NET-CENTRIC DIPLOMACY TRIP REPORT, CAIRO, APRIL

UNCLAS CAIRO 003179 SIPDIS FOR RM/IRP DAVID MCKEE AND EDIPLOMACY GERALD GALLUCCI FROM HARRY PONTING, TEAM LEAD, AND RAMKI UPPULURI E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AINF OTRA EG NCD SUBJECT: NET-CENTRIC DIPLOMACY TRIP REPORT, CAIRO, APRIL 10-11 ¶1. This cable was drafted by the Net-Centric Diplomacy (NCD) team from the Department and CITI that visited post from April 10-11 to install the NCD pilot system for publishing biographic files and telegraphic reports to the SIPRNet. The NCD application was successfully installed on a ClassNet workstation and the local contractor was fully trained in its use. -------------- Post Support -------------- ¶2. Outstanding support was provided by Embassy Cairo. Control Officer Michael Kidwell (ESTH officer in the combined Economic and Political section) and OMS Felicia Lynch did a wonderful job of pre-briefing mission elements and arranging meetings. IPC staff Armando Asencio provided excellent support in the pre-visit days to make sure the technical infrastructure was in place ahead of the visit. Staff members at the post were very interested in providing content to the classified home pages using the NCD utilities, and asked a lot of questions on how this project would help them enhance the content on the home pages. Several OMSs and EFMs were available for training, and in the time the team was at Post, a large number of cables were posted to the servers. The spectacular job done by Cairo with regards to pre-visit preparation and participation in training will be hard to top and will be our benchmark for other posts we will visit. Involvement by all levels of personnel at post shows a very positive commitment to the effort. It is interesting to note that a total of five OMSs and EFMs provide support as content managers for the site. -------------- Briefings and Training -------------- ¶3. The goals of the team were discussed with the A/DCM and control officer in a separate meeting prior to kicking off the project. The NCD team gave formal overview briefings to Economic and Political section (ECPO) officers and the A/DCM. ¶4. Hands-on NCD training was provided for Patricia Fitzhugh (CITI local contract hire),Suzanne Swanson, Twila Ray, Felicia Lynch, and Brooke Adams. For the time being, BioCapture will be handled exclusively by Ms. Fitzhugh, and CableCapture will be provided on the desks of all OMSs and EFMs involved in content management. -------------- Hardware/Software -------------- ¶5. JRE was pre-installed on the ClassNet workstation set-aside for the NCD project. The power supply for the scanner that was shipped earlier was received in a damaged condition and the NCD team replaced this. ¶6. The scanner and associated software were installed and ready when we arrived and functioned normally. ¶7. NCD Utilities were downloaded to a folder on the shared drive for ECPO, and short cuts to BioCapture and CableCapture were placed on the desktops of those who will use these utilities and manage content for the site. -------------- Lessons Learned -------------- ¶8. Post preparation makes a huge difference. The legwork done in advance by Cairo allowed us to get right to work. Despite a shorter training schedule due to outgoing flights, training was very easily completed ahead of time due to post personnel's familiarity with SIPRNet, interest, and enthusiasm. Close coordination on preparation work is essential and pays off. ¶9. Being savvy SIPRNet users helps. Post personnel's use of the SIPRNet is definitely on the high end of the scale. Visit Embassy Cairo's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/cairo You can also access this site through the State Department's Classified SIPRNET website. CORBIN