JCMO EKMS/Controlling Authority WGM

The JCMO Provides Joint COMSEC support to meet the operational needs of the Joint Staff, Combatant Commanders, Services, Defense Agencies, Traditional and Non-Traditional Allies, and Non-Defense Agencies. To this end, this office serves as the Controlling Authority for all Joint Inter-Theater COMSEC Package (JICP) material and other Joint Programs as assigned by the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS). Although we control JCS owned material the JCMO is a subordinate office under the US Joint Forces Command J6 (USJFCOM/J6). For the past 25 years JCMO has traditionally hosted annual conferences. These conferences were started as a teaching tool for COMSEC Managers/Custodians, Accountants and COMSEC Planners working in a joint environment using joint key. This year, our meeting will be as it was last year, a working group as well as a traditional briefing style conference. The working group will consist of a Controlling Authority breakout session for Controlling Authority working group members. During the traditional style briefings discussions in an open forum will be encouraged in order to facilitate problem solving. In addition, we will host a IFF Mode 5 breakout session for Tier 2 and Tier 3 operators.

With the current push for new crypto equipment and modern electronic KEYMAT, as well as Physical to Electronic Transition (PET) of KEYMAT, we will present class room style refresher material for the joint COMSEC community. We will also present task oriented working groups aimed at familiarizing COMSEC Managers with new modern key and modern equipment processes. In addition, this year we also intend to focus on delivery of key to non-EKMS capable COMSEC accounts. Along these lines we will also focus on COMSEC support for our allies.

This conference is intended to bring to light problems encountered by the joint COMSEC community with regards to delivery and distribution of electronic key. COMSEC and interoperability problems currently faced by the war fighter will be addressed. We encourage audience participation in order to solve problems encountered regarding interoperability and COMSEC support.

The Controlling Authority Working Group will focus on upcoming roles and functions in today’s modernized COMSEC world and tomorrow’s KMI.

In conjunction with the conference there will be a vendor expo showcasing the latest relevant cryptographic information systems.