The Director of the U.S. Department of Defense, Command and Control Research Program, and the Defence Command Denmark welcome you to the 9th International Command and Control Research and Technology Symposium. We are delighted to have the city of Copenhagen as the backdrop of this year's event.

The theme, Coalition Transformation: An Evolution of People, Processes, and Technology to Enhance Interoperability, is most timely. The mission challenges we currently face make it imperative to ensure interoperability of coalition operations, even as the make-up of these coalitions varies from operation to operation. Interoperability needs to encompass far more than military to military to include government agencies, private volunteer organizations, and a variety of non-government organizations. Each brings their own capabilities, systems, and culture that must be harmonized.

The plenary and technical sessions have been designed to have representation from international, government, military, academic, and commercial communities. These sessions will speak to common concerns within the context of Information Age challenges and technologies. The presentations are once again being published prior to the start of the Symposium to facilitate participants' choices on sessions to attend and assist in their preparation to engage the presenters in meaningful dialogue. We are looking forward to these presentations and hope you will take an active role in making the Symposium a success.

We also hope you will consider participating in the 10th International Command and Control Research and Technology Symposium scheduled for June 13-16 2005, in Washington, D.C.

Dr. David S. Alberts
Director, Research and Strategic Planning
OASD (NII)

Major General (A) Per Ludvigsen
Deputy Chief of Staff, Plans & Policy
Defence Command Denmark