Choosing the Moon: InCommon Futures2 Will Take Our Community to New Heights

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

There’s a difference between saying, “Let’s see if we can put someone on the moon,” and instead saying “We’re putting someone on the moon.” A big difference. As I thought about where InCommon has been and where we’re headed next, John F. Kennedy’s September 1962 address at Rice University on the nation’s space effort crossed my mind. JFK was clear that going to the moon was a choice. “We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills,…” We’re headed to the moon, folks, and we hope you choose to join us for the journey.

Where We Need to Go

For most of 2023, InCommon took the time to figure out where it needs to go. It wasn’t like InCommon was on a bad path, but we just knew that something was different about right now, something that required thoughtful reflection and then action. As 2024 started, we had figured out where we need to go and how we can get there. I’ve been part of what feels like countless strategic planning activities for both organizations large and small. In each case, once the plan is published, there is a pause to figure out what is needed, how to get those assets in place, and then get in motion. In my experience, this is the moment that the excitement of seeing a new future drains from those most needed to achieve a new future.This doesn’t always happen, but it happens to an alarming degree.

Who’s Guiding Us There

Reason #117 why I love my job: The InCommon Steering Committee, all of the technical advisory committees, and InCommon staff have moved forward with a sense of purpose and urgency that takes my breath away. There was no pause to figure out what is needed, instead confidence that we have what we need to get started and passion for the co-created future vision. I’ve never decided where to go on a vacation and then immediately packed a bag and jumped in a car. What I’m observing and what I’m fortunate to be part of is making me rethink how I’m going to do my next holiday.

Where We’re Headed

We will be providing quarterly reports to the InCommon Steering Committee and the community on the progress of projects we’re working on to bring our vision for the future to fortuition. In its most recent meeting, we shared a draft of the report format, and after a few cycles, I’m sure we’ll get to a style and content presentation that will enable the group to actively guide us as we make progress. In this first report for the second quarter of the year, we shared details of the following work in flight:

• Theme: Provide Clear Guidance and Technical Trends
  • Project – Updating the IAM blueprint reference architecture 
  • Project – Creating a periodic trend analysis publication for community use
• Theme: Improved Tools and Services Implementation & Integration
  • Project  – Partner with IDEA consortium to create a collaboration toolkit with a single sign-on solution
  • Project – Implement a federation readiness testing tool
• Theme: An Evolved, Strong Value Proposition
  • Project – Improve InCommon branding, messaging, value proposition

Our technical advisory bodies and our staff are always quite busy. That they have mobilized so quickly and earnestly on these high impact areas has gotten us off to a great start. I don’t recall anyone saying explicitly that we were going to put ourselves on the moon, but we are already on our way.

Stay Informed and Involved

We will keep you updated on our progress as our plans move forward. Be sure to check this space for updates as well as the InCommon participants list and newsletter. 

Also, be on the lookout for opportunities to provide input and participate in working groups. In the interest of continuity, we’re forgoing our annual call for Advisory Committee nominations, but we welcome and encourage your participation in other community engagement opportunities like InCommon’s Third Annual Cybersecurity Cooperation Exercise.

ICYMI

• InCommon Futures2: The Community’s Conversation Continues with IAM Online
• Countdown to Community Exchange 2024: 5 Internet2 Insights You’ll Hear in Chicago
• InCommon Futures2 Moves Forward with Discussion at TechEX23 and Launch of Needs Assessment