The Defense Information Systems Agency celebrated the completion of its Orion Cyber Operations Center-Hill with a ribbon-cutting ceremony last week.

Developed in collaboration with the Office of the DoD Chief Information Officer, the Orion Cyber Operations Center-Hill marks a step forward for DISA’s command and control modernization efforts, serving as an active-active site whereby Department of Defense IT network requests are load balanced across multiple active data centers. Operating an active-active site provides DISA and the DOD with improved access to mission-critical capabilities and data resiliency now and in the event of an emergency.

The Orion Cyber Operations Center’s active-active capability is another indicator that DISA is postured and prepared for any crisis, conflict or competition,” said DISA Director Air Force Lt. Gen. Robert J. Skinner, who congratulated the center’s leaders and teammates before he cut the ceremonial ribbon. 

The center is located on Hill Air Force Base in Davis County, Utah, within the Ogden Data Center which is shared by the DISA Hosting and Compute Center, DISA Global, and the DISA Global Service Desk. The shared environment encourages stronger collaboration among the teams whose missions center around connecting and protecting U.S. warfighters. 

“The Orion Cyber Operations Center-Hill is a first within DISA where the agency’s two largest Operational Service Managers are collocated with the Global Service Desk and our Cybersecurity Service Providers,” said DISA Global Commander Army Col. Michael Reeder. “The synergy gained by having these teams work from the same facility will improve network security, expedite the incident management process, and ultimately provide for a better customer experience.”

From start to finish

The need for the new center originated after a massive flood seven years ago when the Scott Air Force Base location was impacted, resulting in a network outage that lasted approximately three days.

Under Reeder’s leadership, the Orion Cyber Operations Center-Hill was successfully executed in record time, enabling the realization of a full active-active vision. DISA awarded seventeen contracts within 90 days, followed by a 180-day execution phase, replacing aging infrastructure with a modern Passive Optical Network. The total duration of the project, from design to completion, was 270 days and the transformation resulted in increased operational seating from 72 to 111 and support seating from 46 to 88.

About DISA Global Field Command

DISA Global Field Command delivers and defends the Department of Defense Information Network Area of Operations, enabling the warfighter and mission partners to conduct continuous global operations. The command's priorities include providing and operating DODIN's enterprise infrastructure, defending the boundary, and helping the department succeed in time of crisis.

For more information about DISA Global Field Command and the Ogden Operations Center, visit https://DISA.mil/DGOC.