• Military
• WMD
• Intelligence

• Security Menu                     

• Systems
• Industry
• Operations
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• Space

Midwest Regional Ops Center Set to Handle Security, Emergencies

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS090429-21
Release Date: 4/29/2009 9:23:00 PM

By Bill Couch, Naval Facilities Engineering Command Midwest Public Affairs

GREAT LAKES (NNS) -- Navy Region Midwest welcomed its new regional operations center (ROC) into service April 23, bringing online a cutting-edge command and control center to manage responses to emergency situations throughout its 16-state area of responsibility.

Rear Adm. Douglass Biesel, commander, Navy Region Midwest, and representatives of project manager Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Midwest and the facility's design and support contractor cut the ceremonial ribbon and "brought the center to life."

"As the regional commander, I am responsible for all Navy antiterrorism and force protection measures in the Midwest, bringing together and managing the Navy's response to incidents from North Dakota to Tennessee, and this facility is exactly what we need to do that efficiently and effectively," said Biesel.

"The Navy is a partner with communities throughout the U.S., and we're committed to coordinating with local authorities in response to natural disasters," added Biesel. "We're committed to the safety and security of our Navy family members and our community neighbors during emergencies."

The establishment of Navy ROCs came in response to the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. ROCs have also served as important coordination centers during natural disasters such as Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and man-made disasters such as the Interstate 35 bridge collapse in Minneapolis, Minn., in 2007, said Biesel.

Navy Region Midwest's ROC benefits from many lessons learned during the past several years, according to NAVFAC Midwest Commanding Officer Capt. Jake Washington.

"This room is a visible example of the valuable tools we now have at our fingertips, being able to seamlessly coordinate with other Navy ROCs and civilian emergency responders," said Washington.

The ROC features secure video teleconferencing, radio communications with civilian emergency responders including the FBI, FEMA and the U.S. Coast Guard, as well as local law enforcement.

"Just as [the ROC] includes integrated technologies to support our watchstanders and commander, it also represents an integrated, collaborative effort between NAVFAC and Navy Installations Command, with the invaluable technical expertise of our contract partner, Lockheed Martin," added Washington.

"It has been a pleasure to work with the Navy on this project," said Carey Smith, Lockheed Martin, vice president of technical services. "We're proud to have helped establish this important facility, and we look forward to continuing to support the Navy's use of this operations center with our ongoing technical support presence."

Under the NAVFAC/Navy Installations Command program for establishing standardized ROCs in all Navy regions, known as the Provide, Install and Maintain, Multiple-Award Contract, Navy ROCs will for the first time retain integrated contractor support to ensure the center's complex systems perform at full capability.