Information Dominance in a Denied Environment Reflections from USS BONHOMME RICHARD LHD 6 Captain John Funk 6 April 2011

Operational Background Career HSL pilot – Command HSL-44, Aug 2001-Dec 2002 USS BONHOMME RICHARD (LHD-6) – WESTPAC 2007 (Arabian Gulf) – WESTPAC (Gulf of Aden) – RIMPAC 2008 / 2010

Challenges of the Denied Environment Command and Control – Intelligence – Tactical situation – Data accuracy – Data processing – Decision making – Speed of information flow – Dynamic and changing environment Reach back…Reach out Operating in a Denied Environment: Not if, but when

Challenges of the Denied Environment Command and Control – Intelligence – Tactical situation – Data accuracy – Data processing – Decision making – Speed of information flow – Dynamic and changing environment Reach back…Reach out Operating in a Denied Environment: Not if, but when

Tools for the Warfighter Operating in the denied environment is the expectation What happens when the information flow stops? Practice your offense – Networks & comms ∙ Train, maintain, sustain – Warfighter ∙ Plan, Prepare ∙ Train, Practice ∙ Empower decision makers

Challenges The systems – Reliable, redundant, interoperable – Train, maintain, sustain The Fleet – Train to operate in a denied environment – Network discipline ∙ Treat like a combat system ∙ Configuration management ∙ Upkeep, update, PMS ∙ Information dominance certification ∙ Insatiable demand