U.S. Air Force Information Warfare Center Selects Plateau LMS as the Platform for Knowledge Readiness Initiative

ARLINGTON, Va. – May 8, 2002 – Today’s wars aren’t fought on large fronts. They are rapidly changing engagements that force commanders to decide in real-time what personnel and equipment are needed for a given mission.

Plateau Systems, a provider of enterprise-class software that manages all of an organization’s learning and knowledge, announced today the U.S. Air Force Information Warfare Center (AFIWC), a unit of the Air Force’s Air Intelligence Agency (AIA), has selected the Plateau Learning Management System to address the dynamic knowledge requirements of today’s warfare through a pioneering “knowledge readiness” initiative that goes far beyond the scope of traditional e-Learning.

The goal of this readiness initiative is simple: to use the Plateau LMS to capture all pieces of individual knowledge an AFIWC Commander needs to immediately respond to changes in mission requirements, and deploy into the field the perfect complement of forces.

Charged with providing intelligence and U.S. Air Force information to operations around the world, AFIWC has to rapidly create needs assessments and respond to crises and battle scenarios wherever they may occur. The AFIWC will use Plateau LMS to consolidate training and other mission-critical information from multiple sources – into a single knowledge repository.

Plateau LMS will manage data on all AFIWC personnel, ranging from training histories to foreign language skills, inoculation records and special work experience – anything a commander would require to immediately assess the readiness of an individual for a given mission.

Plateau LMS will also schedule, manage and deliver a variety of training and educational material for AFIWC personnel, including ancillary training. This fully integrated approach to learning and knowledge management will provide “just-in-time” training materials where needed, and gives critical decision support information to commanders and managers at every level.

“The professionals at the AFIWC are the single Air Force focal point for Information Warfare,” said Colonel Arthur Wachdorf, AFIWC Commander.  “The AFIWC ensures combatant commanders have the Information Warfare capabilities to fight and win our nation’s wars. The diverse nature of Information Warfare requires that our personnel train extensively to stay on the cutting edge of information technology and employment.”  

“The Air Force Information Warfare Center is taking e-Learning into an entirely new realm with this readiness initiative,” said Paul Sparta, Plateau’s CEO and Chairman. “Never before has a Learning Management System been used to capture and deliver knowledge in such a comprehensive manner. Plateau is extremely proud to participate in a program that will give commanders real-time knowledge about their personnel, allowing the Air Force to better prepare and mobilize for war.”

The Plateau LMS has been used as a training and learning management platform by several Air Force commands since 1997. The Air Force Air Education and Training Command (AETC) uses Plateau LMS to manage learning for more than 100,000 students a year. AETC delivers 1,400 courses through Plateau, and tracks more than 1,000 training resources and 6 million learning events. Earlier this year, AETC selected Plateau to create its first “Advanced Distributed Learning” initiative, aimed at providing Web-based technical training to forces around the world.

About Plateau

Plateau’s enterprise-class software provides the infrastructure to manage all of an organization’s learning and knowledge and enhance its intellectual supply chain. Plateau 4 Learning Management System (LMS) is built on open, J2EE/EJB architecture, and integrates seamlessly with other enterprise applications to enhance their value and reduce the cycle of learning for employees, customers and partners. Plateau’s global clients include the American Red Cross, Federal Express, Bristol Myers-Squibb and the U.S. Air Force. The company was founded in 1996, and is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia.  Internet Users: Plateau’s news releases, electronic press kits, media and sales contacts are available at www.plateau.com.