A body is only as strong as its limbs.
That's the logic Paul Terzulli has applied throughout his Army career, and particularly now as his work aids the Network Integration Evaluations (NIE).
The goal of the NIE is to test, evaluate and rapidly provide units with the networked mission command solutions they need to achieve their missions in a tactical environment. As a result, unity, Terzulli said, proves crucial.
"Teamwork is vital, absolutely vital -- especially in our environment," he said. "Because our systems and programs are so interdependent, it is almost impossible to be effective at anything in our community without a heavy emphasis on it."
As the Cyber/Network Operations (Cyber/NetOps) Branch Chief for the Army's Project Manager Warfighter Information Network-Tactical (PM WIN-T), Terzulli spearheads a systems engineering workgroup, which combines separate Program Executive Office for Command, Control and Communications-Tactical (PEO C3T) sub-organizations to evaluate interoperability and integration challenges.
To achieve this, its members examine integration efforts and decide how the units themselves will ultimately plan, engineer, configure and defend a tactical network as it is physically deployed.
This process necessitates a delicate balancing act.
"As you can imagine, there's a lot of synchronization that takes place to make sure that the software solutions and applications in (WIN-T) Increment 1 are compatible with those in Increment 2," he said. "As Increment 2 is rolled out, we will still have Increment 1 in the field."
And it is Terzulli's responsibility to make sure the two Increments support, rather than overpower each other.
WIN-T Increment 2 will provide mobile, high-speed, satellite-based communications down to the company level. The Army will begin fielding the capability in fiscal year 2013, following its Initial Operational Test and Evaluation (IOT&E) during NIE 12.2 in April. Presently fielded to more than 90 percent of the total force, WIN-T Increment 1 provides satellite-based beyond line of sight (BLOS) voice, video and data down to the battalion level.
"Increment 2 represents a major shift in the tactical network technology that we bring to the brigade combat team (BCT) today," he said.
One of these major shifts is the ability for commanders to communicate on-the-move, with an unprecedented amount of bandwidth.
"That provides a tremendous combat multiplier for especially brigade, battalion and company commanders to fight and execute decisively combat decisions while en route," Terzulli said. "This is a capability that they don't have today."
As part of the NIE specifically, his team looks at the integration of the current force and the emerging technologies that will be provided to BCTs as part of Capability Set 13.
The semi-annual NIEs involve 10 different Program Executive Offices (PEOs), and numerous other organizations throughout the Army that contribute to the tactical communications network. Terzulli works on behalf of the PEO C3T, to which PM WIN-T is assigned, and the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology [ASA(ALT)], to look at Network Operations and integration capabilities within the BCT.
NetOps involves the tools and technologies that the BCT will receive to plan, operate, manage and defend their network in a tactical environment.
Terzulli began working in tactical network operations in 1995, when he became a Soldier with the Army National Guard in New Jersey. There he got his first taste of mission command systems through his work as a signal team chief in the 42nd Infantry Division. Shortly thereafter, he entered the industry as a Federally-Funded Research and Development Center employee, supporting PEO C3T and other Army organizations in the late 1990s. He later joined the Army Civilian Service.
Prior to his role as branch chief, he worked as the technical lead for his group -- a role that involved a great deal of mentoring. Terzulli said his current role involves mentoring as well, namely allaying the fears and apprehensions of new hires.
"I try to ensure that new personnel do not get frustrated by the process. Sometimes, there are bigger things at work in how the Army and the Defense Department makes decisions," he said. "We have to be flexible in being able to adapt to change quickly, while still focusing on delivering solutions and capabilities that are important and relevant to our Soldiers."
Knowing his work ultimately benefits the Soldier, Terzulli said, is a plus.
"Once we get Increment 2 into the hands of Soldiers and commanders, I think many members of the PM WIN-T team, me included, will see some of the fruits of our labor," he said. "This is an exciting time."
Terzulli has cemented a reputation as an employee who is as easygoing as he is effective -- a trait not lost on Richard E. Greel, Jr., Technical Management Division (TMD) chief for PM WIN-T.
"He is known throughout the Department of the Army as 'Mr. NetOps'," he said.
Greel praised Terzulli's work ethic, saying he possesses the unique disposition and patience to work through difficult and unwieldy issues that require buy-in across many stakeholders.
"There is no one who works harder than Paul," he said.
Related Links:
Soldiers prep for onset of second increment of Army network
Army leaders outline plans to upgrade tactical communications network
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