Tobyhanna expands capability to include software support

By Ms. Jacqueline Boucher (CECOM)June 6, 2016

Tobyhanna expands capability to include software support
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

TOBYHANNA ARMY DEPOT, Pa. -- It's no secret Tobyhanna Army Depot likes to push the envelope when it comes to reimagining its classic depot-level maintenance program to provide logistics support in line with the Army's future needs.

Operations around the world rely on a blend of software and hardware support to meet mission requirements. It used to be all about the hardware, which includes the Reset, repair and overhaul of system components. Now, Team Tobyhanna is collaborating with the Software Engineering Center (SEC) to expand its scope of capability to include mitigating risks associated with cyber-attacks and various threats to military weapons systems. The SEC is part of the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command.

"Tobyhanna set the stage for the future a long time ago and now it's here," said John Howard, then chief of the Information Management Division. "To meet the needs of our customers, we needed to shift focus from just hardware repair to include software repair."

Anyone who operates Army automated information systems such as computers and servers is familiar with Information Assurance Vulnerability Alerts (IAVA) -- notices from U.S. Cyber Command with actions to take regarding potential risks to information technology (IT) systems. As cyber security concerns become more prevalent in the force, there's a renewed emphasis to attain a higher level of compliance. Personnel here are using innovative approaches to adapt software technology to safeguard the warfighter's information environment.

This new partnership opens the door for Tobyhanna to recruit employees and develop an organic capability to execute work associated with mitigating information security weaknesses that expose an organization to risk, according to Dan Soderberg, IT specialist (policy and planning) in the Special Project Office for Software Sustainment. Tobyhanna started supporting the software mission late last year with two pilot systems -- MIDAS (Multiplexer Integration and Digital Communications Satellite Subsystems Automation Systems) and GCCS-A (Global Command and Control System-Army). Fourteen systems are scheduled to arrive by the end of the fiscal year and there's potential for up to 40 more systems between now and 2022.

Quality Assurance Analyst Deborah Hussung is looking forward to working with SEC to develop this new capability.

"This is something totally new for the depot," she said. "We have the opportunity to personalize the existing framework and guidelines to make the IAVA program our own."

Dozens of IT specialists, new hires and depot employees, have accepted positions to support the new mission. Work is distributed among four functional areas: security analysis, tester, configuration management and quality assurance.

"I'm excited to be here," said Mike Granville, quality assurance analyst. "Working with SEC has been great. Most of the software work is basically the same, the challenge is getting to know each system."

Vacancies in the Information Management Division are viewed as an opportunity to bring in fresh ideas and new talent -- qualified people who will enhance the mission, according to Howard.

Tobyhanna believes in strong training programs that prepare personnel for opportunities that arise. To gain access to the C4ISR systems, personnel must possess industry standard certifications and then complete system specific training. Over time technicians will be able to build on existing knowledge to apply their skills to different systems.

C4ISR stands for command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems used by the military.

"We're embedding Tobyhanna personnel with the current support teams so they can learn the systems," Soderberg said. "IT specialists here will validate an IAVA's applicability to the target system and then develop the modifications that will mitigate that risk."

Soderberg explained that personnel will be able to perform tasks using a physical replica or virtual facsimile of systems in the field. There are costs involved to bringing individual systems to Northeast Pennsylvania. If systems can be emulated in a virtual environment then Tobyhanna can reduce those costs becoming more efficient for the customer, he added.

"We are trying to enhance the security posture of these systems as quickly as possible . . . to keep things secure while keeping them operational," he said.

Software repair packages will be tested at Tobyhanna then forwarded to SEC for acceptance and distribution to the forces in the field for installation.

"Employees supporting the IAVA mission are immediately closer to the warfighter because they're repairing the tools needed in the field," Howard said. "Bringing the software repair in helps us grow and maintain our workforce strength far into the future. It makes us more viable for other organizations to seek us out in the future to do this type of work."

To meet logistical requirements, building space is being modernized to house the IAVA effort. Team members plan to move in next year.

Tobyhanna Army Depot is a recognized leader in providing world-class logistics support for C4ISR systems across the Department of Defense. Tobyhanna's Corporate Philosophy, dedicated work force and electronics expertise ensure the depot is the Joint C4ISR provider of choice for all branches of the Armed Forces and industry partners.

Tobyhanna's unparalleled capabilities include full-spectrum logistics support for sustainment, overhaul and repair, fabrication and manufacturing, engineering design and development, systems integration, post production software support, technology insertion, modification, foreign military sales and global field support to our Joint Warfighters.

About 3,100 personnel are employed at Tobyhanna, which is located in the Pocono Mountains of northeastern Pennsylvania. Tobyhanna Army Depot is part of the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command. Headquartered at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, the command's mission is to research, develop, acquire, field and sustain communications, command, control computer, intelligence, electronic warfare and sensors capabilities for the Armed Forces.