Toggle Navigation
        Toggle Search
        
        Defense Information Systems Agency
        Please enter only alphanumeric characters
                
                Facebook
                    Twitter
                    Youtube
                    LinkedIn About Toggle Submenu
			  Our Work / DISA 101
				  Our Leaders
				  Our Strategic Plan
				  Our History
				  DISA Policy/Issuances
				  Fact Sheets
				  Industry Partners
				  Contact Us
			News and Events Toggle Submenu
			  News
				  Events
				  Training
				  Media Resources
			Services and Capabilities About
        
        
          
            Our History
        
        
          
            1970s
 Print
                    Share
 About
        
                Our Work
                 
                 

                 Toggle Submenu Chain of Command
                        
                    
                        DISA's Budget
                        
                    
                        DISA's Mission Partner Support
                        
                    
                        Joint Information Environment
            
                Our Leaders
                 
                 

                 Toggle Submenu Director
                        
                    
                        Deputy Director
                        
                    
                        
                        
                    
                        Chief of Staff
                        
                    
                        Senior Enlisted Advisor
            
                
            
                Our History
                 
                 

                 Toggle Submenu 1960s
                        
                    
                        1970s
                        
                    
                        1980s
                        
                    
                        1990s
                        
                    
                        2000s
                        
                    
                        2010s
            
                Small Business
                 
                 

                 Toggle Submenu OSBP Mission and Vision
                        
                    
                        Connect with DISA
                        
                    
                        Toggle Submenu
                        
                    
                        What DISA Buys
                        
                    
                        
                        
                    
                        Resources And Training
            
                DISA Policy/Issuances
                 
                 

                 Toggle Submenu
            
                Fact Sheets
            
                Industry Partners
            
                Contact Us
 Related Links Leadership
    Combatant Command Field Offices
    Latest News
    Media Inquiries
 OUR HISTORY
 1970s DCA assumed responsibility for the Minimum Essential Emergency Communications Network (MEECN), a subsystem of WWMCCS, in December 1971. The MEECN was developed to assure the timely receipt of emergency action messages by worldwide U.S. nuclear forces under nuclear attack by the Soviet Union.  DCA served as the MEECN system engineer and provided the broad engineering necessary to ensure a more survivable future network with compatible, interoperable, and secure subsystems. The MEECN was a dedicated overlay on day-to-day communications systems. It involved the use of command, control, and communications relay aircraft, missiles with ultra-high-frequency broadcast systems, specialized satellites, and ground radio broadcast systems. It was a special-purpose, dedicated, hardened, high-confidence emergency system for passing emergency action messages. The MEECN continues to provide secure, high-fidelity, jam-resistant, and survivable communications links between the national command authorities and the strategic nuclear forces. A DoD directive issued in the early 1970s appointed DCA as the system architect for all defense satellite communications. A major new DCA headquarters staff directorate, the Military Satellite Communications (MILSATCOM) System Office was created to discharge  the new role. As the system architect, DCA coordinated all defense satellite communications planning and programs to avoid duplication and ensure communications interoperability among the diverse systems serving the complete spectrum of defense needs. The first comprehensive MILSATCOM architecture was published in 1976.  In February 1976, Phase II of DSCS III program was initiated by DCA, when it awarded a contract to the General Electric Company to produce two demonstration flight satellites to demonstrate that viability of the DSCS III program.
 Our Work
    Our Leaders
    Our Organization Structure
    Our History
    Small Business Programs
    Issuances/Policy
    **News & Events**
    News
    Events
    Training
    Media Resources
                        **Careers at DISA**
    Employment Opportunities
    Learning and Development
    New Employees
    New Military Employees
    Quality of Work Life
    Recruiting Events
    SDC Recruitment
    Search for Opportunities
    WHCA Recruitment
                        ****Legal & Regulatory****
    Accessibility Notice
    Data Rights/Intellectual Property
    FOIA
    Inspector General
    Inventories & Schedules
    Linking Policy
    No Fear Act
    Privacy Impact Assessments
    Privacy Office
    Security/Privacy
    Whistleblower
            **Defense Information Systems Agency**
                        
                        Contact Us
                    Subscribe to DISA email updates:
                        Email