VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. –
Personnel from Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division (NSWC PCD) completed delivery of the new Expeditionary Cary-On (ExCON) Systems for Explosive Ordnance Disposal Expeditionary Support Unit Two (EODESU2), May 2-20, 2022.
For this delivery, EODESU2 required a communications system that would be small, man-packable, lightweight, and operable while conducting operations in expeditionary and amphibious environments. ExCON supports NSWC PCD mission by providing a unique capability to the warfighter and filling a specific communications need requested by EODESU2.
ExCON Systems 14 and 15 are part of the Joint and Expeditionary Command and Control (JEXC2) Family of Systems (FoS) that comprise infrastructure, Information Technology equipment and communications equipment. JEXC2 systems are deployable which enable a command to set up a self-contained, self-powered, computer network-enabled temporary headquarters facility anywhere in the world within hours of arrival at a location.
Chiyan Ng, NSWC PCD communications support activity lead, said the ExCON System is a roll-on-roll-off, on-the-move, small form factor, rapidly deployable, command and control kit designed to be operated on any vessel of opportunity.
“It supports an agnostic transport capability which enables deployed tactical users to access Department of Defense information network services across the commercial internet using transport paths such as hotel Wi-Fi, cellular networks, and broadband global area networks and any internet service provider,” said Ng. “The system is designed to be operated by non-electronics technician/information systems technician personnel. It provides Secure Internet Protocol Router network (SIPRnet), Non-classified Internet Protocol Router network, Voice over Internet Protocol, Voice over SIPRnet, and video teleconferencing services.”
The project was a team effort consisting of NSWC PCD professionals from a variety of specialized areas, including hardware, networks, software, test and evaluation, logistics and training, as well as fielding coordinators responding to the needs of the warfighter. Kendal Schroeder, NSWC PCD computer engineer, is the project lead for the ExCON Systems.
“For the successful delivery of ExCON Systems 14 and 15, all team members worked together to achieve project milestones at every phase,” said Schroeder, “including but not limited to, the construction of the system, initial testing at NSWC PCD, coordination with the gaining command, delivery, installation, and on-site testing, training, and providing continuous support upon request.”
These systems are developed based on requirements from the Shore and Expeditionary Integration Program Office (PMW 790) of the Program Executive Office Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence.
Brian Snellen, project manager for Navy Enterprise Tactical Command & Control (NETC2), part of the JEXC2 portfolio, explained that PMW 790 is the sponsor for the NETC2 FoS which includes the ExCON system. NSWC PCD supports PMW 790 with the research, development, integration, and deployment of the ExCON system.
With a new system delivery, the fielding team from NSWC PCD conducts three separate phases of installation: system operational verification test events, installation of the ExCON systems, and training, which occurs during the final week of delivery.
“During the training phase, the sailors are given a pre-course exam to test their knowledge of the system prior to training, and then participate in a week-long training course taught in-person by a member of the NSWC PCD team,” said Snellen. “At the end of the course, all participating sailors take an exam to prove the knowledge acquired during training and receive a certificate of completion upon passing the exam.”
NSWC PCD’s most important role as a Naval Sea Systems Command warfare center is to provide advanced warfighting capability to the fleet and deliver relevant and innovative solutions for combat-ready ships, submarines, and systems. The NSWC PCD ExCON team delivered a wide range of technology and communication systems, answering the Navy expeditionary forces’ specific needs and transforming how the warfighter communicates.