NEW YORK, 24 April 2008. The United States Air and Space Expeditionary Force (AEF) Operations has selected Information Builders' WebFocus software to give flying units, and their direct support personnel, the tools and information they need to plan and execute successful missions. AEF Operations also enlisted Information Builders' Professional Services to provide strategic and tactical support for its BI implementations.

The AEF was designed to improve the United States Air Force's ability to deploy an effective force in times of need, from humanitarian assistance missions to major regional conflicts. Supporting AEF missions is a massive data-access and reporting challenge, says a representative.

Developers used the BI software to create a secure reporting portal that makes information available to authorized users on demand. The system is used throughout the Air Force, from major commands to individual squadrons.

"It's vitally important that information pertaining to each stage of an Air Force deployment process be readily available to Air Force commanders so they can exercise their best judgment related to deployment of Air Force capabilities all over the globe," says Col. Robert Lala, deputy director of AEF Operations. "WebFocus gives us a common data platform for distributing AEF deployment information. Not only can we respond faster to customer requests, but the answers provided are able to be shared across a broad spectrum of users."

The reporting portal enables each Air Force user to retrieve information that is applicable to his level and role. WebFocus supports multiple types of security, down to the field level of the database. Once a user is authenticated, the reporting system automatically tailors the interface, report content, and functional privileges based on that user's unique privileges and skills.

Air Force users of all types now have ready access to information that was not previously accessible. Even users within other military environments, such as the Pentagon, can simply click on a report and obtain pertinent information. In the past, developers had to compile the information for them.

"The United States military must be able to conduct operations on short notice, often in response to a crisis," says Gerald Cohen, CEO and founder, Information Builders. "Our technology is making it possible for AEF Operations personnel to understand what information is available and to better use that information to accomplish their missions."