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Pacific Conference Focuses on 'Art, Science' of Knowledge Management(M2 PressWIRE Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) By Bill Doughty, U.S. Pacific Fleet Public Affairs FORD ISLAND, Hawaii -- The art and science of knowledge management (KM) was a theme in opening remarks by the Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet for the 2009 Pacific Fleet Knowledge Management Conference, May 27-29. Adm. Robert F. Willard, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, challenged Army, Air Force, Marine Corps and Navy KM experts from throughout the Pacific to learn more about "command and control" and interoperability of knowledge management tools. "Management of information, management of communication, has become cutting edge for our services," Willard said. "In the cyber domain, it's important to understand the architecture of information, the technical side, but we need to understand the art of it, as well." Battlefield knowledge management is literally often in the hands of a young Marine holding a personal digital assistant outside a door in Afghanistan. It's in the information provided to a joint task force commander from satellites in space, submarines deep in the ocean and sensors and other sources deployed in between. "It's very important for knowledge managers in the military to understand command and control and understand warfighting. There has been a tendency to focus on the tools, but ninety percent of knowledge management is understanding the process," said Army Lt. Col. Rich Durost, chief of knowledge management for Standing Joint Force Headquarters, U.S. Pacific Command, As for tools, Durost, like others at the conference, hopes to see continued progress in aligning and standardizing military knowledge management. "We're really a big enterprise. Wouldn't it be good to have an enterprise system, a DoD standard?" he asked. Col. Brian Mace, command information officer for Marine Corps Forces Pacific, suggests looking at other enterprises for clues to standardize tool sets, such as protection mechanisms for their systems. "We should be looking at what industry is doing ' financial institutions, Microsoft. For Microsoft, their source code is like their gold. What are they doing to secure their gold?" In a question-and-answer session, Willard offered to continue to be an advocate of knowledge management across DoD. He challenged the group to adapt curriculum and champion the teaching of KM for warfighters. And, he applauded the Pacific Fleet knowledge managers, led by Knowledge Management Officer Jamie Hatch. Hatch believes Willard's commitment is key to KM's continued success in supporting the Navy's maritime strategy, A Cooperative Strategy for 21st Century Seapower. "I believe the power of Admiral Willard's words and his conviction, as a warfighter and a leader, to wrap KM into his work in command and control will help take our work to the next level. I could not have been happier or prouder to serve the Pacific Fleet than I was today," she said. Navy Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Kechia Scott, KM community manager for Naval Health Care Clinic Hawaii, attended the conference to learn more about knowledge management tools such as eKM and to be able to network with subject matter experts. Commenting on Willard's opening remarks, Scott concluded, "The admiral wants all services to embrace knowledge management and work together for the common good." For more news from U.S. Pacific Fleet, visit www.navy.mil/local/cpf /. ((Comments on this story may be sent to [email protected])) (c) 2009 M2 COMMUNICATIONS |