AF chief scientists track Kessel Run push to modernize DAF Battle Network

  • Published
  • By Richard Blumenstein
  • DAF PAE C3BM Public Affairs
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. --  Lead scientists from across the Air Force gathered to learn more about where various portfolios are headed in terms of technology development during the Air Force Technology Horizons, Engineering, and Advisory Panel, here, July 21-22.

The ATHENA panel provides independent, transformational advice to senior Air Force leaders to help ensure long-term battlespace dominance. It consists of representatives who bridge the gap between the scientific community and operational units from across the Air Force. A highlight of the panel was an update from the Department of the Air Force Portfolio Acquisition Executive for Command, Control, Communications and Battle Management’s Kessel Run division.
Lt. Col. Camdon Cady briefs lead scientists from across the Air Force during the Air Force Technology Horizons, Engineering, and Advisory Panel, here, July 21. The ATHENA panel consists of representatives who bridge the gap between the scientific community and various operational commands from across the Air Force. Kessel Run is a division focused on delivering resilient command and control and targeting software capabilities that provide operators with decision advantage. Cady is the materiel leader for Kessel Run’s Operational Command and Control branch. (Official Air Force photo by Richard Blumenstein).

Lt. Col. Camdon Cady briefs lead scientists from across the Air Force during the Air Force Technology Horizons, Engineering, and Advisory Panel, here, July 21. The ATHENA panel consists of representatives who bridge the gap between the scientific community and various operational commands from across the Air Force. Kessel Run is a division focused on delivering resilient command and control and targeting software capabilities that provide operators with decision advantage. Cady is the materiel leader for Kessel Run’s Operational Command and Control branch. (Official Air Force photo by Richard Blumenstein).
Photo Details / Download Hi-Res


“The Air Force continues to need more responsive and robust air operation center tools, especially as the nature of war becomes faster and crosses more domains,” said Dr. Albert Lowas, Air Mobility Command chief scientist. “Kessel Run has substantially changed its approach to providing those solutions.”

A key role of the chief scientist community is to recognize high-priority problem sets and shifts in methods to address problems. They assess whether technology is efficiently and effectively solving those problems, according to Lowas.

“We wanted to learn where Kessel Run is in the process of providing these critical IT tools across the Air Force, and potential technology needs,” Lowas said.

During the panel, Lt. Col. Camdon Cady, materiel leader for Kessel Run’s Operational Command and Control branch, briefed the scientists on Kessel Run’s current approach to delivering mission critical capability to Airmen through software solutions.

“Our approach to delivering new capabilities is focused on how we can automate complex tasks for the warfighter,” Cady said. “We are modernizing AOCs by bringing more automation into the cloud, ensuring our operators have the tools they need to make decisions in milliseconds rather than hours.”

Airmen and lead scientists from across the Air Force participate in the Air Force Technology Horizons, Engineering, and Advisory Panel, here, July 21. The ATHENA panel consists of representatives who bridge the gap between the scientific community and various operational commands from across the Air Force. Kessel Run is a division focused on delivering resilient command and control and targeting software capabilities that provide operators with decision advantage. (Official Air Force photo by Richard Blumenstein).

Airmen and lead scientists from across the Air Force participate in the Air Force Technology Horizons, Engineering, and Advisory Panel, here, July 21. The ATHENA panel consists of representatives who bridge the gap between the scientific community and various operational commands from across the Air Force. Kessel Run is a division focused on delivering resilient command and control and targeting software capabilities that provide operators with decision advantage. (Official Air Force photo by Richard Blumenstein).
Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
The panel includes chief scientists from Air Combat Command, Air Education and Training Center, Air Force Global Strike Command, Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center, Air Force Research Laboratory, Air Force Special Operations Command, Air Force Technical Applications Center, Air Force Test Center, National Air and Space Intelligence Center and Pacific Air Forces. 

Kessel Run delivers resilient command and control and targeting software capabilities that provide warfighters with decision advantage. Kessel Run architects and acquires the means to connect weapon systems with operators and decision makers to enable the joint force. It is a division within C3BM. C3BM is responsible for managing the DAF Battle Network, which is the integrated system-of-systems connecting sensor, effector, and logistics systems providing better situational awareness, faster operational decisions, and decisive direction to the force.