Multi-National Security Transition Command – Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Phoenix Base
APO AE 09348

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Release No. 090226-01
February 26, 2009
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DSN:  318-852-1318
IRAQNA:  0790-194-0270

U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Sorenson addresses AFCEA meeting

BAGHDAD – U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Sorenson, Chief Information Officer for the Secretary of the Army, spoke at the monthly Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association meeting here Feb. 26.  The meeting, held at Multi-National Security Transition Command – Iraq headquarters, was attended by Iraqi Maj. Gen. Sa’ad Kadhum, Director General of Communications for the Ministry of Information; Brig. Gen. Aliwe Jassam, Director - Radio Repair Division; Brig. Gen. Mahmood Al-Anni from the Ministry of Information; Brig. Gen. Ahmed Hoan, Advanced First Responder Network Program Manager for the Ministry of Information; and Dr. Ali Taresh, Chief Information Officer for the Ministry of Defense. 

The event was joined via video teleconference by other AFCEA members and guests from Victory Base, including communications officers from the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines and DoD civilians.
 
Lt. Gen. Sorenson began by saying to the group, “When it comes to information, it is not what you know, it is what you share.”  He added, “The U.S. Army is transforming what its IT network will look like by developing a better expeditionary capability and by having the ability to establish collaboration as a way of doing business.  The Army will be transitioning a lot of independent networks into a single network enterprise. In order to be effective, we in the United States have to be able to communicate with all our expeditionary forces.  The current network we have is not a single enterprise and we have to do a lot to make it function to the expeditionary level.”

Sorenson summarized by saying, “We want to get to a universal data storage point, with one phone number, e-mail, and one set of collaborative tools that will not change, even when one physically moves, and will be effective anywhere in the world.”

Dr. Taresh asked if the Coalition faced any obstacles that the Ministry of Defense could learn from to achieve the same level of network capability.  Sorenson replied, “Getting people to come to agreement on the governance and protocol and the network structure was a challenge.  We now have a process where we have one single group that looks at the network structure.”

U.S. Army Lt. Col. Deveon Sudduth from MNSTC-I, J-6, said, “The information Lt. Gen. Sorenson shared was very enlightening.  It was very good to see what the Army’s way forward is.  I can’t wait to see this process and structure work.”

U.S. Air Force Col. Jeffrey Kromer, MNSTC-I J6, said, “The Baghdad chapter of AFCEA has been active since Nov. 2008. There are over 140 AFCEA chapters worldwide with 19,000 members, 13,000 corporate associates, and 16,000 corporate members. The organization serves as a bridge between government and industry communications professionals.”

MNSTC-I’s and AFCEA’s efforts in training and mentoring their Government of Iraqi partners represents a vital step towards ensuring Iraq’s self-sufficiency for the future. 

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FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS RELEASE, CONTACT THE MULTI-NATIONAL SECURITY TRANSITION COMMAND – IRAQ PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE BY E-MAIL AT This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it OR BY PHONE AT DSN: (318) 852-1332 OR IRAQNA: 0790-194-0270.  FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT OUR ORGANIZATION VISIT:  WWW.IRAQ.CENTCOM.MIL