• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

CPF Opens New Command Center

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS060615-09
Release Date: 6/15/2006 12:30:00 PM

From U.S. Pacific Fleet Public Affairs

PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii (NNS) -- The U.S. Pacific Fleet (COMPACFLT) brought fleet operational command and control into the 21st century when its new multimillion-dollar fleet command center officially went online June 13.

Adm. Gary Roughead, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, opened the newly refurbished command center after a 10-month makeover that included new or upgraded computer systems, a multifunction knowledge wall, more computer workstations, improved communications, and an increased capability to support Navy and joint operations.

“The Pacific Fleet has command and control of more than 45 percent of the earth’s surface,” said Capt. Bruce Stewart, deputy director of operations for COMPACFLT. “With the expanding scope and complexity of the Pacific Fleet’s mission – GWOT (the global war on terrorism), humanitarian assistance, and a variety of other missions – this type of upgraded control center was an absolute necessity.”

As Pacific Fleet has shifted to a greater operational focus, an efficient and effective command center was needed for COMPACFLT’s new operational requirements. To meet this mission, the operational staff, designers, and construction workers brought the new fleet command center to life within 10 months at a cost of $5 million.

After 30 years of service, the old command and control center did not efficiently support new 21st century operational requirements due to an outdated layout of the battle watch floor, less efficient communications, and not enough classified and unclassified computer workstations for watchstanders and the command’s crisis action team.

According to Capt. Brian Bennett, COMPACFLT director of operations, the much-needed upgrades and improvements will greatly enhance COMPACFLT’s ability to meet its operational commitments in a shorter amount of time.

“The new FCC (Fleet Command Center) has a state-of-the-art display and decision capability that helps the commander better direct the Pacific Fleet response to events in the Pacific AOR (area of operations),” he said. “The tools needed by our COMPACFLT crisis action team are more readily available now, thus making us more responsive and improving our overall readiness.”

The new tiered layout of the FCC provides for more efficient command and control by the battle watch captain and focuses the watch team with a “knowledge wall” made of several multifunction display panels. These new improvements, along with increased computer access and communications, make the FCC fully capable of conducting any type of Navy or joint-environment operations on a 24-hour, seven-days-a-week basis.

The overall success of the FCC project came from the teamwork and coordination between Naval Facilities Hawaii, Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command, Navy/Marine Corps Intranet, COMPACFLT staff, and information technology contractors.

The final refurbishments to the FCC are due to be completed by August with a completely rebuilt situation room. The situation room allows for briefings and meetings while still providing COMPACFLT leadership with access to all real-time information in the FCC without interrupting ongoing operations.

For related news, visit the Pacific Fleet Navy NewsStand page at www.news.navy.mil/local/cpf/.