Nuclear Command and Control (NC2)

Carson Associates is the current contractor for the Battle Staff Certification Support contract to the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA). This small business contract supports the very narrow field of Nuclear Command and Control (NC2). This contract provides the Joint Staff with tools to assess the capability of the warfighter to support senior civilian leadership in the effective management and execution of nuclear assets, vital to the United States and its allies. This effort encompasses end-to-end management beginning with the President all the way down to the “shooters” (i.e., SSBNs, ICBMs, and bombers).

For over 17 years, Carson has supported DISA and the Joint Staff in the development of annual assessment exercises for the senior military leadership. Carson develops the set of tools used during these Staff Assessment Visit exercises, or SAVs. In the products provided by Carson, through significant research and coordination, we create a realistic scenario to simulate actions that potential adversaries could take. Using our product, the Joint Staff is able to measure the ability of the Combatant Commander’s battle staffs to employ established procedures and practices throughout the assessment. These tools also provide the Joint Staff and the Combatant Commander with the established assessment “rules of engagement” as well as a simulated posture for U.S., allied, and enemy forces. As a result, the Joint Staff is able to provide the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS) with an accurate assessment of capabilities as well as to determine whether the procedures in place adequately meet national-level policies and guidance.

Carson also travels with the Joint Staff assessment team to each site being evaluated. We help set up the assessment upon arrival, provide ad hoc support during the SAV to include the preparation and injection of electronic message traffic, and provide post-assessment briefing support. Carson’s support in this endeavor helps ensure that the United States is prepared to respond to crisis situations and that our NC2 system cannot be compromised.