CHIPS — the Department of the Navy Information Technology Magazine

CHIPS celebrated 25 years in publication in 2007 as the Department of the Navy Information Technology Magazine. Our founding motto — Dedicated to Sharing Information, Technology and Experience, aligns with our goal — to deliver knowledge superiority to the warfighter.

CHIPS is sponsored by the DON IT Umbrella Program of contracts and the Department of the Navy Chief Information Officer (DON CIO). Each issue contains a message from the DON CIO, Mr. Robert J. Carey, featuring the latest IT policies and initiatives in the DON and Department of Defense. The Umbrella Program team assembles the latest information regarding the Umbrella Program contracts and Blanket Purchase Agreements (BPAs).  Each issue contains an easy to use shopping guide — Under the Contract — with better than GSA prices for all your technology needs. Every issue is packed with cutting-edge technology topics, such as FORCEnet; knowledge dominance; C4ISR and network-centric warfare programs; e-business; e-learning; professional development — and interviews with top leadership from the DON and DoD.

The first issue of CHIPS was published in 1982 by the Navy Regional Data Automation Center (NARDAC). It was distributed as a newsletter titled, Chips Ahoy. Printed on standard white paper in black and white with simple graphics, it was mailed to 2,500 Navy personnel. We now take pleasure in a readership of more than 2 million online readers comprised of Defense, federal, state and local government agencies, academia and private industry partners of the DoD.

In 1987, Chips Online was created as an ASCII text edition mailed over the Defense Data Network (DDN) to 250 host administrators. It was the first electronic magazine, preceding the World Wide Web by nearly seven years. The CHIPS Web page was launched on July 22, 1995, with the number of readers per month increasing from an initial 8,567 to over 500,000 per year.

CHIPS content has expanded just as dramatically as IT has become increasingly sophisticated. In the April 1986 issue, we informed readers of the newly awarded Z-248 contract featuring an advanced system comprised of an 80286 processor running at 8MHz with a 512 RAM, single floppy disk drive and a 20MB hard drive — a bargain at $1,658. We continue to provide information regarding the DON IT Program contracts, but the current selections reveal a technology far advanced from those early days with a greater variety of software, hardware, IT services and options for purchasing.

In the early days of CHIPS, Rear Adm. Grace Hopper, a pioneer and champion for Navy technology development, was a kind of mascot and great fan of CHIPS.  She often provided encouragement with her unique blend of sharp humor and good sense.  From her first interview with CHIPS in 1986, Rear Adm. Hopper was generous with her time and good advice.  Beloved by all who were privileged to know her, Grace Hopper embodied the kind of innovative thinking that CHIPS strives to convey to readers.

Thank you to our many loyal readers for more than 25 great years. We are looking forward to serving your IT needs for many years to come.

We welcome articles from IT users as well as experts, please e-mail us at chips@navy.mil with your article ideas, suggestions and comments.

                                                                                                                                                   Sharon Anderson
                                                                                                                                                   Senior Editor