C4I Interoperability

Mission — C4I Interoperability source

The Joint Interoperability Test Command (JITC) is the only joint element of the Department of Defense’s (DoD) Major Range and Test Facility Base (MRTFB) that primarily performs Test and Evaluation (T&E) of Information Technology and National Security Systems (IT/NSS) in support of Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence (C4I). JITC is the DoD's only Joint Interoperability Certifier at the only Non-Service Operational Test Agency. Interoperability is vital to the DoD’s success as it allows forces, units and/or systems of military services, and U.S. partners to share data, information, materiel, and services required to operate collaboratively. Operational testing addresses critical issues of a system's effectiveness in combat-like environments. Additionally, operational testing provides decision makers an independent evaluation to better understand the risks and capabilities of a system’s effectiveness, suitability, and cyber-security before fielding to the warfighters. JITC’s T&E efforts determine the degree to which the DoD is fielding interoperable, operationally effective, suitable, and cyber survivable joint warfighting capabilities to achieve DoD’s goal of information superiority. JITC evaluates DoD system and capability conformance to applicable Military Standards and technical specifications and performs Cyber T&E of DoD IT and NSS (including Cloud services and Mobility). Collectively, JITC's Test, Evaluation, and Certification (TE&C) services support DISA's strategy to operate and secure the DISA portion of the DoD Information Network. JITC is responsible for: • Evaluating DoD IT/NSS for Joint/Coalition (involving two or more US military services and/or partner nations) interoperability to provide decision makers objective information on systems issues, risks and capabilities. • Issuing Joint Interoperability Certifications and Assessments to document system functionality and capability. • Conducting operational evaluations of production representative systems to determine how they perform in typical real-world scenarios. • Maintaining a federated IT infrastructure which provides a national test asset to DoD and other organizations as an MRTFB activity. • Providing interoperability mission support to warfighters to enable effective communication and operations between U.S. Military Services and other foreign nations.

Mission — Major Range Test Facility Base Operations source

Beginning in FY 2024. T-30 MRTFB Test and Evaluation funding and mission have been realigned under T-40 Major Range Test Facility Base Operations. This exhibit includes the combined T-30 and T-40 mission descriptions. DISA, through JITC, manages the Department’s Joint Interoperability TE&C process structured to provide meaningful and independent test results, which increases stakeholder confidence that capabilities fielded to the warfighter meet mission needs. The T&E activities target evaluation strategies in the design, development, operational, integration and/or sustainment aspects of every program supported. JITC’s T&E efforts span a variety of test categories that support Department-wide enterprise solutions. JITC also provides services for Service, Agency, and mission partner developmental, operational, cyber and interoperability TE&C efforts. As the DoD Joint Interoperability Certification Authority, JITC annually: • Ensures interoperability test, evaluation, and certification standard practices and procedures are in accordance with DoD policy. • Evaluates DoD’s IT/NSS for joint interoperability and issues Joint interoperability certifications and assessments. • Manages the scheduling and executes interoperability test events. These events evaluate, certify, and re-certify Service/Agency systems. • Reviews Joint Capabilities Integration and Development System documents, interoperability support plans, and interoperability policy waivers on behalf of the DoD Chief Information Officer (CIO) and the Joint Staff. These reviews ensure compliance with DoD interoperability testing policy and requirements. • Serves as executive agent to DoD’s Interoperability Steering Group, in support of the DoD CIO, and uses forum to coordinate policy, adjudicate issues, and to process Interim Certificates to Operate. JITC made significant strides in updating test and evaluation methodologies to support new acquisition pathways resulting in increased integrated testing, conducting smaller events, and informing decision makers more often. This enables releasing capabilities to the warfighter more efficiently. On 4 OCT 2022, the Operational Test Agency (OTAs) for the military services and JITC jointly released an “Operational Test Agencies Six Core Test Principles” to encourage early engagement, increased agility, and flexibility to support continuous evaluations for programs and improved support for agile acquisition. As the only non-Service OTA within DoD, JITC annually: • Conducts operational testing of IT/NSS under realistic conditions to determine the operational effectiveness, suitability, interoperability, and cyber survivability. Additionally, JITC independently assesses the operational impact of system issues on mission accomplishment. • Serves as the OTA for DISA-managed programs, and upon request, serves as the OTA for other Agencies such as the Defense Logistics Agency, Department of Homeland Security, Defense Health Agency, Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency, and the National Security Agency. In direct support of the Warfighter, JITC participates in Joint, Coalition, and Allied operations in exercises designed to evaluate Joint, Coalition and Allied capabilities in, or planned to deploy to theater, by: • Providing on-demand rapid response contingency support to Regional Combatant Commands (COCOMs) and conducting assessments during interoperability exercises. • Maintaining a 24x7 Warfighter (C4I) Interoperability Hotline that connects warfighters to subject matter experts to resolve IT interoperability challenges. JITC provides strategy development and investments to maintain, operate, and improve joint interoperability certification, operational, and warfighter TE&C services by: • Integrating evolving processes and technologies that leverage efficiencies such as DevSecOps (a development practice that integrates security initiatives at every stage of the software development lifecycle to deliver robust and secure applications), virtualization, enterprise elements, and the foundational Cyber assets mandated by the DMS. • Expanding test infrastructure and operations to enable rapid, on-demand provisioning across the DoD and Cyber integration with enterprise environments. • Designing consistent, repeatable test methodologies to ensure efficient T&E for changing or emerging technologies. • Providing T&E guidance/oversight to DISA programs, creating synergy and efficiencies across the DISA IT portfolio, and gaining insight in new technologies and commercial best practices. As the only non-Service activity of the DoD MRTFB, JITC provides a dedicated IT testing environment for a single end-to-end infrastructure. As an MRTFB asset, JITC provides tested IT infrastructure products to the DoD, Federal/non-Federal Government, Commercial vendors, and Allied partners. The JITC MRTFB: • Encompasses two geographic locations (Ft. Huachuca, AZ; Ft. Meade, MD) and covers 116K square feet of raised floor space comprised of multiple test environments and test networks supporting over 100 programs on an annual basis. • Evolves technologies that leverage efficiencies such as virtualization, Information as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and the foundational Cyber resources. These resources expand test infrastructure and operations to allow rapid, on-demand provisioning, and federation across the DoD and Cyber integration with enterprise environments. • Complies with multiple levels of security and supports approximately 1,000 annual testing events to evaluate the DoD's converged information environment, DoDIN Approved Products List, Cyber, Cloud services, Mobility, and NSS. • Includes a significant portfolio of reference implementations, test tools, and supporting IT systems to aid both test execution and data collection/analysis.

Accomplishments & Planned Programs (1)