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SPAWAR Charleston Participates in Palmetto-CWID

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS060615-12
Release Date: 6/15/2006 3:36:00 PM

By Marsha Hassell and Susan Piedfort, Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Charleston Public Affairs

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (NNS) -- Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center (SPAWAR) Charleston’s Critical Infrastructure Protection Center (CIPC) participated in a Palmetto-Coalition Warrior Interoperability Demonstration at the former Charleston naval base here June 5-14.

CIPC helped the South Carolina Army National Guard's (SCNG) Joint Incident Site Communications Capability (JISCC) team demonstrate how local, state and federal agencies will be able to communicate better during a hurricane, earthquake or man-made disaster.

“We brought them intelligence capabilities using live sensory data that they would not ordinarily have, and they brought real-life situations to complement and validate the analysis process,” said John Linden, director of the SPAWAR Charleston CIPC.

JISCC is a modularized satellite communications platform that connects all bands and frequencies together. It is the first satellite system in the Guard's inventory to have integrated functionality with the Defense Information Systems Agency, which exercises command and control for Department of Defense satellite systems.

“[JISCC] allows full spectrum operability,” said Army National Guard Maj. Dave McNamee, SCNG director of information management. “You can hook anybody up to the system. For example, a person on a hand-held radio or cell phone within range of our repeater can call anywhere in the world and coordinate a disaster response.”

The JISCC system can be transported in a C-130, fits into a small trailer, and along with two Humvees can be set up in 15 minutes and fully operational within the network in two hours.

“If an existing communications infrastructure fails following a natural or man-made disaster, local, state and federal emergency responders can call on us to provide a quick fix so they can continue interacting with emergency response agencies anywhere in the world,” McNamee said.

The naval base exercise included seven states, most participating virtually via JISCC. Also participating were most local first responders, the North Charleston police and fire departments, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and Homeland Security, Navy, Air Force and active-duty Army personnel. State and county chief information officers co-sponsored the event with SCNG, and approximately 40 industry partners participated.

McNamee called the CIPC team “critical in pulling together the joint services, providing intelligence analysis capabilities and real-time information. They have a very impressive database,” he added.

Bill Bolick, program manager of CIPC, said the CIPC team could also provide real-time, “customized” information during the simulated emergency situations. CIPC provided the location of area cell phone towers, allowing the NG team to determine area communication capabilities. The CIPC analysis tools further provided geographic information on the coastline, from which the NG team could model storm surge damage to Sullivan’s Island and the Isle of Palms.

Army National Guard Brig. Gen Tommy Sinclair, commander of the 228th Signal Brigade, lauded CIPC’s contribution.

“The CIPC can manipulate data in all ways,” he said. “They can take data and turn it around a thousand different ways to show you all the possibilities.”

For more news from around the fleet, visit www.navy.mil.