Centralization of the U.S. Army Telecommunications Computer Programming Effort

The specific purpose of this thesis is to evaluate Army Telecommunications Automation Concepts and determine the feasibility of the Army's establishing a centralized facility or organization for control and management of communications computer software. Sources for this research were publications in the field, empirical data provided by the U.S. Air Force Communications Service, program concepts provided by the U.S. Navy Department of Communications, Automation Concepts provided by the U.S. Army Strategic Communications Command, personal experiences of the author and discussions with certain key individuals in the engineering field at USASTRATCOM. Determining that centralization of automated telecommunications computer software effort is feasible resulted in several conclusions: 1.) Considering technical and administrative factors and the trend toward increased utilization of computers for communications applications, there is a requirement in the U.S. Army for centralized control and management. 2.) The Army Telecommunications Automation Program concept is feasible. 3.) A long range cost reduction will result by adoption of the U.S. Army's proposals. 4.) Standardization will result. 5.) Better analysis and definition of hardware and software will result. 6.) Centralization will provide the U.S. Army with a pool of professional personnel. The conclusions drawn from the study enabled the author to make several recommendations to accomplish centralization: 1.) Responsibility for Army teleprocessing software support be vested in a single individual or agency. 2.) Draw upon all available resources, military and private sector, in establishing a pool of qualified, professional analysts and programmers. 3.) Use a mix of military effort and contractor assistance in attaining control and management of the total teleprocessing automation effort.