I3C2 Establishes Director, Applied Cyber Technologies

Project Manager (PM) Information Installation Infrastructure Communications and Capabilities (I3C2) is changing the way it delivers Defensive Cyber capability to Soldiers. On Oct. 12, 2018, the PM established Joe Kobsar as the Director, Applied Cyber Technologies (ACT) during an Assumption of Responsibility ceremony held at Fort Belvoir, Virginia.

Kobsar, a retired Warrant Officer, served in the Army for 23 years. After retirement, Kobsar began his civilian career at the U.S. Communications Electronics Research, Development and Engineering Center (CERDEC) as an electronics engineer. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering, a master’s degree in Project Management, and is a member of the U.S. Army Acquisition Corps. The newly established charter will lead I3C2’s defensive cyber integration efforts through centralized hubs known as the Forge and the Armory. Both are physical locations at Fort Belvoir where I3C2, stakeholders, and industry can collaborate to develop, discuss, test, and store capability in support of defensive cyber operations.

The concept of the Forge has played an integral role in I3C2’s plan to innovatively provide capability to Soldiers at the speed of relevance. The premise of this plan is to streamline and increase the speed of the development phase by leveraging partnerships between the government and industry. According to I3C2 Project Manager, Col. Chad Harris, the Forge is where industry and the government can make innovation happen.

“Over the last eight months or so, I’ve seen the concept of the Forge begin to turn into a reality,” said Harris. “When operational in the coming months, the Forge will bring together the critical pieces of the user, industry, the program management, test and evaluation, and contract, to allow the rapid prototyping efforts that will help us quickly respond to emerging threats.”

During the ceremony, Kobsar thanked his family, including his wife, Alexandra, for their support throughout his military and civilian careers. Kobsar also expression his gratitude to his mentors, as well as Col. Harris.

“Col. Harris, thank you for having the faith in me to be able to do something of this magnitude. I’m very humbled to be selected for this position,” said Kobsar.

Ceremony attendees included leaders from Program Executive Office Enterprise Information Systems U.S. Army Cyber Command (ARCYBER), the Army Cyber Protection Brigade (CPB) and the 91st Cyber Protection Brigade. ARCYBER and the CPB are I3C2’s primary stakeholders, and will have staff presence at the Forge.

“We are really excited about the partnership,” said Col. Adam Volant, Commander of the 91st Cyber Brigade. “I think it provides an opportunity for us to integrate some of the talents and unique capabilities that are present in a corporate environment, into a military environment. That will certainly help us bridge any gaps that we have, so we’re excited, and frankly consider it a privilege that we be involved in something like this.”

Establishing ACT is not the last of I3C2’s organizational changes. The PM will officially change its name from I3C2, and begin operating as PM Defensive Cyber Operations (DCO) on October 26, 2018. In November, DCO will also establish a new Product Manager (PdM) called Cyber Analytics and Detection (CAD). CAD will be headed by Lt.Col. Leilani Tydingco-Amarante.

“I’m confident in our ability to make our goals a reality because of the team we’ve put in place, and the relationships we’ve built with our stakeholders and industry,” said Col. Harris. “We’re ready to move forward in our mission and do great things for the Army.”