Leadership for Engineering & Integration IPv6 Transition
Northrop Grumman IT, TASC

The transformation of communications for the US Government has started. The next generation of communications - involving satellites, wireless and terrestrial systems - is currently being implemented and their concept of operations is awaiting IPv6 capabilities. The need for improved protocols and capabilities is critical for providing essential communications to the future war-fighter and enabler. IPv6 will become a critical instrument of their arsenals - providing the mechanism for timely and secure communications in a net-centric environment.

Internet Protocol Version 6 enables war-fighting capability by increasing the flow of information into every aspect of DOD and federal communications from the largest command and control "system of systems", to ships, aircraft, satellites, weapons and tools, and even down to the individual foot soldier. Many do not appreciate the magnitude of this integration; most compare the IPv6 implementation to that of Y2K preparations or simply state it is just "the implementation of a dual stack or tunnel brokers." Both undervalue the magnitude of the benefits and risks associated with dynamic change. IPv6 brings added security capabilities, enterprise-to-enterprise interoperability, standardization, flexibility, common interfaces, rapid deployments, and plug-and-play architectures - all critically needed by our mobile military.

The need for methodology and structure to transition is critical. A detailed methodology and proven process must be implemented and followed across the DOD and federal communities. Northrop Grumman Information Technology, TASC has successfully integrated critical systems across the intelligence, commercial, and DOD communities. It is the System Engineering & Integration (SE&I) leader for billions of dollars of US Government assets, from Transformational Communications space programs to Homeland Defense networks, Intelligence networks, surveillance and reconnaissance platforms, and even the White House. We start by establishing strategic rules of the road such as:

MANAGE STAKEHOLDERS & OWNERSHIP - Communicate the need for urgency of change; take action and maintain momentum; manage expectations and needs; take full life cycle responsibility for transitioning needs into operational reality. Apply strategic resources of Northrop Grumman, its partners, associates, community, and customers. Leverage knowledge of customer interfaces - knowing whom and where to go to saves money and time.

MAINTAIN ARCHITECTURAL & STRATEGIC VISION - Develop, maintain and anchor strategic plans and mission goals throughout the DOD community for IPv6 implementation; manage the transition as an investment; manage the DOD IPv6 architecture as one enterprise.

MAXIMIZE TECHNOLOGY & PERFORMANCE - Establish metrics for improved technology, processes, schedules, and cost. Concentrate and focus on forward-looking technology that is evolving and emerging.

SELECT SMART TRANSITION SOLUTIONS - Transition is not always the solution; some disruptive applications need IPv6 for mass deployment. When IPv4 and IPv6 have to coexist, keeping IPv4-to-IPv6 transition under control is essential to avoid the deployment of two parallel Internet infrastructures. IPv4-to-IPv6 transition is not merely an address or routing issue. Available and emerging enhanced IPv4 services such as IP QoS, IP security, and telephony over IP all must be continuously provided whatever the IP infrastructure might be.

The Northrop Grumman Information Technology (NGIT) System-of-System engineering approach at TASC has been used for the past 35+ years and is Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI) Level 5 approved. There is a high correlation between the thoughtfulness and investment placed up front into the art of engineering and integrating complex government undertakings such as the IPv6 transition. In today's world of tight fiscal constraints, increasing development costs, and budget realities, it is becoming increasingly difficult to successfully make this up front investment. We have trademarked our approach, which allows Systems Engineering & Integration organizations to produce work concurrently and efficiently in a high quality collaborative environment. Our Integrated Systems Management (ISM™) approach starts by using four decades of lessons learned from managing transitions and developments of over 1,000 defense programs. Our process is simple: use what works, get information to everyone that needs it, and makes the process easy to use and repeatable.

ISM™ is our solution to bringing a suite of CMMI based SE&I processes, tools, and training together that enable program offices to achieve the technical, schedule, and budget objectives their complex system implementations require. ISM(tm) customers and users can select from proven processes that are tailored and installed in an integrated collaborative environment that utilizes an array of selectable best-of-breed COTS (Commercial Off The Shelf) tools. These CMMI qualified and repeatable processes cause dramatic reductions in re-work, yielding products that are right the first time for reduced program costs. Data integrity through a well defined, controlled, and managed data environment, and a process for managing that environment, results in more effective communications, using the right data to make the right decisions.

Our Integrated Systems Management (ISM™)

Proven processes are important because they save money, time and lives. The IPv6 transition could cost DOD hundreds of millions of dollars if not implemented properly. The longer technology progresses along a natural course without management by an experienced SE&I, the higher the transition costs become. Inefficient and unsynchronized self-transition of DOD networks leads to interoperability problems, delays, and inefficient application of resources to real world problems. State of the art SE&I methodology involves more than just applying processes. It requires fielded and proven SE&I methodologies, optimally, those used with multiple customers and on large multi-billion dollar acquisition and development communications programs.

Proven leadership is the key to managing this challenging transition. The SE&I organization must have no biases toward a technology or solution and must be the trusted partner of the customer. Essential to this leadership is proven DOD expertise, knowing the decision makers, understanding the technology, and ownership of the building blocks needed for proper and successful implementation. We start by being the gatekeeper of technology and implementations - bringing the best-of-breed solution regardless of company affiliation. An example of such is our MobileShield™ solution - where we sifted through hundreds of communications hardware and software technologies to produce an integrated interoperability solution for our homeland security and local community customers. As a living and breathing SE&I implementation we constantly update our MobileShield™ approach, ensuring it remains leading edge. The need for a world-class SE&I trusted partner for the IPv6 transition is clear. At NGIT TASC, we are working throughout the federal community, solving their toughest IPv6 networking challenges -- we are ready for IPv6.