The Program Executive Office Command, Control, Communications – Tactical (PEO C3T) has redesignated as PEO Command, Control, Communications, and Network (PEO C3N).
The new name, formalized during a redesignation ceremony today, follows the Army’s decision last year to merge the enterprise and tactical network efforts under a single acquisition portfolio, resulting in a streamlined effort to develop the unified network as part of the Army’s network modernization strategy.
“Today is a chance to come home and be part of a very significant and pivotal moment for this organization,” said Lt. Gen. Rob Collins, Principal Military Deputy to the Assistant Secretary of the Army, Army Acquisition Corps and former PEO for C3T, who provided opening remarks during the ceremony. “This is deeper than just a simple rebranding. This event signifies and recognizes the changing environment and how we must evolve, and the importance of our network and command and control capabilities.”
The Army established the unified network, which includes hardware, software, and infrastructure, to support an integrated Multi-Domain Operations-ready force, able to conduct seamless operations from the edge to division and Corps in a joint environment.
Recent real-world operations in the Middle East and Europe continue to validate the need for a unified network.
“Events are changing at the velocity of which we have never seen before,” Collins said. “We have to be agile, mobile and lethal. We still have to be able to shoot, move, communicate, but now you have the land, sea, air and cyberspace domains that have to be interconnected and transparent to the warfighters,” Collins said. “At the very underpinning of all this is communications, our data and our ability to do command and control. And I would tell you that you are building the foundation of how we’re going to deliver our force of 2030 and how you’re going to set the conditions for 2040.”
Merging the tactical and enterprise portfolios required the addition of six new product offices previously assigned to PEO Enterprise Information Systems into the PEO C3N portfolio. Project Manager Integrated Enterprise Network (PM IEN) and its four product management offices brought global network modernization capabilities to the organization, including its base emergency communication system program and wideband enterprise satellite systems. In addition, the enterprise identity, credential and access management portfolio, previously assigned to PEO EIS’ Product Director Enterprise Services, provided capabilities that are advancing the Army’s zero trust effort.
These enterprise capabilities now compliment PEO C3N’s existing resilient terrestrial and satellite communications, assured voice communications, data-enabled common operating picture and digital fires capabilities.
“With the addition of the enterprise network portfolios, we are now even better postured to provide enhanced high-speed, high-capacity voice, data and video communications for the force – all powered by a secure, holistic unified network,” said Mark Kitz, PEO for C3N, who addressed the workforce following the ceremonial casing of the old colors and uncasing of the new colors. “Over the past two years, we have already seen incredible progress towards this critical effort, including moving networked capabilities to the cloud and establishing common data standards.”
To date, the Army has collapsed dozens of legacy networks ahead of schedule, and between now and the second quarter of fiscal year 2025, several foundational network capabilities will be coming online that will enhance global deployment of the Army, including the ability for Soldiers to immediately plug in to the network and fight.
As the Army prepares for the unknowable and the complexities of the future battlefield, secure communications and reduced signature on the battlefield are more critical than ever, said Collins, stating that Army leaders see firsthand the importance of not only secure communications, but also reduced signature on powerful cyber electronic warfare, and they are thankful for the role PEO C3N has played to mitigate these “very real threats.”
Continued advancements in commercial technology coupled with the shifting nature of military conflicts guarantees the Army’s network modernization will never be “finished,” nor will the option to realign portfolios as necessary to meet these needs, Kitz said, but the opportunity to transform the network for the future fight is a reflection of the organization’s network modernization efforts to date.
“Establishing secure communications from the tip of the spear to higher headquarters is about keeping our Soldiers lethal, effective, and most importantly out of harm’s way,” he said. “Our new name both symbolizes and recognizes the great history of PEO C3T, and we could not take on the future without the work that has been done or will continue to be done.”
Not Yet a Premium Partner/Sponsor? Learn more about the OS AI Premium Corporate and Individual Plans here. Plans start at $250 annually.