The Army has published the guidance for a Common Operating Environment (COE) Architecture for the Army Enterprise Network.
The COE is a set of computing technologies and standards that will allow secure and interoperable applications to be rapidly developed and executed across a variety of computing environments–the server, client, mobile devices, sensors, and platforms.
The guidance, published Oct. 29, was earlier approved by Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Sorenson, chief information officer/G-6 and Malcolm O’Neill, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology (ASA (ALT)).
“To empower Program Objective Memorandum 13-17 investment decisions ASA (ALT) will publish a complementary Implementation Plan that describes the steps and schedule for bringing Army systems into compliance with the COE Architecture guidance,” the Oct. 20-approved guidance stated. The plan is expected to be published in early 2011.
From now on, the memo said, COE Architecture compliance is mandatory for all programs under the Army Acquisition Executive to receive funding for developing and acquiring IT devices or systems, the memo said. Additionally, the COE Architecture and implementation plan will provide direction to industry regarding framework standards.
To help guide the COE effort, the Army CIO/G6 developed a model that can be used to conduct cost-benefit trades and to evaluate programs’ alignment with the COE goals.
The benefits of a COE Architecture are expect to be lower costs, improved interoperability and easier system maintenance.
The COE Architecture and the Army’s overarching End State Architecture are expected to “drastically” reduce the time it takes to deliver relevant applications to those who need them, the service said in a statement.
The COE augments Army Software Transformation, the service effort to standardize end-user environments and software development kits, establish streamlined enterprise software processes that rely on common pre-certified, reusable software components, and develop deployment strategies that allow users direct access to new capability.
The guidance is one of several annexes to the overarching document End-State Army Enterprise Architecture that guides future network procurements and establishes minimum technical architecture standards for the acquisition or development of IT and National Security Systems, the service said. The document and some annexes will be published in the near future.