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GCN Home > 11/10/03 issue

Net-centric goal: a different military

By Dawn S. Onley, GCN Staff

Arthur K. Cebrowski’s job is to develop technological concepts that will revolutionize the culture of the military and warfare.

As the director of force transformation—a post created by Defense secretary Donald Rumsfeld a month after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks—Cebrowski’s job is to challenge the status quo in the Defense Department and the military services.

Among his primary responsibilities, Cebrowski monitors military and joint experimentation programs and makes policy recommendations to Rumsfeld and to the deputy secretary of Defense about new processes and technologies that show promise.

Born in Passaic, N.J., Cebrowski is a 1964 graduate of Villanova University. He attended the Naval War College and has a master’s degree in computer systems management from the Naval Post Graduate School.

Cebrowski was a naval aviator and commanded Fighter Squadron 41 and Carrier Air Wing Eight. He commanded the assault ship USS Guam, the aircraft carrier USS Midway and the USS America battle group.

Cebrowski retired from the Navy in October 2001, after more than 37 years of service and combat tours in Vietnam and the Persian Gulf.

He formerly was director of command, control, communications and computers for the Joint Chiefs of Staff and president of the Naval War College in Newport, R.I.

GCN staff writer Dawn S. Onley interviewed Cebrowski at his office in Arlington, Va.

GCN: What is the mission of the Office of Force Transformation?

CEBROWSKI: Our objective is to ensure the sustained competitive advantage of the nation in the military domain. We intend to link force transformation to key elements of military strategy because transformation is first and foremost a strategic process. And that process should be linked to the strategic elements of dissuading competition, assuring allies, deterring opponents and, if need be, compelling behavior consistent with the national interest, using violent means if necessary.

The objective is also to develop innovative concepts to leverage America’s great advantages. We also want to create elements of transformation that do not now exist and to identify and develop new pathways and linkages for implementation.

Transformation is a difficult and awesome undertaking, and the entire departmental leadership is falling behind the secretary and president in transforming our military. And this is the only office in the Defense Department that is dedicated solely to supporting these leaders in their transformation efforts. Our job is to help them. But we’re also authorized to work outside the normal course in doing so.