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USS Theodore Roosevelt Transitions to New Computer Network

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS120813-09
8/13/2012

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Andrew Sulayao, USS Theodore Roosevelt Public Affairs

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (NNS) -- Sailors from USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) Combat Systems Department began a computer network transfer from the Refueling Complex Overhaul (RCOH) network to TR's integrated shipyard network system (ISNS) Aug. 3.

The Combat Systems Department of TR has been planning since March 2012 to switch networks and more than 300 unclassified computers to TR's own network to improve independence and further the process of TR becoming an operational aircraft carrier.

"We're transitioning all data from RCOH to our ISNS," said Information Systems Technician (SW) Charles Pote, leading chief petty officer of TR's CS-3 division. "This is the system that will be traveling with us while going underway to sea. This is so we can be a self-sufficient and self-serving aircraft carrier."

According to Pote, the process of integrating the two network systems is a complicated and lengthy one. The information from RCOH's network must be transferred from each RCOH computer to an ISNS computer through portable Network Attached Storage (NASs). All of the security permissions are defaulted, or reset, and TR's information systems technicians (IT) rebuild the security settings from scratch. Information Assurance officers then sign for the individual computers, and TR's CS-3 division will check the functionality of each computer.

"The challenge is that our division must scan and filter through the data in our network to avoid compromising any classified information when transferring to ISNS," said Chief Warrant Officer 2 James Ferguson, TR's Information Assurance manager. "The RCOH network was at a higher classification that held some of our sensitive information, so we must go through it all to ensure our security."

According to Ferguson, the ITs onboard TR have been working diligently since the beginning of the integration, staying on the ship until approximately 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. and even working weekends.

"I'm proud of how hard my Sailors are working," said Ferguson. "We've basically been putting our lives on hold to make sure our goal is accomplished, but that comes with the mission and being a Sailor. We're on the right start and taking the right steps to make sure our ship can become fully operational."

The network transitioning process is scheduled to end February 2013. Until then, TR's CS-2 and CS-3 divisions will work diligently toward the end goal of bringing TR back to homeport Naval Operating Base Norfolk and out to sea.

"I'm ecstatic to see this transition," said Pote. "This self-sufficient network is what I want and how our ship should be. I'll be glad to see it finish along with my hard-working Sailors onboard TR."

TR has been relying on RCOH's network for communications since 2009.