NJVC
Unraveling the Power of IT

For many years now, Esri has dominated the rapidly expanding field of geographic information systems (GIS). This leading location intelligence platform provider offers an extensive product portfolio that includes GIS Mapping and Location, Intelligence, and Spatial Analytics software, serving the needs of an extremely large, diverse, and loyal customer base. Esri’s innovative approach to blend the science of geography and GIS technology has enabled them to build solutions with unparalleled capabilities. However, the rapid pace of innovation has hindered some Federal Customers from being able to leverage these new tools and technologies due to antiquated applications, systems, and processes still being used within their enterprise(s).

Typically, these customers have large and complex workflows and business processes that involve multiple, disparate, and outdated systems. As such, they require a complete and holistic approach to leverage Esri’s latest technologies in conjunction with broader efforts to modernize and move systems to a more robust and secure cloud-based infrastructure. These large-scale modernization projects may consist of a combination of cloud migrations, leveraging ArcGIS API for JavaScript, and Runtime SDKs for custom application development. Additionally, it would entail building custom web-based GeoProcessing and Map services utilizing ArcGIS REST and Python APIs to tie everything together, allowing for completely integrated, modernized, and secure solutions that government customers need in order to meet 21st century challenges. This has created a gap (as well as an opportunity) for skilled developers and integrators specializing in Geospatial application development and systems integration.

“Through our partnership with ESRI, we have been at the forefront of some of the most challenging modernization initiatives in the federal space. We are proud to have been a part of these efforts, seeing first-hand how this approach to modernization can completely streamline the way customers meet and succeed in their respective mission requirement areas,” says Benjamin K Barton, Chief Systems Architect/Integrator, NJVC.

In an era of do-more-with-less, NJVC emphasizes a “do-more-with-everything” approach, carefully considering legacy investments, emerging technologies, and services integration to find the right balance to produce high-value IT results that enable mission success. “Our mission-focused approach ensures customers realizethe maximum ROI on their IT investments,” says Barton.

To do this, NJVC provides the right information, in the right location, every time! They offer professional services expertise in a variety of technological disciplines to include chart and map production, geospatial engineering, geospatial and imagery analytics, data analytics, data science, full-motion video, Esri ArcGIS, open-source GIS, content management, and data and product dissemination.

In an interview with CIO Applications, Barton sheds light on some of the most pressing issues in the ESRI Services space and how NJVC partners with Esri to help clients address these issues.

Please provide us a brief overview of your company.

NJVC was founded in 2001 as a joint venture between two Alaskan Native Corporations (ANCs) and is now a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Chenega Corporation. NJVC has the past performance and experience to rival the larger integrators within the Federal IT Marketplace, it operates with the speed and agility of a small business.

This combination of experience and agility, along with our ANC ties, makes NJVC an attractive partner as a subcontractor, and our traits seem to resonate well with our partners and customers alike. We primarily support agencies within the DOD and IC with software/ application development, IT infrastructure support, and IT modernization.

Could you please cite one or two case studies on how you have enabled clients to overcome hurdles and attain desired outcomes with your innovative array of solutions?

As a deliverable on one of our contracts, we developed an application for a national government customer to aid first responders when responding to a natural disaster or humanitarian crisis. This was one of the first times that unclassified, near real-time, commercial imagery was made available on mobile devices for use outside of the military, DOD, or IC. Another example would be a mobile application storefront that we built for a government customer that functions much like Apple’s App Store or Android’s Play Store, but that provides Geospatial Intelligence (GEOINT) relevant web services, mobile (Android and iOS), web and desktop apps for the DoD and IC.

What, according to you, are the factors that give NJVC a competitive edge?

As a boutique company, NJVC is not focused on trying to be a market leader; but rather excelling as a differentiator within niche markets. Take our application and software development/support as an example. We are not in the business of building enterprise software/COTS products; but rather, the business of helping customers maximize the benefit and utility of investments they have already made. Unlike product vendors, our goal is to provide our customers with the best services and offerings regardless of origination. Our flexible, agile approach allows our customers the freedom of innovation to move IT at the speed of need. Whether it’s modernizing legacy applications, migrating applications to the cloud to reduce maintenance costs, or taking an agile approach to new development or integrations through emerging technology paradigms, NJVC has gained a reputation as a trusted partner for putting the customer and their mission first. When combined with our experience and technical capabilities, these factors have helped to differentiate NJVC from the competition.

What does the future hold for your organization?

We intend to invest in both our people and our corporate capabilities while bolstering our partnerships with companies like ESRI and Amazon/AWS to continue delivering cutting-edge solutions to customers. With the growing cloud adoption, the exponential increase of data/ data sources, and the rapid onset of AI, we have been focusing on building our internal capabilities to provide services and support to customers looking to modernize their IT and leverage some of these emerging technological trends and developments.