BALTIMORE, Md. - The 9th Annual C4ISR Symposium and Expo was held at the Baltimore Convention Center August 23 to 26 to showcase the evolution of C4ISR warfighter technologies. A major goal of the symposium was continuing to advance the dialogue between the military services and industry to serve present and future C4ISR needs of warfighters.

This was the first C4ISR Symposium to be hosted in Baltimore, as the event was previously held in Atlantic City, N.J. The event was hosted by the Fort Monmouth and Aberdeen Chapters of the Association of the United States Army; the Armed Forces Communications-Electronics Association; the Army Aviation Association of America; and the Association of Old Crows.

Senior level speakers, panelists and track presenters provided the latest in technology demonstrations, training and information relating to C4ISR electronics and network implementation in support of Army Force Generation requirements.

This year's Symposium focused on the full scope of the primary mission areas of research and development, acquisition, fielding, and support and sustainment contributing to mission success for our nation's warfighters, said Maj. Gen. Randolph P. Strong, CECOM commanding general.

Lt. Gen. Jeffery A. Sorenson, chief information officer/Department of Army G6, welcomed attendees and stressed the Army's goal of network interoperability. Sorenson highlighted the network milestones met within the last 10 years and the path toward becoming a global network.

"We need to change our process so it's more innovative and adaptable," said Sorenson. "Our most important task is aligning the network [with] ARGORGEN [Army Force Generation]."

Sorenson said that over the next three years, the Army will transform LandWarNet to a centralized, more secure, operationalized, sustainable network that is capable of supporting an expeditionary Army in this era. .

The various C4ISR Materiel Enterprise organizations, soon to have their headquarters co-located at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., support the complete life cycle of network sustainment for warfighters.

The C4ISR Materiel Enterprise originates from a partnership between the Army Materiel Command and the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology (commonly referred to as ASA/ALT). Both AMC and ASA/ALT each contribute three organizations to the C4ISR portion of the Army Materiel Enterprise, all of which have elements in the final phases of transitioning from Fort Monmouth, N.J., to APG. Together, these organizations make up the Army C4ISR Center of Excellence at APG.

"In October, we will uncase the CECOM flag at our new C4ISR Center of Excellence Campus at APG in a ceremony signaling the official move of our CECOM headquarters from Fort Monmouth to Aberdeen Proving Ground," said Strong.

The state-of-the-art $800 million new campus will house more than 7,000 personnel in roughly 2.5 million square feet of office and lab space.

"I'm very pleased to report that we've progressed relatively smoothly through the stages of this monumental task while seamlessly meeting our mission in support of the warfighter, without missing a beat," said Strong.

Harford County Executive David Craig welcomed the Symposium participants to the Baltimore and Harford County area communities and expressed the significance of the work the C4ISR Materiel Enterprise organizations perform.

"Your leadership and dedication saves lives," said Craig. "[...] What you do protects the lives of people like my son. The reality is [...] it's all about the warfighter and we applaud the effort you all put forth."

The C4ISR Center of Excellence brings billions of dollars in C4ISR contracting obligations annually. Collectively, the C4ISR Materiel Enterprise is hiring at a rate of approximately 70 positions a month, and projections indicate that rate will continue into fiscal year 2011, according CECOM personnel office/G1.

With more than 4,000 C4ISR Materiel Enterprise personnel deployed alongside warfighters across the globe, Strong charged attendees to come away from the Symposium with renewed motivation and inspiration.

"Looking ahead, we intend to focus together with all of you...as a unified military and industry team in creating synergy and interoperability among warfighter systems and technologies," said Strong.