Opportunity to Learn how geospatial intelligence affects Hanscom programs

  • Published
  • By Patty Welsh
  • 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs
Hanscom's Geospatial Intelligence, or GEOINT, team will be hosting a Technical Exchange Meeting June 17 at the Conference Center to discuss initiatives and new technologies in the area, along with how the team here can assist Air Force Life Cycle Management Center program offices.

As the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency defines it, GEOINT is "intelligence about the human activity on earth derived from the exploitation and analysis of imagery and geospatial information and data that describes, assesses and visually depicts physical features and geographically referenced activities on the earth."

"GEOINT answers the main question of 'where?'" said Jay Vaughn, team lead. "Where you are, where others are located."

Many of Hanscom's programs use or depend on GEOINT data, and not only ones within the intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance portfolios that immediately come to mind.

"Often personnel don't realize that they are using GEOINT," said Master Sgt. Elisabeth Wells, geospatial analyst. "For example, programs that use coordinates and maps are using GEOINT."

Programs from command and control to foreign military sales and cyber all have potential GEOINT requirements. The team here can provide guidance on maturing Acquisition Intelligence requirements for those programs to achieve required milestone documentation and identify any program deficiencies early within the acquisition life cycle.

Vaughn explained that as organizations, including NGA, are looking to increase efficiencies, update products and provide effective services, Hanscom programs will need to keep pace with those agency changes and technology.

Using GPS as an example, he said if the company you bought your GPS from decided not to update its maps anymore, you could easily find yourself lost. He doesn't want that to happen to LCMC programs.

"In this environment, it's more important than ever before to ensure you're knowledgeable about the GEOINT requirements within your programs, and the INH team here can be the conduit," Vaughn said.

This is the main reason they are hosting the upcoming GEOINT day. Topics scheduled include an ISIS Operations Update, the World Magnetic Model, Immersive GEOINT and Analytics and the GEOINT and Targeting Demonstration, Innovation, Collaboration and Engagement Laboratory (GT-DICE Lab). John Burkert, chief for Targeting and GEOINT Capabilities for the Air Force, will provide a presentation on the current state of AF GEOINT. In addition to Hanscom and NGA participants, representatives from the MITRE Corp., MIT Lincoln Laboratory and academia, including Harvard and Boston University, are scheduled to attend. VTC connections have also been made available for other LCMC bases to tie into the GEOINT TEM presentations.

"We want to ensure the topics address how GEOINT affects programs, what programs need and how to get involved," said Tech Sgt. Justin Calvaruzo, geospatial analyst.

A unique tool that the team here offers is the GT-DICE Lab. Located in the Hanscom Collaboration and Innovation Center, or HCIC, with a secondary location for higher classification projects, it provides access for collaboration, engagement and development among acquisition programs with GEOINT and NGA-supported capabilities or processes. Current systems are: GEOINT Product Library, a GEOINT ESRI machine, a Targeting Analyst Workstation and a Common Geopositioning System.

"We want this effort to be an engineering sandbox where various program offices can collaborate on, utilize and leverage GEOINT needs, ultimately gaining efficiencies," said A.J. Bonoldi, Acquisition Intelligence Division deputy.

Hanscom is also only one of two locations within Air Force Materiel Command where an NGA liaison is located who can assist in advocating for stronger GEOINT planning, programming and integration.

For program personnel who might not know where to begin, the GEOINT team can provide Intelligence Sensitivity Surveys to see if a program produces, consumes, processes or influences intelligence information. From there, the team can provide deep dives as to what extent a program is GEOINT-dependent and what data, products and services the program requires.

"We are hosting this day and offer these services to ensure the Hanscom and LCMC community is aware of GEOINT requirements," said Bonoldi. "We want them to be informed about GEOINT early in the acquisition process so we can help them identify program requirements and develop a sustainable roadmap for program development and sustainment."

For more information about GEOINT day, contact Calvaruzo at 781-225-5971. To get in touch with the GEOINT team, email AFLCMC.INH.GEOINTTeam@us.af.mil.