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CHIPPEWA Moving Forward

SUMMARY

A 24/7 watch that transfers more than 40,000 messages a day between the NSA and a third-party partner has been modernized with a T1 communication line, new systems, and upgraded computers. Formerly manual processes are almost all automated, and as a result, analytic messages produced by the system rose to 309 from 140 over the course of three quarters.

DOCUMENT’S DATE

Oct 06, 2005

PUBLICLY AVAILABLE

Mar 01, 2018

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DYNAMIC PAGE -- HIGHEST POSSIBLE CLASSIFICATION IS TOP SECRET // SI / TK // REL TO USA AUS CAN GBR NZL (U) CHIPPEWA Moving Forward FROM: the CSRC/Foreign Partner Operations Center (S3C12) Unknown Run Date: 10/06/2005 (S//SI) CHIPPEWA, in its role as a 24/7 watch that continuously transfers high-priority traffic to a key Third Party Partner, conducts a key operation in the NSA/CSS support to the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT). Every day more than 40,000 raw material messages are sent or received by this dedicated group of civilian and military mission managers. Nevertheless, for most of its 30-year history, almost every function was done manually. In just two short years, that situation has been completely reversed. (S//SI) Nearly every one of CHIPPEWA's systems and programs has been upgraded and revamped to work faster and more efficiently. Central to this modernization process was the installation of a T1 communication line in August 2004 and a second T1, which is currently undergoing reliability testing. When both T1 lines are functioning, they will provide better service and reliability to the customer and solve a long-standing message bottleneck problem. Other upgrades include two new systems, which maintain the integrity of the traffic flow and serve as an indicator if something goes wrong. In addition, almost all of CHIPPEWA's computers have been upgraded to the more user-friendly NT model. (S//SI) CHIPPEWA's modernization efforts have streamlined the process by which data is transferred to the customer and greatly diminished the margin of operator error. Cumbersome procedures that used to take 40 minutes of a message manager's time, now take 10 minutes. The result is the customer now receives near real-time delivery of data. A powerful example of a modernization result can be seen by tracking the number of analytical messages produced over the last three quarters: 140 (Oct-Dec), 219 (Jan- March), and 309(April-June). This more than 100% increase represents not only greater efficiency, but also produces more actionable intelligence that helps shape our response to the GWOT. (U//FOUO) Automating this formerly labor-intensive operation has increased CHIPPEWA's productivity and the maneuverability of its members throughout the organization, and provided better, faster responses to our internal and external customers. As SRA , CHIPPEWA Team Leader, aptly observes, "From all the work involved in the CHIPPEWA modernization effort, we have learned that taking time to save time can benefit the mission and possibly save lives." "(U//FOUO) SIDtoday articles may not be republished or reposted outside NSANet without the consent of S0121 (DL sid_comms)." DYNAMIC PAGE -- HIGHEST POSSIBLE CLASSIFICATION IS TOP SECRET // SI / TK // REL TO USA AUS CAN GBR NZL DERIVED FROM: NSA/CSSM 1-52, DATED 08 JAN 2007 DECLASSIFY ON: 20320108