Minimum Essential Emergency Communications Network (MEECN)

The Minimum Essential Emergency Communications Network (MEECN), is a critical initiative managed by the Defense Information Systems Agency. The primary goal of MEECN is to provide the Nuclear Command, Control, and Communications (NC3) Engineer with essential services for planning, systems analysis, operational assessments, systems engineering, and architectural and concept development. This program ensures connectivity between the President and the Secretary of Defense to critical nuclear execution forces, spanning both homeland-to-homeland and theater nuclear war scenarios. Additionally, MEECN includes systems for Emergency Action Message dissemination, integrated Tactical Warning/Attack Assessment, presidential decision-making conferencing, force report back, re-targeting, force management, and requests for permission for nuclear weapons use. The program aims to assure positive control of nuclear forces and connectivity between the Secretary of Defense and military forces while enabling informed decision-making by national leadership during national security emergencies.

The specific objectives of MEECN include maintaining proper command and control of military forces during national security emergencies, including potential nuclear war scenarios. This involves ensuring that the President, the Secretary of Defense, and the Combatant Commands have reliable communication channels for making informed decisions. Additionally, MEECN aims to provide connectivity between national leadership and critical nuclear execution forces to guarantee positive control of nuclear forces. The program also focuses on enhancing the capabilities for Emergency Action Message dissemination systems and integrated Tactical Warning/Attack Assessment to support decision-making processes during critical national security situations. Overall, MEECN's objectives revolve around strengthening command and control capabilities for nuclear forces and facilitating effective communication among key decision-makers in times of national security crises.