTF-Katrina, DataPath’s communications network enabled local, state and federal first responders to carry out search and recovery missions with the necessary situational awareness and coordination between organizations.

International Golden Link Award

As the executive agent for the Multinational Experimentation Series, U.S. Joint Forces Command (USJFCOM) recently led the development of an advanced information technology collaborative environment, bringing together U.S., allied and NATO forces across the Combined Federated Battle Laboratories Network (CFBLNet). Multinational Experiment IV (MNE 4), which took place from 20 February until 17 March 2006, was a process-refinement experiment using a human-in-the-loop virtual experiment method that explored multinational concepts, tools, and processes.

USJFCOM utlized Ezenia! Inc.’s InfoWorkSpace (IWS) application that supported execution of MNE 4. This key application was the “golden link” bringing together all operational elements of the experiment. This was the largest full capability implementation of a voice/data tool to date. The tool was an enabler for full spectrum next-generation, multi-national military and civilian Effects Based Operations. The experiment’s results will shape current and emerging processes, organizations and technologies at the command operational level. The results will directly affect the mission of the joint operations enterprise, being factored into both current real-world operations and future concept development.

Homeland Security Golden Link Award

The U.S. Department of State’s Nonprofileration and Disarmament Fund (NDF) office has a mission to help control the global trade of dual-use, hazardous, and military items. The NDF funded the development of Tracker, a case management system, to support the collaborative processing of licensing information in newly established independent governments of the former Soviet Union to control dual-use and potentially hazardous materials.

Tracker supports import and export license control processes, information sharing, data mining, and reporting capabilities. Since 1996, FGM has been solely responsible for developing, deploying, and supporting Tracker. Tracker links essential trade control agencies and allows ministries within a country to share case information with other ministries connected to Tracker. Before Tracker, countries received paper-based import, export, and transit applications, which were manually routed to various decision-makers for review/approval. With Tracker, these forms can be digitized, and the approval process is automated. Tracker further supports the efforts of governments seeking to control the import and export of hazardous materials through providing a platform for post-licensing analysis, including threat assessment of individuals and organizations attempting to build otherwise controlled capabilities.

The JTF-Katrina (Booth # 212), MNE 4 (Booth # 1330) and Tracker (Booth # 1303) projects will be on display in the exhibit hall at TechNet International. TechNet offers numerous professional development opportunities including senior military and government speakers, panel sessions, and a multi-level security track. This event is open to the public and registration is free. On-site registration is available beginning Monday, June 19. For details and free on-line registration go to www.technet2006.org.

AFCEA is an international non-profit association providing a forum for the professional communications, electronics, intelligence, homeland security and information technology community. AFCEA serves as an ethical bridge between government requirements and industry’s capabilities, representing the top government, military and industry professionals. For more information visit www.afcea.org.
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