Role-based operational communications directory

A role-based operational directory facilitates identification of and communication with key contact personnel during an operation. Role-specific directory instances are created in the directory. The role-specific instances are created by a system operator and list the roles involved in an operation and the associations between the roles. The role-specific directory instance is advertised to a selected user, and the selected user associates with the role-specific directory instance. If the user is a key contact for the operation or is otherwise required or allowed to be associated with a role in the operation, the user also associates with a role from the list of roles in the role-specific directory instance. The directory instance is dynamically updated, modified, and tailored as necessary, and transmitted to the communication devices of the selected users of the role-specific directory instance.