Asia Pacific Defense Forum Spring 2003

By Daniel Winegrad,
Assistant Deputy Under Secretary of Defense, Focused Logistics

Rear Adm. Peter Clarke, Australian Department of Defence Chief Knowledge Officer, and Ms. Sue C. Payton, U.S. Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Advanced Systems & Concepts) signed a Project Arrangement document during the Third U.S.-Australia Defense Cooperation Dinner in Sydney, Australia, on 30 January 2002. This document is the basis for the technical exchange between the two countries for the Coalition Theater Logistics Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration (CTL ACTD) project that will provide automated tools for coalition operations.

An ACTD is a capabilities demonstration and evaluation program that uses technology and innovative operational concepts to address critical military needs. An ACTD provides a residual, useful capability when completed.

Rear Adm. Peter Clarke, Chief Knowledge Officer, Australian Department of Defense, and Ms. Sue C. Payton, U.S. Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Advanced Systems & Concepts), sign the Project Arrangement for technical interchange between the two countries for Coalition Theater Logistics Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration (CTL ACTD).

Successful coalition operations require an accurate understanding of the logistics capability of each coalition partner. In the past, a lack of information sharing made coalition operations difficult. To meet this challenge, CTL ACTD will demonstrate the capability to share accurate logistics information with coalition partners for the full spectrum of military operations.

The genesis for CTL ACTD was the UN-authorized International Force-East Timor (INTERFET). Australia led the coalition task force, provided most of the troops, and requested support from other nations. The dynamics of mission change and coalition composition, coupled with the lack of routine logistics procedures within the coalition task force, created many challenges.

During the East Timor operation, the United States developed automated logistics tools in its Joint Logistics and Joint Theater Logistics ACTDs. These tools provided Joint Interoperability but not Coalition Interoperability. CTL ACTD will use these tools and other emerging Australian and U.S. technology to improve Coalition Interoperability.

The following attributes demonstrate the power of more efficient Coalition Logistics:

Australian Commodore Martin H. De Vries, Director General of Information Capability Development, Australian Defence Force, (right) and U.S. Army Brig. Gen. James Lewis Kennon, Director for Logistics, Engineering and Security Assistance, U.S. Pacific Command, share a laugh.

•	Increases operational efficiency through more effective information exchange.
•	Reduces multinational force logistics presence, since each participating nation would only have to bring its own tailored support package.
•	Allows coalition nations to take advantage of "reach back" capability.
•	Provides the opportunity for more nations to participate in an operation other than with combat forces, leading to more equitable burden sharing.
•	Builds improved regional relationships through coalition logistics planning.
•	Reduces competition for limited Host Nation Support – for items such as bottled water and plywood.

The value of the CTL ACTD approach is in logistics collaborative tools, decision support tools, and situation awareness tools that provide interoperability with coalition partners.

CTL ACTD will demonstrate the following three transportation-focused user requirements in an annual exercise:

•	Plan and execute the strategic deployment and redeployment of coalition forces (Coalition Movement Planning).
•	Plan and execute coalition sustainment (In-transit Visibility).
•	Provide Coalition logistics infrastructure information.

Ultimately, all functions of logistics, all classes of supply, and all levels of conflict will be a part of Coalition Logistics.

Remarks by Daniel Winegrad, U.S. Assistant Deputy Under Secretary of Defense, Focused Logistics, published by Australian Defence Magazine, June 2002, edited and excerpted by the Asia-Pacific Defense FORUM staff.

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