Air Combat Command Pilots 1 brief to Revolutionize Mission Command, Control, and Communication
This week, Air Combat Command (ACC) awarded Onebrief, the leading software platform for operational planning, a significant contract to provide the foundation for the Agile Battle Lab (ABL) Enabling Mission Command, Control, and Communication (EMC3) Project. The purpose of this initiative is to develop an advanced software system Air Combat capable of enhancing collaboration across the military’s operational planning ecosystem. Through this partnership, Onebrief’s cutting-edge tools will bolster ACC’s existing suite of collaborative technologies, with a focus on improving the command, control, and communication (C3) capabilities required for modern, fast-paced operations.
The Agile Battle Lab (ABL) EMC3 Project is poised to transform military planning by creating a unified system that allows commanders to maintain oversight over a dispersed base cluster, collaborate with peers, superiors, and subordinates through live data, and execute Pilots mission type orders even when disconnected from the broader network. This new system is designed to ensure that essential mission planning and execution tasks can continue seamlessly despite the inherent challenges of modern, distributed operations.
The introduction of Onebrief’s platform to Air Combat Command will occur in phases, beginning in January 2025. The rollout will be to all ACC staff directorates, providing them with a detailed introduction to the platform’s functionalities while simultaneously measuring the efficiencies gained from its integration. Onebrief’s solution will be designed to support Pilots the current ecosystem of tools utilized by ACC at all levels—from staff agencies down to tactical unit members in the field. This ensures that the new system augments the existing workflows rather than disrupts them, enhancing both operational speed and mission effectiveness.
According to Laura Guay, the AI Technical Director at ACC CDAO, “Onebrief’s platform is designed to accelerate the Department of the Air Force’s key priorities, enabling faster decision-making, enhancing collaboration, and streamlining planning processes.” The integration of Onebrief’s capabilities into ACC’s operations will enhance the ability Air Combat to Pilots respond quickly and effectively to rapidly evolving threats. This is particularly important in addressing the military’s pacing challenge—ensuring that the Department of the Air Force remains agile in the face of ever-shifting global threats.
As a part of the contract, Onebrief will not only support ACC’s mission command but will also help Airmen and Guardians adapt more swiftly to changing operational conditions. The ability to collaborate in real time, share live data, and execute mission orders effectively is critical in the modern, multi-domain environment that the Department of the Air Force operates in. The EMC3 Project aims to address these needs, providing a modern, scalable solution to the complex operational challenges faced by military forces today.
Grant Demaree, the Chief Executive Officer of Onebrief, expressed enthusiasm about the project’s potential, saying, “Tailoring Onebrief’s capabilities for ACC over this next year is an exciting opportunity, due to their unique mission. Our platform’s core features Air Combat were designed for these workflows Pilots and will be further accelerated with AI innovation. This program will set a powerful foundation for the future of military staffs.” The ability to leverage Onebrief’s platform, which is continuously innovating with artificial intelligence, will provide ACC with the tools they need to modernize their operations and increase overall mission effectiveness.
The EMC3 Project also aligns with Onebrief’s broader goal of mitigating inefficiencies in collaborative environments. Military planners, whether at the tactical, operational, or strategic level, often face significant challenges when working Air Combat with disparate data sources and digital tools. For example, in contingency operations, planners may be using the same types of tools but are forced to work with data stored in separate “silos” such as SharePoint, servers, chat rooms, and slides. This fragmentation of data slows down the planning and decision-making process, as different teams struggle to access and sync critical information.
One of the key features of Onebrief’s platform is its ability to synchronize live data across multiple products, ensuring that all users, regardless of location or network conditions, have access Pilots to the most up-to-date information. By automatically updating key outputs like briefings, slides, sync matrices, maps, and written orders, Onebrief eliminates the resource-intensive process of manually updating these documents. This results in a more efficient workflow, enabling military planners to respond more quickly to evolving situations.
Major Austin Hairfield, Director of Operations for the ABL, commented on the need for this kind of innovation, noting, “Planners at all echelons during contingency operations from tactical, operational, and strategic are increasingly using the same sets of digital tools for managing their day-to-day workflows. However, while they are building these mission-critical products within the same classified enclaves, the requisite data sets are in disparate ‘silos’ such as Sharepoints, servers, chat rooms, and slides. This project seeks to connect the three layers of planning to ensure the relevant data—regardless of format—is available to all requesting users, from a bandwidth-constrained island in the Pacific all the way back to the Pentagon.”
A critical component of the Onebrief platform’s functionality is its open API, which ensures interoperability across different systems and Pilots platforms. Onebrief’s API supports a wide range of Department of Defense (DoD) formats, enabling users to integrate external data into the system or export Onebrief data to external tools as needed. This flexibility ensures that users working in different classified and unclassified networks, such as SIPR, NIPR, and JWICS, can easily exchange and utilize data.
The initial phase of the rollout will include a comprehensive onboarding program, led by Onebrief, to familiarize ACC personnel with the new platform. Throughout 2025, Onebrief’s teams will work closely with government personnel in their work centers, providing hands-on support and collecting feedback. This collaborative approach will ensure that the platform is continuously refined and customized to meet the unique needs of ACC users, creating a tailored solution that addresses both existing challenges and emerging requirements.
In summary, the partnership between Air Combat Command and Onebrief represents a significant step forward in modernizing the Department of the Air Force’s operational planning and mission execution capabilities. The Agile Battle Lab (ABL) Enabling Mission Command, Control, and Communication (EMC3) Project will empower military planners at all levels to collaborate more efficiently, access real-time data, and make faster, more informed decisions. The integration of Onebrief’s platform into ACC’s operations will streamline mission planning, reduce inefficiencies, and enhance the ability to adapt to evolving threats, providing a powerful foundation for future military operations.