Fraunhofer Institute for Communication, Information Processing and Ergonomics FKIE
High award for FKIE researchers Martin Lies and David Dahlberg
The list of "CPWG Interoperability Heroes" recently included their names: Martin Lies and David Dahlberg, scientists from the "Communication Systems" department at the Fraunhofer Institute for Communication, Information Processing and Ergonomics FKIE, have been honoured with this exceptional distinction for their many years of involvement in several committees of Federated Mission Networking (FMN).
The FMN initiative was founded in 2015 with the aim of improving interoperability between nations in the NATO environment. Among other things, it supports Networked Operations Command (NetOpFü), which helps allies and partner countries to better communicate, train and operate together.
Within the FMN, Martin Lies and David Dahlberg each lead one of the technical working groups of the Capability Planning Working Group (CPWG), which is tasked with standardising the various services to be federated. The FKIE scientists have also been intensively involved in other FMN committees for several years and support investigations into the technical feasibility of the defined standards during CWIX, a NATO multinational interoperability exercise.
Jean-René Couture, Chair of the FMN CPWG, presented the two FKIE researchers with their letters of congratulations and the award in the form of a coin. In his letter, Couture highlighted Martin Lies' significant contributions as head of a technical working group focusing on Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), as well as his involvement in numerous FMN committees, including years of participation in the development of federated communications and in the review of new specifications at CWIX.
It was also a pleasure for him to award David Dahlberg, Couture said in his letter. He acknowledged the FKIE researcher's services as head of the Core Services working group, as an expert in several FMN technical working groups and as a driving factor for testing and reviewing future development spirals at CWIX. Both are "real CPWG Interoperability Heroes". And handwritten on both letters, Couture noted: "Well done!"
The list of "Interoperability Heroes", which according to the FMN definition names those persons who have "displayed an admirable and commendable spirit for federation and contributed to the development and realisation of interoperability in the context of federal mission networking", has so far included a dozen names. Lies and Dahlberg are now not only two more, but also the first German names. "The award came as quite a surprise to us," say Lies and Dahlberg. Both emphasise: "The honour has a very special significance for us".