Seamless communication and situational awareness are crucial for military, law enforcement, and emergency response operations. They enable decision-making, increase survivability, and improve operational efficiency.

However, for communications and situational awareness tools to be effective in these scenarios, they need to be interoperable and enable disparate organizations—many of which often come together in these scenarios—to work together seamlessly.

This is where PAR Government comes into play.

PAR Government’s products and solutions keep warfighters, first responders, and law enforcement officers focused on the mission. They also bring data to the edge, improving operational effectiveness and increasing situational awareness.

The Last Mile recently sat down with Chad Wiley, Director of Business Development at PAR Government, to learn more about the company, how PAR Government’s specialized security and situational awareness solutions leverage mobile mesh in challenging environments, and why interoperability is not a luxury; it’s a necessity in today’s ever-evolving tactical landscape.

The Last Mile (TLM): Can you tell our readers about PAR Government? What does the organization do? What kinds of solutions does it offer, and to whom does it offer them?

Chad Wiley: PAR Government offers a specialized security solution integrating ATAK Situational Awareness Tool, PAR Government’s Sit(x) TAK Server as a Service (SaaS), and GvStreamer video server solution. These solutions leverage our extensive background of more than 25 years in software development, special operations, emergency management scenarios, and large-scale event security management.

This comprehensive suite enhances real-time decision-making and situational awareness through advanced geospatial information and live video feeds from various cameras tailored to meet the unique needs of each operation and end user.

Our approach is informed by decades of field experience, ensuring strategic alignment and operational effectiveness with a focus on security. It is supported by a secure, scalable cloud-based platform and continuous innovation to stay at the cutting edge of technology.

TLM: PAR Government developed a commercial cloud-based situational awareness server called Sit(x) that works with the Android Team Awareness Kit (ATAK). Can you briefly describe the Sit(x) solution and why tactical operators need Sit(x) when TAK is available now? 

Chad Wiley: PAR Government’s Sit(x) is a secure, cloud-native TAK server solution hosted in the AWS GovCloud, designed specifically for tactical operators and public safety organizations. This platform offers a highly secure and scalable infrastructure to support the critical needs of these users, enabling seamless data sharing, including full motion video, real-time situational awareness, and enhanced communication capabilities across various operational environments.

“Multi-modal communications are crucial for tactical operators because they ensure continuous, reliable communication across various environments and conditions, enhancing operational effectiveness and safety.” – Chad Wiley

The deployment of Sit(x) in the AWS GovCloud ensures compliance with stringent federal security standards, which include our FedRAMP-compliant offering, making it an ideal solution for sensitive or complex missions and scenarios.

Tactical operators and public safety personnel benefit from this solution through improved operational coordination, faster response times, and a reliable, secure platform for managing complex missions and emergencies, ultimately enhancing mission effectiveness and safety outcomes for all end users.

The Sit(x) is also a very cost-effective solution compared to other deployments on the market. It does not require Linux experience or an IT team to run the server. The Sit(x) User Interface was developed with the end user in mind, so anyone can manage their own instance as an administrator.

TLM: Why is interoperability important in tactical operations?

Chad Wiley: Interoperability is pivotal in tactical and public safety operations and large-scale events because it ensures seamless coordination among multiple diverse agencies while enabling real-time information sharing and informed decision-making. It facilitates efficient resource utilization, significantly reduces response times, and directly enhances the safety of both responders and the public.

Interoperable data sharing provides a scalable and flexible framework that adapts to evolving scenarios and technology. It is crucial to the effectiveness of coordinated efforts, ensuring that operations are conducted smoothly, resources are optimally allocated, and the overall outcome is improved.

TLM: Why is Multi-Modal Communications important for tactical operators? Why would it be valuable to incorporate mobile mesh networking?

Chad Wiley: Multi-modal communications are crucial for tactical operators because they ensure continuous, reliable communication across various environments and conditions, enhancing operational effectiveness and safety. This approach enables operators to maintain communication lines even when traditional networks, such as LTE or WiFi, are unavailable or compromised, which is common in remote, hostile, or disaster-stricken areas.

“Mesh networks allow devices to connect directly with each other without relying on centralized infrastructure, creating a self-healing network that can dynamically reroute data through the best available path…[this] ensures that operators can communicate and coordinate effectively, even in the absence of traditional network connectivity.” – Chad Wiley

Incorporating mobile mesh networking into tactical operations is valuable precisely because it provides a resilient communication network in disconnected environments. Mesh networks allow devices to connect directly with each other without relying on centralized infrastructure, creating a self-healing network that can dynamically reroute data through the best available path. This capability ensures that operators can communicate and coordinate effectively, even in the absence of traditional network connectivity.

TLM: How does the use of PAR Government solutions and products in conjunction with goTenna mobile mesh networking benefit users? What does it enable for them?

Chad Wiley: Having both a connected environment solution like PAR Government’s Sit(x) cloud-based TAK server platform and a disconnected environment solution like goTenna, is essential for comprehensive operational readiness. Sit(x) offers advanced capabilities and seamless integration with broader data sources and services in connected environments, enhancing situational awareness and operational coordination.

In contrast, goTenna provides a reliable off-grid communication network, ensuring that tactical operators and public safety personnel remain connected even in the most challenging conditions.

These solutions complement each other by offering a full spectrum of communication capabilities. Operators can leverage the full power of cloud-based analytics, data sharing, and real-time updates in connected environments. They can still communicate and coordinate effectively in disconnected scenarios using mesh networking.

With goTenna’s backhaul technology for Position Location Information (PLI) and Cursor on Target (CoT) data, connected users on Sit(x) will be able to see and receive data from users who are operating in a disconnected environment. This dual approach ensures uninterrupted operational continuity, maximizes situational awareness, and enhances the safety and effectiveness of tactical and public safety operations across any operational scenario.

TLM: Why has PAR Government chosen to partner with goTenna? What about goTenna’s solution and the company itself that made you decide to become a partner?

Chad Wiley: PAR Government collaborates with a diverse range of companies within the TAK ecosystem to offer a broad and seamless communication solution that caters to both connected and disconnected environments. This approach ensures that their partnerships bring together complementary technologies, enhancing operational continuity, mission resilience, and situational awareness for tactical and public safety operations. Emphasizing security, reliability, and innovation, PAR Government aims to stay ahead of future challenges while expanding its market presence.

“Interoperability is pivotal in tactical and public safety operations and large-scale events because it ensures seamless coordination among multiple diverse agencies while enabling real-time information sharing and informed decision-making.” – Chad Wiley

This strategy of collaborating with various partners within the TAK ecosystem enables PAR Government to offer a more comprehensive solution portfolio, addressing a wide spectrum of operational needs and ensuring effectiveness and coordination across all operational scenarios.

With the end user at the forefront, PAR Government and goTenna share a common commitment to security, reliability, and innovation, aiming to future-proof their offerings and expand market reach by addressing a broad spectrum of operational needs. By combining their strengths, PAR Government and goTenna are set to enhance their value proposition, offering a comprehensive solution that ensures effectiveness and coordination in any operational scenario, from urban to the most remote areas.

To learn more about PAR Government and the solutions they offer through their situational awareness solutions, click HERE.