Linking Cognitive Data to Design In Navy Command and Control Cynthia Dominguez, Anna Grome, Robert Strouse, Beth Crandall, Christopher Nemeth Klein Associates Division of Applied Research Associates, Inc. 1750 Commerce Center Boulevard North Fairborn, OH 45324 Matthew O’Connor Naval Surface Warfare Center Dam Neck, VA Email matthew.oconnor@navy.mil Copyright © 2010 by Cynthia Dominguez. Published and used by INCOSE with permission. Abstract. While military command and control (C2) systems are intended to support operator cognitive work, current US Navy system engineering processes only capture behavioral-level tasks. Deployed forces in high threat settings need support for cognitive and macrocognitive work including planning, replanning, sensemaking and situation awareness. We describe a project on behalf of the Navy Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC) to create an approach to system development that reveals and supports cognitive work. Cognitive systems engineering methods, including cognitive task analysis (CTA), have been used to capture operational requirements and translate them into decision and display requirements. Quality critieria for accomplishing this work are presented. The project team has produced initial prototype displays that are suited to two of eleven NECC commands, those with the highest operations tempo and tactical mission requirements. The Need for Human-Centered System Development U.S. Navy officers and enlisted personnel perform cognitive work during high hazard operations. Navy systems engineering at the ACAT IV and below level addresses human performance predominantly at the behavioral task level, but does not account for the cognitive tasks operators perform. As a result, the systems acquired, designed, and ultimately deployed fall short of meeting the needs and supporting the complex user cognitive activities such as decision making, planning, replanning, sensemaking, and risk management. Researchers at Applied Research Associates conducted a project for the U.S. Navy to model how a Cognitive Systems Engineering (CSE) approach can augment existing acquisition and systems development processes. We demonstrated a process for carrying out systems design using CSE methods for small-scale government development efforts, known as abbreviated acquisition processes (AAPs), a subset of acquisition category IV and below projects. By revealing how people think and act in the context of their work environment, a CSE approach provides a foundation for designing systems that support the cognitive work of operators. This CSE effort was conducted on behalf of the Navy Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC). NECC was established in 2006 to manage, train, and equip forces who conduct maritime security and joint contingency operations in expeditionary environments. The 1006