NES' work in Afghanistan Honored
Alexandria, VA – NES has been instrumental in designing and installing innovations and improvements to Defense Logistics Agency’s (DLA’s) Enterprise Communication Network (ETN) in Afghanistan. The success of the ETN program in Afghanistan has been noted by the Government Computer News (GCN), a magazine that follows technology in government. In its 2011 Government Computer News Awards, the GCN awarded ETN Honorable Mention for Outstanding Information Technology Achievement in Government. The ETN project was one of only two DoD projects chosen from a field of over 300 competing IT projects, which were judged on the basis of their ability to streamline an agency’s operations or customer service.
NES and DLA worked with Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) to engineer, install and test one of the first terrestrial communications networks in Afghanistan. Since the network became operational in Afghanistan earlier this year, DLA personnel have had access to reliable and secure data, voice, and video communications in and around Afghanistan. DLA employees no longer need to rely upon connection to local host-based networks that limit the availability and use of DLA applications in everyday operations. .
By providing secure telecommunications to remote and dangerous areas of that country, the project has reduced the need for DLA staff members to risk travel through war-torn terrain to communicate with their customers. In addition, DLA employees can now routinely use voice and video conferencing. They also have access to critical DLA applications that is comparable to that of their colleagues in the USA, Europe and Asia.
Use of the terrestrial network has also allowed the DLA to save money by limiting the use of satellite communications.
Karen Pace, ETN Program Manager for DLA Information Operations, has stated that the success of the program is largely due to the such factors as the skill of the engineers who work for her, like Mike Pollack, an NES employee and senior network engineer on Pace’s team. Pace noted that Mr. Pollack has worked on the program for many years and has already developed relationships with Afghan telecoms cleared by the Department of Defense.
NES has worked closely with DLA on a wide array of projects to provide worldwide logistics support for military services, civilian agencies, and foreign governments. For additional information please contact Lori Severson at 858 945-6860 or via email at lori.severson@nesassociates.com.