ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Maryland – The Program Executive Office Command, Control, Communications and Network (PEO C3N) hosted the U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Command (ATEC) at an ATEC-PEO Synchronization Day event at Aberdeen Proving Ground on 6 March.
The purpose of the meeting was to bring senior leaders together from both organizations to establish a common understanding of PEO C3N program test and evaluation requirements, challenges and opportunities both now and in the future.
Although this meeting focused on the partnership between ATEC and PEO C3N, ATEC works closely with all PEOs across the Office of Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology to advance the Army’s most pressing acquisition priorities.
PEO C3N Program Executive Officer Mark Kitz kicked off the synchronization meeting by acknowledging the longevity and importance of the partnership with ATEC.
“I know this partnership is long, ongoing and will continue to evolve over time,” Kitz said. “Well before I became the PEO, the needs and demands of the network continually evolved. We are trying to organize around that dynamic nature of the needs and wants,” referring to PEO C3N’s organization into six Project Managers (PMs) focused on different domains.
Next, three of the PEO C3N PMs briefed their intentions to utilize ATEC services, including developmental tests, operational tests and evaluations, for their systems over the next three years for key platforms.
One of the systems discussed was the Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data System Artillery Execution Suite (AFATDS AXS), a data-centric and Soldier-feedback-informed upgrade to the Army’s software for providing fires. Both Kitz and Maj. Gen. Gaydon, ATEC commanding general, stressed the importance of this program to future Army battlefield superiority.
Another system of significance was the Mounted Mission Command Transceiver. This program modernizes the current Blue Force Tracking system, which provides tracking, situational awareness, and command and control on thousands of ground and air platforms across the Army and joint services.
Gaydon then transitioned to outlining ATEC’s support to PEO C3N by giving an overarching command overview and highlighting the command’s approach to test and evaluation.
“The way we think about test and evaluation is a campaign of learning over time where it’s not discrete test events that lead to discrete products,” he said. “It’s a mission analysis that starts a campaign of learning, and then we do running estimates (i.e. emerging results boards, evaluation reports) moving forward over the life of the development of the program.”
Gaydon explained that ATEC’s goal is to provide an evaluation report to the PEO approximately 30 to 60 days after test. However, he stated ATEC could adjust if the timeline needs to be accelerated.
Gaydon was followed by Alicia Baldauf, test integration division chief within the Directorate for Operations and Plans, who shared how ATEC works with PEOs as early as possible in the acquisition process to share resources and develop test and evaluation strategies.
“When talking to [the Department of Defense Office of the Director for Operational Test and Evaluation], it’s one single voice,” she said. “We’re one team between the customer and ATEC.”
She also discussed the benefits of ATEC being co-located with PEO C3N.
“With the upskilling of the workforce, there have been a lot of exchanges between ATEC and the PEO,” Baldauf said. “So having ATEC people do developmental assignments at the PEO and vice versa is always a great opportunity, and it allows us that synergy in the programs.”
ATEC conducted the second half of the synchronization meeting with presentations highlighting command support to PEO C3N key programs/initiatives, test and evaluation capabilities and initiatives, and sharing how PEO C3N can help ATEC execute its priorities.
These topics included Next Generation Command and Control (NGC2), in which ATEC is working closely with PEO C3N to develop an evaluation strategy for new C2 software and observe and learn about new C2 system prototypes. ATEC also shared the creation of the ATEC Data Mesh, which transmits ATEC test data into a cloud environment where analysts can quickly find, validate, and act on data.
In closing, ATEC outlined its capabilities around multi-domain distributed live, virtual and constructive testing to reduce testing timelines, and ATEC subordinate organization the Electronic Proving Ground provided an overview on its footprint and testing capabilities. ATEC and PEO C3N leadership expressed mutual appreciation for the opportunity to meet, and multiple follow-on engagements were discussed to further mature and strengthen the critical partnership.
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