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Data links and data link systems are complicated. Many people tasked with acquiring these systems and capabilities do not have the specific background or knowledge required to properly assess requirements and capabilities. When available, they will depend on the experience of local subject matter experts; but when these are not available, they tend to rely on the vendors that provide these systems and capabilities to provide the specific information to aid in acquisition. This class does not cover the acquisition process, but will provide personnel tasked with acquiring data link systems with basic data link information, identify capabilities and limitations to identify in systems to meet specific requirements based on mission, and use of an acquired system; it won’t make you an TDL expert but will put you in a position to ask the right questions.
Acquisition personnel
Up to 25 personnel
Full day
David MacDonald is a retired U.S. Marine MSgt with almost 40 years of data link experience. He spent 20 years in the U.S. Marine as a Tactical Air Defense Controller working data links including Links 1, 4, 11, 11B, 16, and ATDL-1. He retired in 2005 and became a JICO instructor at the Joint Interoperability Division, dealing primarily with training overseas military. In 2019 he joined Curtiss-Wright as a Field Engineer/Operations Support Specialist providing training and support for tactical data link systems.