The Issue of Command and Control in Network Centric Systems

Abstract

Abstract : Network Centric Warfare (NCW) promises enormous military advantages including information superiority, self-synchronization and increased decision making speed. However, with these advantages comes the capacity of the operational commander to exert too much control over the tactical levels of his command. The problem with the operational commander becoming involved in the tactical level is two fold. First, the operational commander is not the most qualified to manage those systems at the tactical level. Second, when the operational commander is making decisions at the tactical level, he is not making operational decisions which will have greater reaching implications. This paper will focus on the role of Network Centric Warfare (NCW) with regard to the operational function of command and control. It will first review the concepts of NCW, command and control, and the concepts of decentralized and centralized controls. Then, with this foundation, recent examples will be examined to derive recommendations for organization, doctrine and human elements to achieve the optimum command and control structure. Through implementation of these recommendations future command and control structure will ensure the benefits of NCW are maximized and the risk of micromanagement minimized.