Photo by Kristopher Joseph Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Smith, Jr., commander, 5th Signal Command (right), Brig. Gen. Susan Lawrence, commander, Network Enterprise Technology Command / 9th Signal Command (center) and Brig. Gen. Jennifer Napper, commander, 7th Signal Command (Theater) (left), discuss current and future signal projects and endeavors during a week-long summit hosted by 5th Signal Command on Funari Barracks Oct. 27 to Oct. 31. MANNHEIM, Germany - 5th Signal Command, headquartered on Funari Barracks, hosted a week-long signal summit from Oct. 27 to Oct. 31 with two sister theater signal commands and the Network Enterprise Technology Command / 9th Signal Command (Army) to discuss the current state of the Army's global military signal operations and future endeavors and projects to build a global network enterprise that enables every warfighter.

"This is a historic opportunity," said Brig. Gen. Susan Lawrence, NETCOM commanding general and former 5th Signal commander.

"We can improve global services by synchronizing our support and replicating our most successful applications." NETCOM operates and defends the Army LandWarNet, which is the service's portion of the Global Information Grid.

Joining Lawrence was Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Smith, commander 5th Signal Command, Brig. Gen. Jennifer Napper, 7th Signal Command (Theater) Commander with her brigade commanders, command sergeants major and operations officers, and Brig. Gen. James Walton the provisional commander of the 335th Signal Command (Theater).

During the summit, each command gave a command briefing to the summit participants made up of the commands' staff and subordinate brigade leadership

The main points of discussion centered on ways of developing and expanding the Global Network Enterprise Construct and the Network Service Center construct.

The NSC represents the operational dimension of the Army enterprise network within the larger joint enterprise that will provide significant improvements in computer network defense and will consolidate and streamline data and communication bases in order to provide a continuity of services to the warfighter.

One key signal goal is to give warfighters the same data and network capabilities regardless if they are at home station or deployed in an austere environment.

"It is imperative that all theater signal commands work together to truly build a global network enterprise," said Smith.

Visiting leaders also had an opportunity to tour the Landstuhl Regional Hub Node and the Kaiserslautern Area Processing Center.

Fifth Signal Command is U.S. Army, Europe / 7th Army's communications arm responsible for enabling information dominance to Europe's warfighters. Seventh Signal's mission is to operate and defend the continental U.S. portion of the LandWarNet.

The 335th is the Army's senior signal organization operating in Southwest Asia in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility.