Ben Fitzgerald and Alexander Sander have just had their report, by the title above, published by the Center for New American Security (CNAS), December 1, 2016 (see attachment/link to full report). The premise of the report going in was the following: “Rapid advances in mobile computing offer the DoD significant benefits. Leveraging the capabilities of the leading edge mobile devices within DoD, could amplify the positive impact of workforce mobility, enhance information security, and instigate the modernization of aging information technology infrastructure within the Pentagon. Yet, the Department’s risk-averse culture, and intractable acquisition policies, likely will cause it to squander these opportunities in favor of outdated, more expensive, and less effective mobility solutions,” they conclude.
“Early adoption of this next generation of mobile devices would allow the DoD to improve information technology outcomes in the Pentagon and further, reclaim the role it played as a technology leader decades ago, investing in nascent Internet, and global positioning system technologies,” [such as GPS],” Mr. Fitzgerald and Ms. Sander wrote. “Embracing leading-edge mobility will revitalize work-force mobility, modernize information systems, and send a demand signal to suppliers that will shape future commercial road-maps in key technology areas with benefits that extend to the warfighter, such as machine learning, and sensor development.”
“To take this next step,” the authors argue that “DoD will have to overhaul its existing mobile policies, and take a new approach to [mobile] device procurement. Although some groups within the Department, including the Office of the Chief Information Officer, are experimenting with new models of mobility, many of the devices are years behind what is commercially available; and, their performance is hindered by restrictive security measures,” they note. “It is telling that Blackberry, the preferred handset manufacturer, among highly regulated industries, including DoD, is struggling to keep up with its competitors in almost every other marketplace; and, is attempting to offset poor device sales by expanding the software and services side of their business. If DoD continues to lag behind the commercial curve, they will spend more to maintain outdated technology that delivers inferior security and business outcomes,” the authors conclude.
The authors postulate an alternative model for DoD to consider, which places emphasis on ‘Bring Your Own Device.’ (BYOD); but, they acknowledge that “the DoD is unlikely to abandon the current procurement policy, or mobility program, to initiate [the kind of] sweeping change [required in order to realize the kind of progress needed.] In reality, successfully overcoming bureaucratic impediments and an entrenched culture of risk aversion will require a measured approach.”
Not a surprise really. DoD is a big organization. Bringing fast developing technological change to the Department has always been extremely challenging. We do pretty well in supplying our special operators with the best, and latest technology; but, doing so for the institution as a whole is another issue altogether. I do not know if this CNAS proposal is one that DoD needs to embrace; but, I have attached their report for your benefit. V/R, RCP
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