Defense Message System
(DMS)
The Defense Message System (DMS) consists of all the hardware, software, procedures, personnel, and
facilities required for electronic delivery of messages among organizations and individuals in the Department
of Defense (DoD). This includes the full interoperability of tactically deployed users and interfaces with Allied
systems.
The national intelligence community also plans to utilize DMS, and has established an office to implement DMS and ensure intelligence community interests are addressed.
DMS is an evolutionary program based on leading commercial products. Lockheed Martin Federal Systems led an industry
team which was responsible for integrating many commercial products, among them Microsoft and Lotus, into a flexible,
interoperable messaging environment.
DMS replaces the Automated Digital Information Network-Telecommunication Center (AUTODIN-TCC)
message delivery architecture.
DMS is an architecture of Regional Nodes (RN) connected to
distributed networks providing writer-to-reader messaging. RNs provide backbone messaging and directory services. Each RN is connected to NIPRNET, SIPRNET to provide SBU,
SECRET, and TS collateral messaging; connected to other networks for other classification levels (e.g., JWICS for SCI). RNs monitored and controlled remotely by three Regional Control
Centers: CONUS, Europe, Pacific.
Sources and Resources
http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/usa/c3i/dms.htm
Maintained by Steven Aftergood
Originally created by John Pike
Updated April 16, 2003
