The Defense Information Systems Agencys (DISA) Anti-Drug Network (ADNET) program was initiated by the Department of Defense (DoD) to implement the Presidents National Drug Control Strategy.  It dates to1989, when the Defense Authorization Act charged the DoD to serve as the single lead agency of the U.S. Government for the detection and monitoring of aerial and maritime transit of illegal drugs into the country. ADNET provides information systems technologies and services at the SECRET and Sensitive but Unclassified levels for federal, regional, state, local, and foreign partners to support the counter-narcoterrorism mission.  300 agencies are represented in approximately 60 multi-agency communities of interest (COIs).  As mission scope increases, so does the complexity of supporting a growing number of customers.

ADNET was designed to enhance detection, monitoring, interdiction, and case-building operations.  The program facilitates information sharing through a worldwide multimedia information system, real-time secure communications, data sharing, and data analysis capabilities and tools.  Through its innovative use of information sharing technologies, ADNET ensures that individuals and organizations operating in the counternarcotics arena can collaborate effectively and link drug-related pieces of information using real-time secure communications, data sharing, and data analysis as a tool for those fighting the war on drugs.

ADNET has made a distinct and quantifiable contribution to the war on drugs. Its use of information technology has allowed the federal government to make a positive societal impact by enhancing counternarcotics enforcement efforts through the use of an enterprise information management system.  In the war on drugs, knowledge of the enemy's intentions, position and movement is critical to victory and ADNET has successfully enabled its users to intercept narcotics traffickers and seize countless amounts of contraband.

Although most successes are classified, a specific example of ADNETs benefit in an institutional context includes when information obtained by the Coast Guards Caribbean counter-drug effort led to the capture of a boat containing four tons of cocaine.  Coast Guard officials were ecstatic to seize $40 million worth of cocaine  enough to fill a large U-Haul trailer. They acknowledged that the overall success of the capture wasn't theirs alone; they also credited the landmark AntiDrug Network (ADNET).  

Federal information systems have consistently come under attack in recent years.  There have been several breaches of highly sensitive DoD information systems: technical data on Marine One was discovered to be leaked via a file sharing program on an Iranian computer system, and in June 2007, a hacker penetrated the Pentagon and reportedly shut down as many as 1500 systems.  Cyber attacks have evolved with the complexity of IT systems and require a robust defense-in-depth strategy to effectively mitigate the threats posed.  ADNET works to promote collaboration between a wide range of state, local, and federal agencies in the war on drugs, and trust is the most critical component in fostering an environment where agencies can freely share sensitive information and have faith their data is protected.  

ADNET believed that implementing strong, easily managed border defenses at their remote enclaves would provide a key component in assessing and protecting the security of their IT assets.  The system was designed to meet the strict requirements of the National Information Assurance Partnership for IA assets.  ADNETs security system is a best of breed solution that could protect its assets and ensure mission success.  

ADNET strategically adopted Software as a Service to deliver centralized, multi-tenant, on-demand applications and services, becoming a quality provider of integrated systems.  Real-time communications, data sharing and analysis tools allow COIs to capture, analyze, model, and predict to create actionable intelligence.  Empowered with DoD accredited systems, users have 24/7 global access to counter-drug intelligence.  As a trusted government entity, ADNET enables information sharing, regardless of domains, geography, and technology, to support the war on narcoterrorism.
Booz Allen Hamilton developed ADNET as a fully distributed enterprise information management system that enhanced a narrowband communications system that simply supported the dissemination of detection and tracking data.  Booz Allen used a limited network and incorporated off-the-shelf technology to create a fully distributed enterprise information system, linking what had been fragmented segments of the US Government.  The system is based on intranet architecture, which uses the technology of the Internet to ensure electronic communication within institutions in order to create a counterdrug community of interest.
Participating organizations used to be fiercely protective of their 'proprietary' information, said current Officer-in-Charge John Myers, a retired US Army Lt. General. Each had a stovepipe system entirely within its organization, added John Ferranti, an ADNET team member. What we've helped to do is create a private 'America Online' for the counter-drug community.
Booz Allen's structuring of ADNET cuts through many of those barriers, making use of the technologies used primarily on the World Wide Web. Drawing from its resource base, the firm provided the tools to make ADNET fully functioning, including everything from system concept development and hardware/software integration, to database management system design and development, training, system administration and network management and operational end-user support. Specifically, ADNET provides a 'home page' in which each organization can publish its own information; the ability to produce and distribute reports instantaneously throughout the network; the capacity to support video teleconferencing and to subscribe to news groups, e-mail 'alerts' and electronic bulletin boards that post information about their activities; an on-line opportunity to coordinate and produce reports with the participation of geographically separated groups; and the rapid distribution of electronic intelligence about target aircraft and ships, as used in the cocaine seizure mentioned previously. 
ADNET currently includes more than 200 workstations at 70 locations in more than 35 US Government organizations. Policy information that once took months to be absorbed is now available instantly, with its security protected by secure firewalls and guards that isolate proprietary networks and systems. 

Yes

Yes

ADNET has enabled 300 agencies and approximately 60 multi-agency communities of interest through its use of information sharing technologies to collaborate effectively and link drug-related pieces of information using real-time secure communications, data sharing, and data analysis as a tool for those fighting the war on drugs.  Not only has ADNET enabled a quicker and more expeditious transfer of mission-critical data among agencies and COIs, it has allowed counternarcotics agencies to better protect Americans from the dangers of increased narcotics trafficking, sales, and related crimes.

ADNET provides counternarcotics personnel with the advantage of enhanced intelligence.  As is true of all warfare, knowledge of the enemy's intentions, position and movement is critical to victory, says Ted Shema, ADNET's original Officer-in-Charge, who remains closely involved with the project.  Before ADNET, this information wasn't shared, and all too often, activities weren't coordinated. Joint planning and execution were the exception. By any measure, ADNET is a major success.

By using ADNET, for example, three separate agencies and five military installations were able to share tactical intelligence, database information, photographs, and query results to coordinate the tracking of a vessel sighted off the coast of Acapulco that was suspected of carrying cocaine. This collaborative effort seized 3.7 metric tons of cocaine worth tens of millions of dollars from the suspect vessel.  ADNET provides counternarcotics agencies with the information necessary to pinpoint specific opportunities to pursue, seize, and convict drug traffickers.

In addition to its initial mission and purpose, ADNET has developed and is hosting the El Paso Intelligence Center (EPIC) System Portal (ESP), a major national center in the new drug intelligence architecture.  It serves as a clearinghouse for the High Intensity Drug Trafficking areas (HIDTA) Intelligence Support Centers, gathering state and local law enforcement drug information and providing intelligence back to the HIDTA Intelligence Support Centers. The ESP provides a suite of capabilities in support of EPICs mission to provide timely and expeditious support to Federal, State, local, tribal, and international law enforcement agencies and to remain the premier tactical operational intelligence center in the nation.  

As previously stated, ADNET has enabled the Coast Guards Caribbean counter-drug effort to obtain information that led to the capture of a boat containing four tons of cocaine.  Another specific example of how ADNET benefitted a specific organization is when three separate federal agencies and five military installations were able to track a vessel sighted off the coast of Mexico that was suspected of carrying cocaine and seize 3.7 metric tons of cocaine worth tens of millions of dollars on American streets.

Furthermore, Customs Asia-Pacific Enforcement Reporting System (CAPERS), an international COI with members in 30 countries, required methods to share vital information to combat transnational crime that spanned the globe.  ADNET leveraged its existing enterprise infrastructure and offering of a web-based portal to provide CAPERS with its own set of exclusive, access-controlled community workspace and features. CAPERS members could then access real-time posted information to resolve and interdict more cross-border crimes at faster rate, 24/7 with secure internet access from any worldwide location.

Many people in the federal government and American military have sung ADNETs praises.  I would characterize ADNET's service ... as outstanding, said a senior Coast Guard Admiral responsible for operations following the Coast Guards seizure of  four tons of cocaine in the Carribbean.

As is true of all warfare, knowledge of the enemy's intentions, position and movement is critical to victory, says Ted Shema, ADNET's original Officer-in-Charge, who remains closely involved with the project.  Before ADNET, this information wasn't shared, and all too often, activities weren't coordinated. Joint planning and execution were the exception. By any measure, ADNET is a major success.

For current Officer-in-Charge John Myers, ADNET opens up the information flow between agencies, to solve the coordination challenge and create information systems and sharing that was once difficult to achieve, said current Officer-in-Charge John Myers, a retired US Army Lt. General.  Participating organizations used to be fiercely protective of their 'proprietary' information.

I am keenly aware of the impact the ADNET Program has had in providing intelligence between 80 activities across 35 Federal Government agencies,' said US Air Force Lt. Gen. Albert Edmonds, the former director of DISA. I am cognizant of the role that Booz Allen & Hamilton has played in making ADNET the major success story it is today.

In short, ADNET is unique and it provides cradle to grave operations and maintenance support to agencies in support of counter-narcoterrorism missions.  ADNET bridges information gaps across agencies, communities of interest, geographies and boundaries, by providing innovative, information sharing solutions.   It is one of the largest enterprise-wide, cross-government initiatives providing secured integrated information exchange and full life-cycle operations and maintenance for counter drug/narco-terrorism interdiction missions for 300 government, law enforcement, and military agencies across all 50 states and foreign locations.  

ADNET enables these organizations to link drug-related pieces of information using real-time secure communications, data sharing, and data analysis.  Disparate agencies and military installations can share tactical intelligence, database information, photographs, and query results.  Policy information that once took months to be absorbed is now available instantly, with its security protected by secure firewalls and guards that isolate proprietary networks and systems.  ADNET establishes partnerships and provides the infrastructure and services for counter-narcoterrorism mission support. 

There are no other comparable systems that provide the same depth of information to as many organizations and personnel with the same level of access and efficiency.  Additionally, ADNETs technology supports a complex information system based on off-the-shelf technology that was integrated into a system that supports heterogeneous database access and the rapid insertion of new technologies.  The ADNET model has been used as an example and applied extensively throughout DoD and law enforcement.

The largest challenges are not typically technical, but organizational or policy driven.  Success does not come from the deployment of a solution, but only when the solution is adopted and facilitates mission impact.  With regards to the organizational challenges, ADNET works with a large set of mission partners, with interweaving missions.  Even for individual programs, ADNET typically consults with a variety of agencies and stakeholders to provide value across a community of interest.  When delivering a solution for the tracking of flow data, ADNET recommended the establishment a stakeholder working group with agencies participating in the data collection and analysis.  ADNET performed joint application development sessions with the stakeholders, decomposed requirements, produced application mockups, and continually sought community feedback on the design.  This approach ensured all user groups were represented and all requirements were collected.  Further, the approach facilitated trust between community members.

N/A

Exceeded

ADNET serves as a great example of what can be accomplished when silos of information are broken down and stakeholders are allowed to securely share critical data.  With the programs success, other government entities across the world can leverage similar systems in their homeland security and law enforcement efforts.

ADNET's success is determined by the impact, often several degrees removed, provided to the counter narco terrorism mission.  Over time, ADNET has evolved into an organization that truly facilitates information sharing between federal, state, local, and foreign mission partners.  ADNET has built strong relationships with the organizations involved in the war on drugs.  Further, subsets from multiple organizations have frequently leveraged ADNET technologies to organize in "communities of interest", focused on a specific geography, threat, or other common point of cross-agency interest.  ADNET's broad userbase continues to expand across US and foreign entities, further strengthening the positive mission impact provided by the facilitation of information sharing and collaboration.