Open Source Works for the Navy

Navy (General)

The Open Source Software Institute and the United States Navy The US Navy has led in the Federal Government's efforts to effectively adopt and deploy open source software solutions throughout their IT enterprise. OSSI has enjoyed a close working relationship with the Navy since 2001. Here we will highlight several of the key programs in which the Navy and OSSI have collaborated and continued to push the adoption of open source through the Federal IT enterprise. US Navy releases Open Source Guidance Washington, DC – Tuesday, June 5, 2007 - The U.S. Department of the Navy, Office of the Chief Information Officer (DONCIO) announced today the issuing of the Navy's Open Source Software Guidance memorandum addressing the use of open source software within Navy and Marine Corps information technology (IT) systems. Click image for copy of Navy OSS Guidance Document “Now Hear This!” According to the official Navy release, “this memorandum provides guidance for all Navy and Marine Corps commands regarding the use of Open Source Software (OSS). The objective of the Department of Defense (DoD) goal of achieving an interoperable net-centric environment is to improve the warfighter’s effectiveness through seamless access to critical information. A key piece in supporting the DoD goal is the ability to utilize OSS as part of the Department of the Navy’s (DON) Information Technology (IT) portfolio.” The policy “simply says that open-source software has an official seat at the Navy table,” said John Weathersby, executive director of the Open Source Software Institute and a member of the Navy’s Open Source Working Group. -- Government Computer News Commander, Naval Oceanography and Meteorology Command Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (NCRADA-05-11) Navy Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (NCRADA-05-11)is an agreement between OSSI (www.oss-institute.org) and the Commander, Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command (CNMOC) that represents a three-year joint R&D program matches Navy, industry and academic expertise to identify, document and facilitate the transition of open source solutions into selected Naval enterprise architecture environments and web services programs. In addition to technical research, OSSI and Naval personnel are conducting economic analysis and business case studies on the Navy's adoption and migration to open source solutions. Naval Oceanogrpahic Office enters Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (NCRADA-01-008) with OSSI "Although the Naval Oceanographic Office is an operational activity, we fully appreciate and understand the power of collaboration with academia, research and development organizations, and industry. Leveraging the knowledge and economies of scale available through partnerships is an essential ingredient in the recipe for success. Although it may be somewhat trite, there is great truth in the derived acronym: "TEAM" (Together Everyone Achieves More). One of our newest partners, through a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA), is the Open Source Software Institute. OSSI brings a wealth of open source software knowledge and experience to NAVOCEANO which we are confident will make our operations more efficient and effective. In turn, we will expose OSSI to a wealth of operational applications for open source software which should open many new doors of opportunity for the institute to explore. I am very excited about our newest partner and look forward to sharing many exciting successes with OSSI. Together we'll make NAVOCEANO, our Navy, and our Nation stronger." -- CAPT Phil Renaud, Commanding Officer, Naval Oceanographic Office