National Guard (States) Geospatial Systems Program and 2014 Strategic Imperatives LtCol Mike Domingue, NHNG, Team Co-Chair Mr. Chris Diller, WING, Team Co-Chair The GeoGuard States GIS Program and Committee is under advisement from the Adjutants General Association of the United States (AGAUS) taskforce for Cyber, GIS, IT and SSA and provides a recommended tactical approach for deploying the technology backbone that will support Geospatial infrastructure and processes.
The GeoGuard States Program is established to facilitate and coordinate the development of processes and procedures to enable sustained interoperable geospatial capabilities in support of all National Guard missions and daily business practices. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) has been described as Location Enabled Decision Support and allows for vast amounts of data from diverse sources to be put into context and transforms it into actionable knowledge. It has also been characterized as: - A rapidly maturing practice that changes the way we see our world and how we interact with it. - A unifier and enabler in preparing, monitoring and changing outcomes. - Building a holistic and synergistic approach to solving issues. The Army Guard and Joint Staff at the national and state levels have an Enterprise License Agreement (ELA) for Esri GIS software. This software provides sophisticated data management, analysis, and visualization capabilities from the field to your SSA platform and back that enable a true SSA enterprise solution. Esri is a cost effective solution to Shared Situational Awareness (SSA): SSA and related technologies have been an important topic of discussion within the National Guard for quite a while and we need to continue to develop and deploy new and more advanced capabilities that enable true SSA. I would like to emphasize that this is technology that the Guard already owns and has complete access too. It's just a matter of getting this technology into the right people's hands and deploying it to further enable your state, territory or the District to achieve not only shared situational awareness but better decision making overall. MajGen William Reddel III; AGAUS Cyber/GIS/Information Technology Committee Chair National Guard States Geospatial Systems Program / 2014 Strategic Imperatives Page 1
Table of Contents 1. FY 2014 Critical Planning Dates. Page 2 2. FY 2014 GeoGuard Strategic Imperatives Page 3 GeoGuard Background Information 3. GeoGuard Program Principles.. Page 6 4. GeoGuard Methodology.. Page 6 5. GeoGuard Means to Achieve Principles. Page 7 1. FY 2014 Critical Planning Dates 27 31 Oct 2013 NSGIC Annual Conference (Kansas City) 5 8 Nov 2013 Vigilant Guard (Maine) 21 Nov 2013 GeoGuard Meeting 13 14 Nov 2013 HLFLD Working Group Meeting (USGS Reston, VA) 19 Dec 2013 GeoGuard Meeting 16 Jan 2014 GeoGuard Meeting 10 12 Feb 2014 Esri FED GIS Conference 13 Feb 2014 GeoGuard Meeting 23 26 Feb 2014 NSGIC Mid-Year Conference (Annapolis, MD) 24 28 Feb 2014 Vigilant Guard (Alabama) 13 Mar 2014 GeoGuard Meeting 27 Mar 3 Apr 2014 Vigilant Guard (Alaska) 27 Mar 3 Apr 2014 Ardent Sentry NORTHCOM 17 Apr 2014 GeoGuard Meeting May 6 9 2014 NASCIO Mid-Year Meeting (Baltimore) 15 May 2014 GeoGuard Meeting 16-20 June 2014 CAPSTONE 2014 19 Jun 2014 GeoGuard Meeting 10 13 July 2014 National Governor s Association Meeting (Nashville, TN) 14 18 July 2014 Esri International Users Conference July 2014 Patriot Exercise (Volk Field WI) 24 July 2014 GeoGuard Meeting 21 Aug 2014 GeoGuard Meeting 21 22 Aug 2014 Vigilant Guard (Kansas) 22 25 Aug 2014 NGAUS Conference (Chicago) 18 Sep 2014 GeoGuard Meeting 28 Sep 1 Oct 2014 NASCIO Annual Conference (Nashville) National Guard States Geospatial Systems Program / 2014 Strategic Imperatives Page 2
2. Strategic Imperatives It's the management of attention. There is only so much we can all give our attention to. So we need to ensure that we re aiming at high improvement targets that really matter. The faster the pace of change and improvement, the clearer our goals and priorities must be. A key component of providing focus to an organization calls for leaders to identify "strategic imperatives" or "must-do's." These are the team or organization's critical leverage points. Strategic imperatives are those vital few 12 to 18 month goals, priorities, and improvement targets that when reached hurl our team or organization toward it's vision, values, and purpose. Copyright 2001 The CLEMMER Group FY 2014 GeoGuard Strategic Imperatives a. Our collaborative efforts support the Council of Governors (CoG) Joint Action Plan on Shared Situational Awareness (SSA). SSA is part of a larger geospatial approach for enabling the guard with baseline GIS capabilities in particular utilizing available resources. b. SSA continues to be a part a larger national concern to share data seamlessly among government and other National, State and Local agencies. To be effective, the National Guard at the States level needs to be brought up to an acceptable level of GIS awareness, training and interaction; establishing an ELA and having the software alone is a major first step but is not the only one. The following Strategic Imperatives have been identified as our focus to provide states with the ability to utilize a purchased (for NGB, ARNG, JFHQ-State) analytical and mapping display tool available at their hands to enhance business practices and to provide SA and SSA of Domestic Operations. c. The following are the 2014 GeoGuard Strategic Imperatives: 1. Establish an Esri software ELA to cover the entire National Guard 2. Continue to develop and share GIS applications that can assist states with the creation of a User Defined Operating Picture (UDOP) 3. Deploy a centralized cataloging system called ArcGIS Portal for the National Guard 4. Complete and publish the States National Guard Domestic Operations Geospatial Concept of Operations (DOMOPS GeoCONOPS) 5. Develop a means to identify and maintain an awareness of State s National Guard Geospatial operating environment 6. Create a Geographic Information System Training Plan for State Level Domestic Operations National Guard States Geospatial Systems Program / 2014 Strategic Imperatives Page 3
1. Establish an Esri software ELA to cover the entire National Guard. A key first step of establishing an ESRI ELA has been completed (August 2012). The ELA covers all desktop and server based products that are critical in supporting GIS enterprise deployments in each state NG for operations for the Army Guard and Joint Staff within the 54 States, Territories and the District of Columbia. The ELA process was a combined effort by various NGB programs and directorates and had executive support from the TAGs; however, the ELA does not cover the entire National Guard Enterprise as it omits the Air National Guard in general (outside of the A7 who have an ELA via the Air Force A7 community strictly for the GeoBase Program). Efforts need to continue to ensure the Air National Guard is provided adequate Geospatial Software and an internal program to support the training and successful deployment of geospatial technologies within the Air Guard outside of GeoBase Program applications.. 2. Continue to develop and share GIS applications that can assist states with the creation of User Defined Operational Pictures (UDOP). Create an environment where Geospatial solutions can be distributed among states National Guard; in particular utilize the preparations for CAPSTONE 2014 which is a Central US Earthquake Consortium (CUSEC) exercise focused on response to a New Madrid Fault Earthquake. This will help facilitate the introduction of GIS to states who do not use it with training for all states in the region and incorporation of a UDOP and information sharing platform. These discovery and facilitation actions will bond the Central United States Earthquake Consortium (CUSEC) states by providing SSA capability within and outside the CUSEC area of operations. Additionally, an environment needs to be established where GIS related actions within the states J6, G6 and A6 can turn to for various industry and National Guard standard configurations relating to times such as ArcGIS Server and Database configuration and deployment. 3. Deploy a centralized cataloging system called ArcGIS Portal for the National Guard. ArcGIS Portal is a web based cataloging system that allows State National Guards to register SSA information services and other information that have been published by each state and can then be shared, discovered, and re-used throughout the community. ArcGIS Portal for the National Guard is the same technology that has been deployed by FEMA for the exact same purposes. Eventually both FEMA and the National Guard s Portals could be available to each other giving both FEMA and National Guard users access to key SSA information. Portal is available to the National Guard via the ELA, however a hosting location and the long term sustainment and support needs to be established in order to support geospatial operations for the 54 States, Territories and the District. National Guard States Geospatial Systems Program / 2014 Strategic Imperatives Page 4
4. Complete and publish the States National Guard Domestic Operations Concept of Operations (DOMOPS GeoCONOPS) The National Guard Domestic Operations Concept of Operations has been drafted to serve as a vehicle to facilitate common reporting, capturing and sharing of common operational data and rest services, enabling the National Guard of the various states to be aware of developing emergencies and have the ability to respond effectively in concert with partner agencies and military forces. The CONOPS drafted in June 2012 was vetted with various states National Guard and agency partners. With the advent of emerging technology such as cloud services, a potential National Guard Portal and utilization of Arc GIS Online, this document requires updating and publication. 5. Develop a means to identify and maintain an awareness of State s National Guard Geospatial operating environment. Within the realm of Geospatial activity in the National Guard for Domestic Operations there are a variety of business practices and software utilization to present Situational Awareness (SA), Shared Situational Awareness (SSA) through a User Defined Operating Picture (UDOP). Formulating an understanding will provide a means to determine future actions and initiatives to enable SA and SSA sharing. Categorizing these objectives in the following areas will allow us to focus on areas of development and need: NG ELA Utilization GIS Skills (Where these skills reside and if they are available to support DOMOPS) JOC Integration GIS Solutions Outreach Developed solutions should have periodic updates built in and ability to share within the National Guard Enterprise. 6. Create a Geographic Information System Training Plan for State Level Domestic Operations. The Army National Guard, the National Guard Bureau and Esri develop an annual Geographic Information System Training Plan for the Army National Guard and Guard Bureau Joint Staff. A document of similar caliber does not exist for the States National Guard for Domestic Operations. The goal is to create and publish a similar document focused on GIS Training required or suggested to properly operate a geospatial platform for state National Guard Domestic Operations. National Guard States Geospatial Systems Program / 2014 Strategic Imperatives Page 5
3. GeoGuard Program Principles: GeoGuard Background Information a. Leverage existing software, resources and structures b. Compliment/extend current capabilities; avoid degrading existing capabilities c. Achieve interoperability through standards-based approaches d. Promote and embrace best ideas, concepts and practices nationally and among the 54 e. Provide a dynamic geospatial information sharing environment f. Facilitate a unity of effort based on trust and partnering among stakeholders g. Using defined operational requirements, build resources and sustainable solutions h. Assist the Adjutant Generals Association of the United States with the deployment and sustainment of geospatial practices. 4. GeoGuard Methodology: GeoGuard methodology is two-fold: Liaise with national geospatial groups and collaborate geospatial information among the 54 States, Territories and District of Columbia. a. Liaise With National Geospatial Groups Committee chairs (and regional leads as appropriate) will participate in national Geospatial related meetings to maintain awareness of trends and developments that support the Whole of Community approach. As representatives, they will collaborate with National Agencies/Committees/Groups and represent the 54 for States National Guard; as well they will inform the 54 through the regional representatives of critical information as required. (1) The GeoGuard States GIS Committee is a contributor and member of the Air National Guard Domestic Operations (DOMOPS) Integrated Process Team (IPT) which is in the process of combining efforts to become a Joint DOMOPS Unity of Effort IPT. As a subset of the ANG DOMOPS IPT, LtCol Domingue is the co-chair of the ANG DOMOPS Planning and Shared Situational Awareness (SSA) Tiger Team (2) The National States Geographic Information Council (NSGIC) is an organization committed to efficient and effective government through the prudent adoption of geospatial information technologies (GIT). Mr. Chris Diller is the NSGIC liaison to the National Guard. (3) The National Information Sharing Consortium was developed to bring together data owners, custodians, and users involved in the fields of emergency preparedness, management, and response to drive an ongoing dialogue and corresponding action on how to best leverage efforts related to the governance, development, and sharing of technology, data, processes, and best practices. The National Guard States Geospatial Systems Program / 2014 Strategic Imperatives Page 6
NISC supports FEMA s Whole of Community intent; the GeoGuard States Program is represented on the NISC by the co-chairs LtCol Domingue and Mr. Diller. b. Collaborate Geospatial Information Among the 54 The GeoGuard Program will utilize the FEMA region construct to establish networking points, known as GeoGuard Regional Representatives who can: (1) Develop relationships with regional states (2) Understand the geospatial requirements of the region (3) Collect or distribute information consistent with GeoGuard Program Principles (4) Provide a forum to that can collect and share system infrastructure design, developing practices and applications (5) Assist states with the awareness of the National Guard Enterprise License Agreement and available software and training (6) Periodically inform their Adjutant General of the status of the GeoGuard States Program within their region GeoGuard Regional Representatives will be nominated by the chairmanship of the GeoGuard States Program and appointed by the Adjutant General of the appropriate state understanding the required duties/tasks of the representative. 5. GeoGuard Means to Achieve Principles: a. We will conduct business through meetings, briefings, and seminars. Monthly seminars will incorporate new items, upcoming Geospatial events, identification of developing applications and demonstration of developed applications. b. We will generate initiatives that affect the various National Guard states will be captured in the form of Strategic Imperatives and monitored by the GeoGuard States GIS Committee (comprised of Program chairs and Regional Representatives). c. Create a calendar of critical events that will provide the GIS States Committee with opportunities to create and test geospatial applications; install and/or train personnel on ArcGIS Software; assist with regional collaboration; learn from and inform national agencies or committees about the GeoGuard States Program. d. We will also author, as required, publications that on the whole will describe National Guard states common practices and agreed upon governance enabling a holistic approach to solutions. National Guard States Geospatial Systems Program / 2014 Strategic Imperatives Page 7