UofM’s Dr. Lan Wang Receives Grant from the Mission-Integrated Network Control Program

May 10, 2023 — Dr. Lan Wang, department chair and Dunavant Professor in the UofM’s Department of Computer Science, has received a grant from the Mission-Integrated network Control (MINC) program sponsored by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). Peraton Labs Inc. is the prime contractor of the contract.

As outlined on the DARPA site, the objective of the MINC program is to ensure that critical data finds a path to the right user at the right time in highly contested, highly dynamic communication environments using secure control of any available communication or networking resources (communications, compute or storage capabilities).

“I am excited to work alongside a team of experts from Peraton Labs,” said Wang. “This project presents an excellent opportunity for me to utilize my research results towards ensuring secure and reliable communication in a challenged network environment. We aim to develop solutions that will address the various issues in network communication, such as mobility, data loss and cybersecurity threats.”

The MINC approach is designed to interoperate with a heterogeneous mix of legacy and future systems to ensure timely and reliable delivery of data that is not guaranteed today. This capability replaces the manual, static configuration of individual, tactical networks and the associated limited internetworking capabilities.

The growing emphasis on all-domain warfare compounds the complexity of controlling heterogeneous networks. MINC embraces these challenges by introducing the mosaic warfare concepts of optionality, diversity and rapid adaptability to the orchestration of networks of networks.

The MINC program will realize "on-demand" connectivity to enable effects chains by focusing on the development and integration of three key capabilities:

1. Creating an "always-on" network overlay to access available networking and communications resources and control parameters;
2. Using a cross-network approach for optimizing and managing network configuration and information flows; and
3. Creating a mission-driven approach in determining the critical information flows for warfighting services.

For more information on this research, contact Wang at lanwang@memphis.edu.