To orient industry partners with the Army's new Agile Acquisition Process and how the Network Integration Evaluation (NIE) supports it, the Army hosted an Industry Day Sept. 8 in El Paso, Texas, and at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, for defense contractors interested in participating in future NIEs.

More than 150 representatives from 60 companies - both large defense corporations and small businesses - attended to learn more about the Army's NIE test and evaluation process. The NIEs, semi-annual evaluations designed to integrate and mature the Army's tactical network, are a key element of the Army's emerging Network Strategy. The full-day event familiarized industry participants with the NIE process, introduced the Army organizations involved and their missions, and showed how the NIE's evaluation brigade, the 2nd Brigade, 1st Armored Division (2/1 AD), is structured and equipped.