Air transportation overhaul among topics at net-centric conference Published Sept. 12, 2008 By Chuck Paone 66 ABW Public Affairs HANSCOM AFB, Mass. -- The man charged with leading planning efforts for a massive U.S. air transportation overhaul will be among the speakers at the net-centric operations conference at the Wentworth by the Sea Hotel in New Castle, N.H. Senior Executive Service member Charles Leader will discuss the Next Generation Air Transportation System, known as NextGen. Attendees at the Sept. 22 conference will receive briefings from, and be able to interact with, numerous military experts and senior leaders. NextGen represents one of the most important developments in the history of the nation's aviation infrastructure, said Mr. Leader, who runs the Joint Planning and Development Office, or JPDO. This office is a multi-agency organization working with the Departments of Defense, Commerce, Homeland Security, Transportation, the Federal Aviation Administration, NASA, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and the aviation industry. "All of these organizations are participating in a common goal, to develop the Next Generation Air Transportation System," Mr. Leader said. "I see the growing partnership with DoD as critical to the success of transforming our nation's airspace system so that it is safer, more efficient and more secure." NextGen will rely on advanced satellite based navigational capabilities for aircraft, digital communications in the aviation environment and substantially improved weather information and forecasting. Developing net-centric capabilities in the aviation environment is a key to all of that, Mr. Leader said. His briefing will discuss NextGen and the role of the JPDO, with a specific focus on DOD's participation and its work with the JPDO in leading development of net-centric tools. The Air Force is DoD's lead agency for NextGen, and ESC is leading the way toward incorporating the necessary technologies. The challenges and opportunities inherent in developing net-centric capabilities make it exceptionally important to bring the key players from government and industry together at an event like this, said incoming 653rd Electronic Systems Wing Director and lead government coordinator Ron Mason. "At Wentworth, we will examine the technical hurdles and operational benefits of net-centric-enabled systems that are being fielded for military operations while also being rendered interoperable with civil aviation and commercial service providers," Mr. Mason said. Electronic Systems Center commander Lt. Gen. Ted Bowlds will serve as this year's keynote speaker and is expected to talk about the challenges of getting to and operating within a net-centric environment. David Tillotson, the current Air Force deputy chief of staff for Warfighting Integration, will offer insights on warfighter interoperability challenges. Michael Krieger, deputy director for the Chief Information Officer of the Army, will provide a sister service perspective, and Rear Adm. Elizabeth Hight, vice commander of the Defense Information Services Agency, will discuss DISA's overarching role. ESC and the Patriot Roost Chapter of the Association of Old Crows, are hosting the conference. "These conferences continue to stimulate an already very active partnership between ESC and the industry community, as we dissect various C4ISR technical challenges and turn them into critical warfighting capabilities," said Chapter President Nino Amoroso. "This event is our biggest fundraiser for our various scholarship and other community support activities," he said. "ESC's participation has been critical to our continued success, and I and the rest of the association are most grateful."