National Guard (States)
Geospatial Systems
Program and 2014
Strategic Imperatives
LtCol Mike Domingue, NHNG, Team Co-Chair
Mr. Chris Diller, WING, Team Co-Chair
The GeoGuard States GIS Program and Committee is under advisement from the
Adjutants General Association of the United States (AGAUS) taskforce for Cyber,
GIS, IT and SSA and provides a recommended tactical approach for deploying
the technology backbone that will support Geospatial infrastructure and
processes.
The GeoGuard States Program is established to facilitate and coordinate the development
of processes and procedures to enable sustained interoperable geospatial capabilities in
support of all National Guard missions and daily business practices.
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) has been described as “Location Enabled Decision
Support” and allows for vast amounts of data from diverse sources to be put into context
and transforms it into actionable knowledge. It has also been characterized as:
-
A rapidly maturing practice that changes the way we see our world and how we
interact with it.
-
A unifier and enabler in preparing, monitoring and changing outcomes.
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Building a holistic and synergistic approach to solving issues.
“The Army Guard and Joint Staff at the national and state levels have an Enterprise License
Agreement (ELA) for Esri GIS software. This software provides sophisticated data
management, analysis, and visualization capabilities from the field to your SSA platform and
back that enable a true SSA enterprise solution.
Esri is a cost effective solution to Shared Situational Awareness (SSA): SSA and related
technologies have been an important topic of discussion within the National Guard for quite a
while and we need to continue to develop and deploy new and more advanced capabilities
that enable true SSA.
I would like to emphasize that this is technology that the Guard already owns and has
complete access too. It's just a matter of getting this technology into the right people's hands
and deploying it to further enable your state, territory or the District to achieve not only
shared situational awareness but better decision making overall.”
MajGen William Reddel III; AGAUS Cyber/GIS/Information Technology Committee Chair
National Guard States Geospatial Systems Program / 2014 Strategic Imperatives
1 November 2014
Page 1
Table of Contents
1. FY 2014 Critical Planning Dates ………………………………………………………….
Page 2
2. FY 2014 GeoGuard Strategic Imperatives ……………………………………………
Page 3
GeoGuard Background Information
3. GeoGuard Program Principles ……………………………………………….………….
Page 6
4. GeoGuard Methodology ……………………………………………………………………..
Page 6
5. GeoGuard Means to Achieve Principles ……………………………………………….
Page 7
1. FY 2014 Critical Planning Dates
27 – 31 Oct 2013
5 – 8 Nov 2013
21 Nov 2013
13 – 14 Nov 2013
19 Dec 2013
16 Jan 2014
10 – 12 Feb 2014
13 Feb 2014
23 – 26 Feb 2014
24 – 28 Feb 2014
13 Mar 2014
27 Mar – 3 Apr 2014
27 Mar – 3 Apr 2014
17 Apr 2014
May 6 – 9 2014
15 May 2014
16-20 June 2014
19 Jun 2014
10 – 13 July 2014
14 – 18 July 2014
July 2014
24 July 2014
21 Aug 2014
21 – 22 Aug 2014
22 – 25 Aug 2014
18 Sep 2014
28 Sep – 1 Oct 2014
NSGIC Annual Conference (Kansas City)
Vigilant Guard (Maine)
GeoGuard Meeting
HLFLD Working Group Meeting (USGS Reston, VA)
GeoGuard Meeting
GeoGuard Meeting
Esri FED GIS Conference
GeoGuard Meeting
NSGIC Mid-Year Conference (Annapolis, MD)
Vigilant Guard (Alabama)
GeoGuard Meeting
Vigilant Guard (Alaska)
Ardent Sentry NORTHCOM
GeoGuard Meeting
NASCIO Mid-Year Meeting (Baltimore)
GeoGuard Meeting
CAPSTONE 2014
GeoGuard Meeting
National Governor’s Association Meeting (Nashville, TN)
Esri International Users Conference
Patriot Exercise (Volk Field WI)
GeoGuard Meeting
GeoGuard Meeting
Vigilant Guard (Kansas)
NGAUS Conference (Chicago)
GeoGuard Meeting
NASCIO Annual Conference (Nashville)
National Guard States Geospatial Systems Program / 2014 Strategic Imperatives
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2. Strategic Imperatives
It's the management of attention. There is only so much we can all give our attention to. So we need to
ensure that we’re aiming at high improvement targets that really matter. The faster the pace of
change and improvement, the clearer our goals and priorities must be.
A key component of providing focus to an organization calls for leaders to identify "strategic
imperatives" or "must-do's." These are the team or organization's critical leverage points. Strategic
imperatives are those vital few 12 to 18 month goals, priorities, and improvement targets that —
when reached — hurl our team or organization toward it's vision, values, and purpose.
©Copyright 2001 The CLEMMER Group
FY 2014 GeoGuard Strategic Imperatives
a. Our collaborative efforts support the Council of Governors (CoG) Joint Action Plan
on Shared Situational Awareness (SSA). SSA is part of a larger geospatial approach
for enabling the guard with baseline GIS capabilities in particular utilizing available
resources.
b. SSA continues to be a part a larger national concern to share data seamlessly among
government and other National, State and Local agencies. To be effective, the
National Guard at the States level needs to be brought up to an acceptable level of
GIS awareness, training and interaction; establishing an ELA and having the
software alone is a major first step but is not the only one. The following Strategic
Imperatives have been identified as our focus to provide states with the ability to
utilize a purchased (for NGB, ARNG, JFHQ-State) analytical and mapping display tool
available at their hands to enhance business practices and to provide SA and SSA of
Domestic Operations.
c. The following are the 2014 GeoGuard Strategic Imperatives:
1. Establish an Esri software ELA to cover the entire National Guard
2. Continue to develop and share GIS applications that can assist states with the
creation of a User Defined Operating Picture (UDOP)
3. Deploy a centralized cataloging system called ArcGIS Portal for the National
Guard
4. Complete and publish the States National Guard Domestic Operations Geospatial
Concept of Operations (DOMOPS GeoCONOPS)
5. Develop a means to identify and maintain an awareness of State’s National
Guard Geospatial operating environment
6. Create a Geographic Information System Training Plan for State Level Domestic
Operations
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1. Establish an Esri software ELA to cover the entire National Guard.
A key first step of establishing an ESRI ELA has been completed (August 2012). The ELA
covers all desktop and server based products that are critical in supporting GIS enterprise
deployments in each state NG for operations for the Army Guard and Joint Staff within the
54 States, Territories and the District of Columbia. The ELA process was a combined effort
by various NGB programs and directorates and had executive support from the TAGs;
however, the ELA does not cover the entire National Guard Enterprise as it omits the Air
National Guard in general (outside of the A7 who have an ELA via the Air Force A7
community strictly for the GeoBase Program). Efforts need to continue to ensure the Air
National Guard is provided adequate Geospatial Software and an internal program to
support the training and successful deployment of geospatial technologies within the Air
Guard outside of GeoBase Program applications..
2. Continue to develop and share GIS applications that can assist states with the creation
of User Defined Operational Pictures (UDOP).
Create an environment where Geospatial solutions can be distributed among states’ National
Guard; in particular utilize the preparations for CAPSTONE 2014 which is a Central US
Earthquake Consortium (CUSEC) exercise focused on response to a New Madrid Fault
Earthquake. This will help facilitate the introduction of GIS to states who do not use it with
training for all states in the region and incorporation of a UDOP and information sharing
platform. These discovery and facilitation actions will bond the Central United States
Earthquake Consortium (CUSEC) states by providing SSA capability within and outside the
CUSEC area of operations.
Additionally, an environment needs to be established where GIS related actions within the states
J6, G6 and A6 can turn to for various industry and National Guard standard configurations
relating to times such as ArcGIS Server and Database configuration and deployment.
3. Deploy a centralized cataloging system called ArcGIS Portal for the National Guard.
ArcGIS Portal is a web based cataloging system that allows State National Guards to register
SSA information services and other information that have been published by each state and
can then be shared, discovered, and re-used throughout the community. ArcGIS Portal for the
National Guard is the same technology that has been deployed by FEMA for the exact same
purposes. Eventually both FEMA and the National Guard’s Portals could be available to each
other giving both FEMA and National Guard users access to key SSA information. Portal is
available to the National Guard via the ELA, however a hosting location and the long term
sustainment and support needs to be established in order to support geospatial operations for
the 54 States, Territories and the District.
National Guard States Geospatial Systems Program / 2014 Strategic Imperatives
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4. Complete and publish the States National Guard Domestic Operations Concept of
Operations (DOMOPS GeoCONOPS)
The National Guard Domestic Operations Concept of Operations has been drafted to serve as a
vehicle to facilitate common reporting, capturing and sharing of common operational data and
rest services, enabling the National Guard of the various states to be aware of developing
emergencies and have the ability to respond effectively in concert with partner agencies and
military forces. The CONOPS drafted in June 2012 was vetted with various states National
Guard and agency partners. With the advent of emerging technology such as cloud services, a
potential National Guard Portal and utilization of Arc GIS Online, this document requires
updating and publication.
5. Develop a means to identify and maintain an awareness of State’s National Guard
Geospatial operating environment.
Within the realm of Geospatial activity in the National Guard for Domestic Operations there
are a variety of business practices and software utilization to present Situational Awareness
(SA), Shared Situational Awareness (SSA) through a User Defined Operating Picture (UDOP).
Formulating an understanding will provide a means to determine future actions and initiatives
to enable SA and SSA sharing. Categorizing these objectives in the following areas will allow
us to focus on areas of development and need:
 NG ELA Utilization
GIS Skills (Where these skills reside and if they are available to support DOMOPS)
 JOC Integration
 GIS Solutions
 Outreach
Developed solutions should have periodic updates built in and ability to share within the
National Guard Enterprise.
6. Create a Geographic Information System Training Plan for State Level Domestic
Operations.
The Army National Guard, the National Guard Bureau and Esri develop an annual
Geographic Information System Training Plan for the Army National Guard and Guard
Bureau Joint Staff. A document of similar caliber does not exist for the States National Guard
for Domestic Operations. The goal is to create and publish a similar document focused on GIS
Training required or suggested to properly operate a geospatial platform for state National
Guard Domestic Operations.
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GeoGuard Background Information
3. GeoGuard Program Principles:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
Leverage existing software, resources and structures
Compliment/extend current capabilities; avoid degrading existing capabilities
Achieve interoperability through standards-based approaches
Promote and embrace best ideas, concepts and practices nationally and among the
“54”
Provide a dynamic geospatial information sharing environment
Facilitate a unity of effort based on trust and partnering among stakeholders
Using defined operational requirements, build resources and sustainable solutions
Assist the Adjutant Generals Association of the United States with the deployment
and sustainment of geospatial practices.
4. GeoGuard Methodology:
GeoGuard methodology is two-fold: Liaise with national geospatial groups and collaborate
geospatial information among the 54 States, Territories and District of Columbia.
a. Liaise With National Geospatial Groups
Committee chairs (and regional leads as appropriate) will participate in national
Geospatial related meetings to maintain awareness of trends and developments that
support the “Whole of Community” approach. As representatives, they will collaborate
with National Agencies/Committees/Groups and represent the “54” for States’ National
Guard; as well they will inform the “54” through the regional representatives of critical
information as required.
(1) The GeoGuard States GIS Committee is a contributor and member of the Air
National Guard Domestic Operations (DOMOPS) Integrated Process Team (IPT)
which is in the process of combining efforts to become a Joint DOMOPS Unity of
Effort IPT. As a subset of the ANG DOMOPS IPT, LtCol Domingue is the co-chair of
the ANG DOMOPS Planning and Shared Situational Awareness (SSA) Tiger Team
(2) The National States Geographic Information Council (NSGIC) is an organization
committed to efficient and effective government through the prudent adoption of
geospatial information technologies (GIT). Mr. Chris Diller is the NSGIC liaison to
the National Guard.
(3) The National Information Sharing Consortium was developed to bring together
data owners, custodians, and users involved in the fields of emergency
preparedness, management, and response to drive an ongoing dialogue and
corresponding action on how to best leverage efforts related to the governance,
development, and sharing of technology, data, processes, and best practices. The
National Guard States Geospatial Systems Program / 2014 Strategic Imperatives
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NISC supports FEMA’s Whole of Community intent; the GeoGuard States Program is
represented on the NISC by the co-chairs LtCol Domingue and Mr. Diller.
b. Collaborate Geospatial Information Among the “54”
The GeoGuard Program will utilize the FEMA region construct to establish
networking points, known as GeoGuard Regional Representatives who can:
(1) Develop relationships with regional states
(2) Understand the geospatial requirements of the region
(3) Collect or distribute information consistent with GeoGuard Program Principles
(4) Provide a forum to that can collect and share system infrastructure design,
developing practices and applications
(5) Assist states with the awareness of the National Guard Enterprise License
Agreement and available software and training
(6) Periodically inform their Adjutant General of the status of the GeoGuard States
Program within their region
GeoGuard Regional Representatives will be nominated by the chairmanship of
the GeoGuard States Program and appointed by the Adjutant General of the
appropriate state understanding the required duties/tasks of the representative.
5. GeoGuard Means to Achieve Principles:
a. We will conduct business through meetings, briefings, and seminars. Monthly
seminars will incorporate new items, upcoming Geospatial events, identification of
developing applications and demonstration of developed applications.
b. We will generate initiatives that affect the various National Guard states will be
captured in the form of Strategic Imperatives and monitored by the GeoGuard States
GIS Committee (comprised of Program chairs and Regional Representatives).
c. Create a calendar of critical events that will provide the GIS States’ Committee with
opportunities to create and test geospatial applications; install and/or train
personnel on ArcGIS Software; assist with regional collaboration; learn from and
inform national agencies or committees about the GeoGuard States Program.
d. We will also author, as required, publications that on the whole will describe
National Guard states common practices and agreed upon governance enabling a
holistic approach to solutions.
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