Navy Marine Corps intranet expands into Pacific region: third NMCI Network Operations Center opens in Hawaii.

EDS and the Department of the Navy (DoN) recently activated the Navy Marine Corps Intranet (NMCI) Oahu Network Operations Center (NOC) in Pearl Harbor.

The NOC is the third center built to support the department's comprehensive, enterprise-wide initiative to provide secure, universal access to integrated voice, video and data communications throughout the United States and at sites in Puerto Rico, Iceland, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and Japan.

The facility is actually a building within a building. The 40,000 square foot operations center is constructed within the shell of a vintage aircraft hangar on historic Ford Island. With its sister facilities in Norfolk, Va., and San Diego, Calif., the Oahu NOC will provide around-the-clock network management and monitoring, user administration, and information security services for the Marines, sailors and DoN employees in the Pacific region.

Rear Admiral Charles Munns, director of the NMCI for the Department of the Navy, said, "This facility will virtually deploy every minute of the day where all the Navy ships, sailors and Marines are."

Hawaii senators Daniel Inouye and Daniel Akaka and representatives Patsy Mink and Neil Abercrombie joined Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet Admiral Walter Doran and others in addressing several hundred guests during opening ceremonies. Inouye, a recipient of the Medal of Honor and the nation's fourth most-senior member of the U.S. Senate, is an ardent supporter of the NMCI program and a strong national defense.

"This center is an important part of providing the necessary experience and training for these men and women who have stood up, taken the oath and pledged to us that they will be willing to stand in harm's way and, if necessary, to make the ultimate sacrifice," Inouye said. "I can assure you that as chairman of the senate defense appropriations subcommittee, that I and my colleagues feel the same way ... whatever is needed to provide our men and women with the finest equipment and the finest facilities we will not hesitate. That's the least we can do.

We hope this center will give you the edge in protecting us."

Collaborative initiatives are gaining favor with many in Washington including Congressman Neil Abercrombie, a high-ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee.

"This is a public/private partnership, a partnership between the military and the civilian sector in our country," he said. "It is fundamental and crucial to the success of the United States military in carrying out its missions not only in this country but worldwide."

Abercrombie views the NMCI as a critical component in the military's ability to share critical information.

"The combination of intelligence and communication is the single most important factor and is the single most important function of the modern military," said Abercrombie. "This [NMCI] is a pioneer effort that, if it succeeds, will become the basis upon which we will move to expand what we have done here to the entire United States military. It is crucial that we succeed."

The importance of sharing and managing information was the subject of remarks by Admiral Doran. He sees the new capabilities offered by NMCI's single, secure, navy-wide network as critical to the fleet's success.

"Communication technology has become increasingly crucial in our efforts to sustain the war against terrorism," he said. "Navy and Marine Corps Intranet facilities such as this one will dramatically affect the outcome of future battles. There is no more powerful weapon in defeating this enemy than information."

Brigadier General Jerry McAbee, commanding general Marine Corps Base Hawaii agrees the new capabilities are good news for the warfighter.

"Our combat readiness will be enhanced," said McAbee. "And we are on board and ready to participate.

Construction of the hi-tech facility began in November 2001, providing an economic boost to the state's tourism-based economy. The construction pumped more than $22 million into the local economy and created some 500 construction jobs. The center will continue to benefit the local economy by employing about 200 people in hi-tech information technology positions. EDS is currently recruiting local small, women-owned, disadvantaged and Hawaiian-owned businesses to staff the NOC.

"The establishment of this facility will mean a tremendous movement forward," said Congresswoman Patsy Mink, "not only for the military, for the Navy and Marine Corps, but for all of the people of Hawaii.

Senator Daniel Akaka, chairman of the senate armed services subcommittee on Readiness, said he understood the complexities involved in developing a full range of network-based information services available to sailors and Marines.

"This is the bottom line, it's for our troops," he said. "Our [Hawaii] delegation has worked closely with the Navy, Marine Corps, EDS and the Information Strike Force team," Akaka said. "This state of the art facility will be a welcome addition to Hawaii's growing technology industry. I look forward to working with all of you to ensure the success of NMCI."

Al Edmonds, EDS President of U.S. Government Solutions, said the Navy Department's long-range vision to achieve a network-centric force has made the NMCI program a model for other government agencies.

"Since Sept. 11, government interest in secure enterprise initiatives has significantly increased, said Edmonds. "The NMCI is a perfect example of the type of public/private partnership the President has called for to support homeland defense," said Edmonds.

The Navy Marine Corps Intranet is a comprehensive, enterprise-wide initiative that will make the full range of network-based information services available to sailors, Marines, and government employees for day-to-day activities and in war. NMCI will give the Navy and Marine Corps secure, universal access to integrated voice, video and data communications, afford pier-side connectivity to Navy vessels in port, and link more than 360,000 computer seats. The EDS-led Information Strike Force team unites industry leaders with unduplicated expertise and experience: EDS for seamless service and reliability; WorldCom for unparalleled network connectivity; Raytheon for uncompromising security; companies like General Dynamics, Cisco, WAM!NET, Microsoft, Dell, Dolch, Robbins-Gioia, Dataline, for proven products and services; plus support from scores of small businesses.