The Defense Department has not adequately developed a thorough strategy for integrating electronic warfare capabilities into all phases of military operation, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) said yesterday in a report.
In the report, Electronic Warfare: DoD Actions Needed to Strengthen Management and Oversight (GAO-12-479), GAO said DoD has taken some steps to address a critical leadership gap identified in 2009, but has not established a department-wide governance framework for planning, directing and controlling electronic warfare activities. GAO said the Pentagon is establishing a Joint Electromagnetic Spectrum Control Center (JEMSCC) under U.S. Strategic Command (STRATCOM) in response to this leadership gap.
But DoD has not documented the objectives nor implementation tasks and timeline for the JEMSCC, nor has it updated key guidance to reflect recent policy changes regarding electronic warfare management and oversight roles and responsibilities.
“Without additional steps to define the purpose and activities of the JEMSCC, DoD lacks reasonable assurance that this center will provide effective department-wide leadership for electronic warfare capabilities development and ensure the effective and efficient use of its resources,” GAO said.
DoD also needs to update electronic warfare directives and policy documents to clearly define oversight roles and responsibilities for electronic warfare, including any roles and responsibilities related to managing the relationship between electronic warfare and information operations or electronic warfare and cyberspace operations, specifically computer network operations.
“(This) would help ensure that all aspects of electronic warfare can be developed and integrated to achieve electromagnetic spectrum control,” GAO said.
GAO said both the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics (ATL) and the JEMSCC have been identified as the focal point for electronic warfare within DoD, yet it is unclear what each organization’s roles and responsibilities are in relation to one another.
GAO recommends the defense secretary take three actions to improve management, oversight and coordination of electronic warfare policies and programs:
· direct the STRATCOM chief to define the objectives of the JEMSCC and issue an implementation plan outlining major implementation tasks and timelines to measure progress;
· direct the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, in concert with the Under Secretary of Defense for ATL, as appropriate, to update key departmental guidance regarding electronic warfare to clearly define oversight roles and responsibilities of, and coordination among, the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, the Under Secretary of Defense for ATL and the JEMSCC; and
· direct the Under Secretary of Defense for ATL, in coordination with the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy and STRATCOM, to include, at a minimum, information in fiscal years 2013 through 2015 that has performance measures to guide implementation, resources and investments necessary, as well as specific roles and responsibilities for parties responsible for implementing this strategy.
Electromagnetic spectrum dominance and maneuverability by DoD is critical because it has invested billions of dollars developing, maintaining and employing warfighting capabilities that rely on access to the spectrum, including precision-guided munitions and command, control and communications systems.