Defense Information Systems Agency

The Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) is a combat support agency of the United States Department of Defense. It supplies enterprise information technology, telecommunications, cybersecurity-related support, interoperability services, and command-and-control capabilities to senior national leaders, the Department of Defense, the military services, combatant commands, and other organizations involved in U.S. defense. Unlike a commercial technology brand, DISA is a government service provider and systems integrator whose role is defined by defense-wide missions, common standards, secure connectivity, and operational continuity. DISA was created on May 12, 1960, as the Defense Communications Agency (DCA). Its original assignment was to exercise operational control and management of the Defense Communications System, a defense-wide collection of communications assets previously administered separately by the military departments. Early work focused on identifying the system's components and establishing common architectures and specifications for shared networks. These efforts produced or supported major defense-wide communications services, including the Automatic Voice Network, Automatic Digital Network, and Automatic Secure Voice Communications Network. The agency also became involved in strategic and crisis communications. During the Cold War it served as a focal point for defense satellite communications, helped engineer command-and-control systems, and managed technical responsibilities connected with the Moscow–Washington hotline, which became operational in 1963. DCA later assumed system-engineering responsibilities for the Minimum Essential Emergency Communications Network, a survivable communications subsystem intended to support the transmission of emergency action messages to U.S. nuclear forces. Its work extended into Southeast Asia, national military command centers, satellite communications architecture, and the interoperability of communications systems used by the armed services. During the 1980s, DCA's mission broadened beyond traditional telecommunications. It absorbed or consolidated organizations concerned with joint tactical communications and interoperability testing, culminating in the establishment of the Joint Interoperability Test Command at Fort Huachuca, Arizona, in 1989. The agency was also assigned responsibilities under the Department of Defense Corporate Information Management initiative, expanding its remit to include information management, standards, systems integration, and support for senior defense leadership. On June 25, 1991, DCA was reorganized and renamed the Defense Information Systems Agency. The new name reflected the agency's expanding role in information systems and defense-wide information management. In the 1990s, DISA supported the Defense Information Infrastructure, helped consolidate defense information-processing centers, and fielded or supported systems such as the Global Command and Control System, Joint Chiefs of Staff command-and-control applications, and the Defense Message System. These programs helped replace or modernize Cold War-era command-and-control arrangements. After the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, DISA rapidly expanded communications and information capacity in support of U.S. military operations. It increased the capacity of the Defense Switched Network, classified and unclassified IP data services, secure video, satellite bandwidth, and the Enhanced Mobile Satellite Service. For Operation Iraqi Freedom, the agency supplied substantially greater bandwidth to a smaller force than had been available during Operation Desert Storm. It also managed major modernization programs for presidential communications and defense-wide network transport. The Global Information Grid Bandwidth Expansion program reached full operational capability at nearly 100 approved sites in December 2005. Today, DISA remains a central DoD enterprise technology and c…

The Defense Information Systems Agency originated in the Cold War reorganization of U.S. military communications. On May 12, 1960, the Department of Defense established the Defense Communications Agency to provide centralized operational control and management for the Defense Communications System. The new agency initially had to identify communications assets transferred from the military departments and create an implementation plan for a defense-wide system. Its early work emphasized common-user networks, technical standards, switching centers, transmission links, and subscriber equipment. The Automatic Voice Network, Automatic Digital Network, and Automatic Secure Voice Communications Network were among the shared systems associated with this effort. The space age expanded DCA's responsibilities. The agency became a focal point for integrating space and ground elements of defense satellite communications programs. The cancellation of Project Advent in 1962 redirected attention toward other approaches to military satellite communications, while DCA continued to develop the defense-wide architecture and operational relationships needed for strategic connectivity. The Cuban Missile Crisis highlighted the need for direct and secure communication between national leaders. DCA was assigned program management and engineering responsibilities for the Moscow–Washington hotline, which became operational on August 30, 1963. The crisis also contributed to the development of the Worldwide Military Command and Control System, intended to help national authorities direct geographically dispersed forces. DCA's mission extended to active theaters as well as strategic systems. A Southeast Asia Region organization was established in 1964, and the agency worked to integrate communications in support of U.S. operations in the region. In December 1971, DCA assumed responsibility for the Minimum Essential Emergency Communications Network, serving as system engineer for a survivable architecture designed to deliver emergency messages to nuclear forces. During the late 1960s and 1970s, it also provided technical planning and systems engineering for components of the National Military Command System and became the Department of Defense system architect for military satellite communications. This architectural role was intended to limit duplication and improve interoperability among service-specific programs. In the 1980s, the growth of defense networks and the continuing problem of interoperability led to organizational consolidation. The Department of Defense approved the merger of DCA and the Joint Tactical Command, Control, and Communications Agency in 1987. Related tactical communications and joint interoperability organizations were subsequently consolidated, and the Joint Interoperability Test Command was established at Fort Huachuca in 1989. DCA's responsibilities also expanded under the Corporate Information Management initiative, bringing information standards, systems planning, and support for senior defense organizations more clearly into its remit. On June 25, 1991, the agency became the Defense Information Systems Agency. The renaming recognized its expanded role in information systems rather than communications alone. In the 1990s, DISA implemented defense information-management reforms, including the Defense Information Infrastructure and the consolidation of many information-processing centers into larger enterprise facilities. It supported the Global Command and Control System, Joint Chiefs of Staff command-and-control applications, and the Defense Message System, helping modernize systems that had grown out of earlier Cold War command-and-control structures. The attacks of September 11, 2001, created an immediate demand for additional secure communications and information capacity. DISA supported the resulting military operations by expanding network, satellite, video, messaging, and mobile communications capabilities. Between September 2001 and April 2003, the agency reported substantial growth in several defense networks and services. During Operation Iraqi Freedom, it provided much greater bandwidth to a smaller force than during Operation Desert Storm. DISA also managed the Pioneer Program, a multiyear modernization of presidential communications, and the Global Information Grid Bandwidth Expansion program. GIG-BE achieved full operational capability at nearly 100 approved sites on December 20, 2005. DISA continues as a DoD combat support agency. Its contemporary role combines enterprise service delivery, secure communications, cloud and computing support, network transport, interoperability, information assurance, and operational command-and-control enablement. Because it is a government agency rather than a commercial corporation, public information about individual product branding, executive succession, financial performance, and market share is limited or not applicable.

1. 2010Fiftieth anniversary commemorated

   DISA marked five decades of service tracing from the Defense Communications Agency's creation in 1960.

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2. 2005Global Information Grid Bandwidth Expansion reaches full operational capability

   The GIG-BE program achieved full operational capability at almost 100 approved sites on December 20.

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3. 2001Post-September 11 communications expansion

   DISA supported expanded operational requirements and obtained supplemental resources for communications paths and command-and-control enhancements.

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4. 1992Defense Information Infrastructure initiative

   Defense management reforms directed DISA to manage and consolidate information-processing infrastructure into larger enterprise centers.

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5. 1991DCA renamed DISA

   The June 25 reorganization and renaming reflected a wider information-systems and information-management mission.

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6. 1989Joint Interoperability Test Command established

   DCA consolidated interoperability-testing organizations into JITC at Fort Huachuca, Arizona.

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7. 1971DCA assumes Minimum Essential Emergency Communications Network responsibility

   The agency became system engineer for the emergency communications subsystem supporting strategic command and control.

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8. 1963Moscow–Washington hotline becomes operational

   DCA held program-management and engineering responsibilities for the direct communications link established after the Cuban Missile Crisis.

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9. 1960Defense Communications Agency established

   The Department of Defense created DCA on May 12 to manage the Defense Communications System on a defense-wide basis.

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A defense-wide government technology provider and systems integrator focused on secure, interoperable, resilient information and communications services for the Department of Defense.

• Defense Information Systems NetworkDefense telecommunications network

  A defense-wide communications environment supporting voice, data, video, and network transport requirements for DoD users and operational commands. It represents the enterprise communications role that developed from DCA's management of common-user defense networks.

• Defense Switched NetworkSecure voice network

  A defense telecommunications service providing switched voice connectivity for military and defense users. DISA expanded its infrastructure substantially during the operational buildup following September 11, 2001.

• Global Command and Control SystemCommand-and-control information system

  A joint command-and-control capability fielded during the 1990s to support combatant commands and replace or modernize functions associated with the earlier Worldwide Military Command and Control System.

• Joint Interoperability Test CommandInteroperability testing and certification1989

  A DISA organization and testing capability created through the consolidation of joint tactical communications organizations. It provides interoperability testing and certification for defense systems and relevant private-sector technologies.

• Global Information Grid Bandwidth ExpansionDefense network infrastructure program

  A large-scale DISA network transport initiative designed to create broadly available bandwidth and improve information sharing, intelligence support, information assurance, surveillance, reconnaissance, and command and control across approved defense locations.

• Enhanced Mobile Satellite ServiceMobile satellite communications

  A mobile communications service that supported users operating beyond fixed communications infrastructure. DISA expanded both its capacity and operational use during post-2001 military operations.

• 2005Complete Global Information Grid bandwidth expansionProduct launch

  Defense users required a more ubiquitous and resilient transport layer for information sharing and command and control.

  What changed. DISA executed the GIG-BE program and reached full operational capability at nearly 100 approved sites on December 20, 2005.

  Aftermath. The completed infrastructure expanded bandwidth availability across participating defense locations.

  Program value. 877 million USD (Global Information Grid Bandwidth Expansion program)

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• 2003Modernize presidential communicationsStrategy

  Presidential communications required modernization to support integrated voice, video, and data access on a continuous basis.

  What changed. DISA managed the six-year Pioneer Program for the modernization of presidential communications.

  Aftermath. The program introduced a more integrated, network-centric communications environment for presidential support.

  Program value. 326 million USD (Six-year effort beginning in 2003)

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• 1991Rebrand and mission expansion from DCA to DISAStrategy

  The agency's responsibilities had expanded from managing defense communications to supporting information management, information systems, and defense-wide technology integration.

  What changed. The Department of Defense reorganized the Defense Communications Agency and renamed it the Defense Information Systems Agency on June 25, 1991.

  Aftermath. The new identity positioned the agency as a broader DoD information-technology and combat-support organization.

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• 1989Create a centralized joint interoperability testing capabilityStrategy

  DoD systems needed to communicate across military services and with external technologies, while tactical communications organizations had overlapping responsibilities.

  What changed. DCA consolidated relevant testing organizations and established the Joint Interoperability Test Command at Fort Huachuca.

  Aftermath. JITC became the agency's facility for defense and private-sector interoperability compliance testing and certification.

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• 2005Global Information Grid Bandwidth Expansion reaches full operational capability

  DISA completed the major defense-wide network transport program at nearly 100 Joint Staff-approved sites.

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• 1991Defense Communications Agency renamed Defense Information Systems Agency

  A major reorganization broadened the agency's identity and mission from defense communications management to defense-wide information systems and information management.

  Leadership change
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• 1960Defense Communications Agency established

  The Defense Communications Agency was established to manage and exercise operational control over the Defense Communications System.

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1. Defense Information Systems Agency