Department of Defense news release (Dec. 17, 2003): DoD launches new Web site focusing on transformation.

WASHINGTON -- Defense officials continue to improve their public face on the World Wide Web. Beginning today, DoD has a new Web site focused on transformation.

The new site has the same look and feel as the DoD homepage, but concentrates on news in the transformation arena.

"This is another next step in our effort to focus more attention on the Defense Department's priorities," said Chris Willcox, deputy assistant secretary of defense for public liaison. "The first step occurred in October 2001 when DoD introduced its DefendAmerica Web site detailing U.S. efforts in the war on terrorism. The next step came this June when DoD revamped its home page."

Willcox said transformation is so vital to DoD's efforts in the global war on terrorism, as well the department's future in general, it's important to have a separate, focused site.

"There is a lot transformation news out there right now, but it's scattered, and people interested in the topic have to surf many sites to get the total picture. Our goal is to provide that total picture and highlight specific areas in the transformation arena."

Harold Heilsnis, DoD Public Affairs' interim director for Internet operations, explained that the transformation site will highlight the broad range of initiatives in the transformation arena, to include policy, equipment, training, people, and programs.

"Visitors to the site will see the DoD perspective, as well as what the individual services and servicemembers are achieving in the transformation area," Heilsnis said. "There are so many interesting stories to tell in the broad category of transformation. This effort gives us a new venue for getting those stories to both our internal military and civilian audience and to the general public."

The transformation site is located at <http://www.DoD.mil/transformation>.