Q&A with Greg Gondran
Technology Director, Defense and Civil Mission Solutions Programs
Raytheon, Intelligence and Information Systems
With over 28 years of experience, Greg has invested much of his career developing and expanding the technical scope of the organization in the digital image and signal processing fields and in analytical photogrammetry. As Raytheon's Technology Director, Defense and Civil Mission Solutions, Greg oversees the technology efforts for the Appsmart™ Market.
Q: You have been involved with Appsmart since the very beginning. Tell us how it has evolved.
A: Appsmart evolved from the need for a centralized data and software store. Combined with our existing Raytheon Advanced Tactical System (RATS™) prototype mobile access technology and our newly developed GOTab™ technology we have a maturing integration of our investments for cloud applications.
Q: In your words. What exactly is Appsmart and how can it be used?
A: Appsmart is a natural response to the need for total data access, collaboration and centralized management of common tools. Total access and collaboration is from the desk analyst to the warfighter at the tactical edge. Management of common tools means creating a store of software based analytics and providing them as needed by the consumer. Appsmart is a prototype response to the customers ASP/ISP initiative and software as a service. In its mature form it is enabled by the advent of cloud computing.
Q: What are the most important features of Appsmart?
A: Centralized management of software apps for community access and collaboration when needed, as needed.
Q: In an ideal world, how do you see the customers using Appsmart?
A: The Appsmart market has various isles of data, information, applications and services. Functionality that is traditionally disjoint (the many programs of record across TCPED) are now accessible and combinable through Appsmart. That's an "ideal" world.
Q: What has been the biggest technical challenge?
A: I don't see a major technology challenge. The challenge is migration and how to leverage the years of investment and existing functionality across the DoD/IC community. New policies will also be needed to manage the expansion in access.
Q: How will Appsmart change the way our customers make decisions?
A: The changes will be in speed and accuracy; both due to full access to full content.
Q: Can you tell us how Appsmart will benefit the user and developer communities?
A: We've said it; speed and accuracy. Additionally, increased collaboration will always speed innovation.
