opportunities to refine that information, knowing that too much information can be useless, even if it’s accurate and actionable. Feedback is critical to determining the right level of quantity and detail, and we get that feedback every day with the close relationship in SOF between intel and operators. Q: What is your assessment of aerostat intel systems? A: Aerostats provide valuable intelligence to U.S. forces, and the psychological factor inherent in the presence of that sensor can positively influence operations just by passively acknowledging less-obvious intelligence collection systems. For example, aerostats protected U.S. and coalition forces at our bases in Iraq, and they remain an obvious signal to our friends and enemies in Afghanistan that An Afghan National Army commando with 6th Special Operations Kandak questions several local villagers during an operation in Qara Bagh district, advanced technology collection Ghazni province, Aghanistan. The commandos conducted the operation to provide security and support for Afghan Local Police expansion in the area. [Photo courtesy of U.S. Army] platforms are keeping 24/7 watch A: Like everyone in DoD, we accept and continue to monitor and over our people and other resources. However, in some cases, their employ fiscally responsible cost-cutting measures. Within the Intel overt signature can be somewhat of a detriment in environments Directorate at SOCOM we were planning for post-Afghanistan reducwhere SOF are working to enable and empower the local governtions well before I arrived here in 2011. At the time of this interview, ments and security forces to work their own problems. we’re preparing for civilian furloughs; again, people are our most important resource, and reductions in our civilian, military or conQ: Are you satisfied with the progress toward providing timely intel tractor force is a painful reality. to warriors at the edge? The problem isn’t just about cutting resourcing of proven capabilities, but maintaining resourcing at a deliberate and reasonable A: We are always looking for more and better ways to provide the right level for newer, enduring capabilities. One area where we need to intel to the right people at the right time. This is especially necesdo a better job is in the realm of identity intelligence operations. sary in SOF, where the ops-intel feedback loop is so compressed. We Servicemembers and civilians from all intelligence disciplines have anticipate continuation of current op tempo on all levels in SOF, and contributed to identity intelligence in a variety of ways: document our people can expect more deployments to other locations besides and media exploitation, for example. Identity intelligence is a unique the Middle East. SOCOM J2 and the Special Operations Research, capability, and it’s not signals intelligence, geospatial intelligence or Development and Acquisition Center are continually working with measurement and signature intelligence ... it’s not any one intelindustry, academia, components, theater special operations comligence discipline, but it is actionable intelligence that contributes mands [TSOCs], services, combat support agencies and others to immeasurably. SOF will remain engaged on the world stage and will push the technological limits of putting intelligence into the hands of continue to require capabilities that directly support warfighters, but operators. As an example, full motion video continues to be a major this is not a SOF-unique capability in and of itself. The supporting contributor to our SOF airborne ISR fleet, but other intelligence disinfrastructure must be developed for the good of all our current and ciplines remain major force multipliers, and we’re looking at new and future conventional forces as well as for SOF. advanced capabilities to further build out the intelligence sensor portfolio. We are also considering the appropriate mix of platforms that Q: How do you assess the performance of the A160T Hummingbird make up our baseline airborne fleet; this initiative is partly coupled unmanned aerial system? with conventional force redeployments, and will continue to enable our transition to a global SOF intelligence force. A: SOF has divested itself of the Hummingbird technical demonstration project. The Hummingbird contained technologies and innovaQ: We are seeing austerity in defense funding, including a tions that are likely to show up in future endeavors, and we continue continuing budget resolution, $487 billion of initial cuts and now to work multiple small platform programs that complement our $500 billion of sequestration cuts over 10 years. How has this medium-altitude, long-endurance platforms that constitute the basis affected your operations? Have you already effected cost-savings and of our airborne ISR portfolio. efficiency initiatives? www.SOTECH-kmi.com
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