irving@us.ibm.com, 09:37 AM 10/15/00 -0400, IT and National Security
Date: Sun, 15 Oct 2000 09:37:03 -0400
From: irving@us.ibm.com
Subject: IT and National Security
To: ac-members@ccic.gov
Cc: ssastry@darpa.mil, lperine@ostp.eop.gov, Thomas_A._Kalil@opd.eop.gov,
comedy@ccic.gov, furlani@ccic.gov
X-Lotus-FromDomain: IBMUS
As we are getting ready to start this very important panel, perhaps it is
worthwhile to start the dialogue on what are key issues that we might
consider. There are quite a number of important ones:
1. DoD should be a showcase in implementing our 'Transforming Government"
panel recommendations. Not only could that significantly improve the
logistics and operations of DoD, but it could result in efficiencies that
would permit investment in other major opportunities.
2. The increasing ability to gather and analyze information can result in a
far more "intelligent" armed forces at all levels:
- Far more empowered individual warfighters
- More effective weapons systems
- More accurate and timely information gathering (classic intelligence
operations)
3. The increasing reliance of the country on a sophisticated IT
infrastructure requires a much more resilient, "self healing", flexible
infrastructure, especially against cyberattacks coming from small groups
around the world.
4. DoD should leverage IT based learning and training technologies and
methords to have the best prepared, flexible armed forces in the world.
These are just some of the major issues involving IT and national
security. I am sure there are others, perhaps of higher priority that we
will uncover as our panel starts operations. There have been a number of
recent studies and recommendations in these areas that we need to
understand and leverage in our panel.
Given the breadth of the area, our biggest challenge will likely be to
prioritize and narrow down our recommendations, especially focusing on
those where PITAC can have an influence and add value.
Irving Wladawsky-Berger
VP, Technology and Strategy, IBM Enterprise Systems Group
Somers, New York, 10589 914-766-3200 ; Fax: 914-766-8177
Email: irving@us.ibm.com
Printed for Andrew Viterbi <andrew.viterbi@viterbigroup.com>