The experiment allowed active duty members from Boston's USCG First District Command Center to simulate real-time situational awareness and decision-making skills.

The experiment took place in the Raytheon Integrated Defense System (IDS) Joint Mission Experimentation Environment (JMEE), which is used for complex modeling and simulation. The JMEE is located at IDS Headquarters, Tewksbury, Mass.

"This experiment overlays the realism of what comes easy and what we struggle with when going through the decision-making process," said Kim Babcock, project manager at the USCG R and D Center. "The experiment was invaluable - this is what we cannot get out of reading reports and white papers."

The simulated scenario looked at the decisions and actions taken to locate a specific vessel of interest and prevent a potential terrorist incursion. The joint experiment was a collaborative effort to investigate the potential implementation of conceptual command center decision support tools to enhance maritime security.

"Our ability to conduct this experiment in real time, with the servicemen and women who will eventually use these systems, is an important step in determining the viability of new capabilities and tools," said Lee Silvestre, vice president, Raytheon IDS Mission Innovation.

"Our first job is to keep our nation safe and secure. Our collaboration with the United States Coast Guard demonstrates our commient to developing systems and capabilities that address the emerging needs of today and tomorrow."

The experiment used Raytheon's Mission Profiling process to investigate the potential for conceptual future decision support tools and concepts of operations to improve a USCG District Command Center's maritime security mission. Several promising decision support tools and concepts were identified that show potential for further investigation.

"I know from personal experience how difficult it can be to locate these maritime security targets," said IDS Mission Innovation Systems Engineer and retired USCG Capt. David Spillman.

"It is personally rewarding to work together with the Coast Guard to find new and better ways to find these security targets as we continue to protect our nation's coastline. This experiment has been a great success, as well as a lot of fun."

In September 2007, Raytheon IDS's Mission Innovation team and the USCG R and D Center signed a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA), allowing both entities to share research resources to evaluate concepts for next-generation command center decision support tools. This exercise was the first joint experiment to occur under the CRADA.

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