RESTON, Va., June 23, 2003 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation's (NYSE:NOC) Mission Systems sector has released the latest version of the Defense Travel System (DTS) software, called the Enhanced Jefferson Release, which improves the travel process for all users. It is available to all current DTS users today.
The new DTS is fast and easy to use. The redesigned user interface is much simpler to navigate, with mandatory fields clearly labeled and online help available for both the current page and in index form. The new DTS also provides clear, straightforward information about air, lodging and rental car selections to help travelers make choices that best fit the Department of Defense policy and organizational mission needs.
New functions improve the travel process for travelers, approving officials, administrators, transportation officers and commercial travel offices. These include scheduled partial payments for temporary duty (TDY) trips over 45 days; advances, group travel and personal leave in conjunction with official travel; and automated checks, validations and warnings to enhance data integrity.
The DTS, a Defense Department-wide travel management system, was designed and developed by Northrop Grumman Mission Systems to re-engineer TDY defense travel to be a seamless, paperless, automated system. The intent was to develop a TDY travel system that would encompass the essential elements of an end-to-end travel system -- authorization, arrangements, payment, execution, reconciliation and accountability -- while significantly reducing government costs.
"Travelers are going to love the new look and feel of DTS. The intuitiveness of the system really does make the very complex travel process, from getting travel orders and making reservations to having a check in the bank and the travel card bill paid, very easy," said Rich Fabbre, Northrop Grumman's DTS program manager. "The question we hear most often now is 'When is it coming to my base?'"
DTS is a fully Web-enabled application, which allows users to access all DTS functions via a Web browser. From www.defensetravel.osd.mil, the DTS home page, users launch DTS, review the latest DTS information and get up-to-date flight information. With a fully Web-enabled DTS, users only need a small browser plug-in installed on their PCs so DTS can utilize the Defense Department Common Access Card (CAC). Users will not have to uninstall and reinstall a new client version of the application when updates and enhancements become available because those updates will be performed at the DTS Central Data Center.
The new DTS enhances security of personal data by using SSL for encryption. SSL is used on most Web sites for security when buying merchandise, accessing on-line banking, etc. The Enhanced Jefferson Release uses DBSign(r), a plug-in installed on the PC to log into DTS with CAC or a floppy token and to digitally sign documents. DBSign requires little space on the PC and is compatible with other software on the desktop.
Northrop Grumman Mission Systems, based in Reston, Va., is a $3.5 billion global integrator of complex, mission-enabling systems and services for defense, intelligence, and civil government markets. The sector's technology leadership and expertise spans areas such as strategic systems, including ICBMs; missile defense; intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; command and control; and technical services and training. It is part of Northrop Grumman Space & Mission Systems Corp.