This report documents the latest in a series of workshops and roundtables organized by the National Defense University's Institute for National Strategic Studies (INSS) Directorate for Advanced Concepts, Technologies, and Information Strategies (ACTIS). These meetings bring together operators, planners, researchers, and analysts to identify and examine selected aspects of command and control in contemporary Military Coalition Operations and Operations Other Than War (OOTW) and to advance the process of developing one or more Mission Capability Packages (MCPs) to support combined and coalition operations.
ACTIS seeks to improve the state of the art and practice of command and control by undertaking selected research and analysis initiatives and by serving as a bridge among the operational, technical, analytical, and educational communities. The Directorate focuses on emerging requirements and mission areas where new concepts are needed. One of the problem areas identified in ACTIS workshops on peace operations has been that of interagency and civilian-military coordination. In response to this issue, ACTIS held a workshop on 18-19 April 1996 that focused on the interface between non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and the U.S. Government--particularly the military--in humanitarian and peace operations.
One of the key findings from the workshop was the recognition by both the NGOs and civilian and military officials that communication needs to be improved between the NGO and U.S. Government communities, especially with the military. As follow-up, ACTIS is supporting a research effort to develop an information system that is low-cost, user-friendly, responsive to the information needs of the Government and the NGO community, and compatible with the needs of the military. NGO representatives have been invited to participate in identifying some of the parameters of this system. Individuals interested in participating in this initiative or other ACTIS-sponsored activities are invited to contact me at (202) 685-2262.
David S. Alberts, Ph.D.
Director, ACTIS