Did you notice the eye-catching cover of the new edition with FATHOM, the Information Bot designed by the Navy, to aid in the Flank Speed transition? In shiphandling, the command “Flank Speed” is an extreme engine order given for ships to evade danger or outpace threats. Right now the Navy is maneuvering its IT ship to a cloud-based Microsoft 365 office suite.

Flank Speed is an extreme order that sets the foundation for modern operations. Flank Speed enablement began with 266,000 initial users in June, with a target of 472,000 ashore users by the end of FY21. The Marine Corps has already transitioned its 150,000 users to M365. The long-term objective is to bring the M365 toolset and robust security to the full enterprise.

As DON CIO Aaron Weis shared in his column for this edition, the transition to Flank Speed represents “the Department’s largest-ever digital transformation initiative, and as with any massive transformation effort, there will be bumps in the road. Issues are being worked through and users are learning the capabilities and how to access and use Flank Speed. It’s a journey that we are embarking on together…”

I’m excited about the new IT capabilities this transition brings to Department IT users and the larger IT modernization efforts it will usher in to advance the objectives of the DON Information Superiority Vision (ISV).

On a personal note, I am retiring the end of July. While I look forward to more leisure time, I have thoroughly enjoyed 22 years as the CHIPS senior editor working with the most passionate cyber/IT policy leaders and community of professionals across the DON, DoD and industry. From interviewing Michael Dell in 2001, to talking with then Supreme Allied Commander Europe Adm. James Stavridis in 2010, to all the DON CIOs, I have had the privilege to work with — it’s been the best job in the Navy — a fascinating journey of more than 1,200 articles written and 44 editions published.

Heather Rutherford is the new CHIPS editor — a wonderful writer, innovator and proven communicator. You can see a photo of us at right. It’s a new revitalizing chapter for CHIPS — now in its 39th year of publication as the DON’s IT magazine.

Many thanks to our readers, writers and the DON and DoD public affairs community for their gracious support. A special thank you to the DON CIO Deputy Chief of Staff and Director of Strategic Communications Lynda Pierce. Ms. Pierce and I have worked together for most of those 22 years — she is the ultimate professional!

Be strong! Stay well!
Sharon Anderson

You can reach the CHIPS editor at chips@navy.mil.

Follow the DON CIO on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/doncio

For the latest information about Flank Speed transition, Navy IT users should work with their Command IOs. For CAC holders, more information is available at https://portal.secnav.navy.mil/orgs/OPNAV/N2N6/DDCION/FlankSpeed.


Originally published in CHIPS Magazine:
https://www.doncio.navy.mil/chips/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=14849