Geospatial Governance
Mark Seagrave
Mark Seagrave is an Alion Science and Technology Senior Military Analyst supporting the Army Modeling and Simulation Division

Geospatial Governance Board

On 29 November 2007, the Geospatial General Officer Steering Committee (G–GOSC) approved the Geospatial Governance Board (GGB) charter. The Vice Chief of Staff of the Army signed the charter on 22 Feb 08. The GGB’s purpose is to establish a Headquarters Department of the Army (HQDA) governance body (with joint interest) to address Army Geospatial Enterprise (AGE) issues (with associated Geospatial Intelligence [GEOINT] concerns) impacting current and future force. The long-term objective is to administer and facilitate the development of a net-enabled Army geospatial enterprise with a distributed database, coupled with an enabling information architecture, based upon enforceable policies and procedures, interoperable software, open standards, open data formats, and approved algorithms. Such a geospatial enterprise allows actionable geospatial information to be tasked, posted, processed, and used as needed vertically and horizontally, from peer to peer, and bi-directionally from National to the soldier level. The GGB will hear issues and recommendations on the state and status of the AGE and will make decisions and issue guidance as appropriate.

The GGB voting members include: The Chief of Engineers (Co-chair), DA Staff G2 (Co-chair), G3, G6, G8, the ASA ALT and TRADOC. Non-voting members include the Army Geospatial Information Officer, CG, MANSCEN, Commandant, USAICS, USASOC GI&S Officer, HQDA DCS G2, HQDA DCS G4, Cdr INSCOM, NGA Military Executive, Dir, Marine Corps Intelligence and others as needed.

The GGB is a 3-star decision-making body designated to address Army Geospatial Enterprise issues impacting current and future force. It sets the vision for the AGE, serves as the final AGE requirements validation body, and charters a Senior Executive Service Geospatial Information Officer (GIO) to manage the operational, administrative and daily management responsibilities of the AGE. The GGB addresses HQDA and Secretariat-level AGE issues (including

terrain issues affecting M&S), identifying appropriate actions to the G-3 for tasking and endorses resourcing requirements to the Army Requirements and Resourcing Board. The GGB provides advice, recommendations and definitive guidance.

Army Geospatial Information Officer

Mr. Robert W. Burkhardt, USATEC Director, is the new Army Geospatial Information Officer and the Deputy Topographer of the Army.

The Army Geospatial Information Officer (GIO) serves as the Army’s central manager responsible for coordination, integration, and synchronization of all Army policies, programs, production, requirements, standardization requirements, and research relating to the geospatial information enterprise (including terrain issues affecting M&S). The GIO reports to the GGB at directed intervals and as required for overall Army coordination of geospatial enterprise issues. He presents issues to the GGB that require their decision. The GIO is a HQDA staff officer and serves as the ARSTAF lead for geospatial policy issues related to the Army Geospatial Enterprise consistent with the GGB charter. The GIO has direct tasking authority over the GEO personnel to accomplish GIO/GEO work.

The Geospatial Enterprise Office (GEO) and the Geospatial Engineer Group assist the GIO perform his duties. Composing the GEO are the TEC Director, the GGB Secretariat/Coordinating Staff and TEC’s Data Model Integration Office, Require-ments Integration Office, and Acquisition Integration Office. The Geospatial Engineer Group is an O6-led organization of 15 people to manage the Army’s topographic engineer force.

Reprinted from, The USASOC GI&S News March 2008 (Edition 1, Volume 18)