News Review: DMO, DSTO tackle systems integration challenges | ADM Mar 2009

Former Deputy Chief Defence Scientist Dr ‘Nanda' Nandagopal has been seconded to the DMO and appointed Chief Systems Integration Officer (CSIO) at the head of a new organisation designed to improve the management of complex defence projects.

The new organisation, located initially in Adelaide, will be known as the Defence Systems Integration Technical Advisory (DSI - TA) and is a joint venture between the Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO) and the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO).

"Systems integration issues are a known cause of significant delays in major defence acquisitions and platform upgrades," said the Minister for Defence Science and Personnel, Warren Snowdon.

"This new venture has been established to enhance the way that integration risks are identified, understood and managed."

Parliamentary secretary for defence procurement Greg Combet said the DSI-TA would monitor and assess integration risks, and provide advice to project teams and decision-makers.

The unit's work is also expected to include examination of complex systems integration issues, performing systems engineering analysis and evaluating alternative capability solutions.

"It is expected to contribute significantly to these organisations' ability to deliver first-rate capabilities to the Australian Defence Force, on time and on budget," Combet said.

"In line with recommendations of both the Kinnaird and Mortimer reviews, it is also expected to further enhance the interaction between DMO and DSTO and contribute to Defence's risk reduction efforts in the early stages of major projects leading up to final Government approval."

The new unit will initially be based at DSTO Edinburgh in South Australia.