New Director of the Joint Staff J6, Lieutenant General Mary O’Brien, USAF, capped the closing demonstrations of a month long Joint Staff sponsored event, Bold Quest 22 (BQ22). Members of all U.S. Military Services, Allies, and partners from 19 countries, over 1,000 participants, collaborated through lab testing and field data collection in and around Fort Stewart, Georgia. Distinguished Visitors from across the services and the globe watched as warfighters conducted live fire demonstrations, including French aircraft and fire support units from multiple countries.
BQ22, designed to push the limits on coalition interoperability, focused on testing elements of Joint All Domain Command and Control (JADC2) including the JADC2 Network Environment. From the first use of Protected Core Networking to Coalition Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (CISR) operations, BQ22 facilitated the advancement of technical and procedural tactical-level interoperability among U.S. and Partner Nations, strengthening alliances and increasing the lethality of the Combined/Joint Force.
A key effort to successfully deliver JADC2 is to synchronize Command and Control (C2) initiatives across all domains (sea, land, air, space, cyber). JADC2 is comprised of many programs and stakeholders—its success requires unity of effort, and Bold Quest provides the perfect environment. The JADC2 Cross-Functional Team (CFT) oversees technical initiatives and the synchronization of actions with U.S. and Mission Partners. JADC2 CFT Chair, Rear Admiral Susan BryerJoyner, USN, is laser-focused on delivering capabilities to the warfighter at the tactical level, including a Mission Partner Environment suitable for joint and coalition operations. BQ22 assessments and demonstrations will provide necessary information to advance warfighter operational needs and prioritize future requirements and capability development.
Recent global events have highlighted the criticality and the challenges of multi-nation operations. Our ability to share data across systems, services, and domains enables integrated deterrence. The Department understands C2, across the Combined/Joint Force and all domains, is necessary to maintain information and decision advantage. Through Bold Quest, the U.S. and our Allies and partners have an opportunity to build trust, improve interoperability, and advance innovative and resilient C2 capabilities in support of globally integrated operations.