CNA's Advanced Technology and Systems Analysis Division is committed to helping decision makers get the best possible returns from their technology and systems investments.

Members of the Advanced Technology and Systems Analysis Division (ATSA) develop a thorough understanding of clients' objectives and operating environments and of the performance characteristics of support technologies. We then focus our work on understanding how those technologies, systems, and groups of systems can support and improve operations. We also examine the many issues that are important to operating in the littorals—the interface at which the Navy and Marine Corps work together through "expeditionary" systems to accomplish a mission.

The Advanced Technology and Systems Analysis Division Teams:

  • Aviation Systems and Technology Team
  • Information Technology and Operations Team
  • Maritime Search and Undersea Warfare Team
  • Science and Technology Team
  • Force Structure and Employment Team
  • Expeditionary Systems & Support Team

For the Department of the Navy, ATSA's work falls into five research areas:

  • Capabilities, Force Structure, and Systems (CFS)
  • Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR)
  • Research, Development, and Acquisition (RDA)
  • Resources, Planning, and Assessments (RPA)
  • Systems and Tactics (SAT)

This work helps senior decision makers to set requirements for and acquire systems to meet the Navy's war-fighting capabilities and missions. ATSA sponsors include the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (DCNO) for Warfare Requirements and Programs (N6/N7); the DCNO for Resources, Requirements and Assessments (N8); the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition; the Commander, Naval Network Warfare Command; and the Director of Naval Intelligence.

Major above core sponsors include the National Reconnaissance Office, the Defense Intelligence Agency, and the Missile Defense Agency. Because we deal with new technologies and systems concepts for the military, much of our research is classified.

In addition to these Department of Defense clients, we also conduct technology and systems analyses for the Coast Guard and other components of the Department of Homeland Security, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Central Intelligence Agency, and other non-DoD organizations, as part of our above ceiling work.

ATSA's work in expeditionary systems focuses on establishing a connection between concepts of operations and requirements for platforms. Often the Navy and Marine Corps come up with systems to pursue before they've tied them to the concept of operations. Our work in this area also focuses on examining alternative systems to assess their relative costs and benefits. The division also looks across various systems (as opposed to single systems) to see what capabilities they provide.

Our staff of close to 70 full- and part-time researchers includes a rich mix of scientists, engineers, and mathematicians, many of whom hold advanced degrees from the nation's leading research institutions. Half of our research staff has served in the Fleet commands as part of CNA's field program, and a significant portion of the remaining staff has comparable experience working directly with operational forces.

Several important themes characterize our current research program:

  • Examining the right balance between manned and unmanned systems to provide mission capability cost-effectively
  • Developing procedures to better link the needs of the user and investments in basic and applied research
  • Developing and analyzing metrics to understand the benefits and limits of applying modern "office" information technology hardware and software to support military and other government operations in a field environment, with special attention to the needs of the "mobile" user.

These themes lie at the heart of current Administration efforts to "transform" the way military and domestic security personnel accomplish their missions and to introduce improved efficiencies in the way government services are delivered to the taxpayer.