The Defense Department is failing to address challenges related to managing the electromagnetic spectrum—which the agency says is essential for facilitating control in operations—due to lack of adequate governance and oversight, according to a new report.
The Government Accountability Office released an audit Thursday evaluating how DOD is positioning itself to develop EMS and EMS operations, or EMSO, superiority. According to the audit, not only did DOD neglect to implement prior EMS strategies from 2013 and 2017 aimed at resolving EMS-related challenges, it’s also at risk of missing the mark for its new EMS plan.
DOD’s Electromagnetic Spectrum Superiority Strategy, issued in September, was created in order to ensure warfighters are able to operate freely within the EMS to conduct operations, according to a DOD press release. DOD Chief Information Officer Dana Deasy in the press release blamed the rise of mobile systems and digital technology for placing “enormous strain on the available spectrum for DOD’s command, control, and communication needs.”
The 2020 strategy consolidates the 2013 and 2017 strategies, which were never fully realized, but the Pentagon still hasn’t taken four outstanding governance and oversight steps. This puts DOD’s long-term EMSO goals at risk, according to GAO.
“Specifically, the department has not (1) issued processes and procedures to integrate EMSO across the department, (2) proposed and implemented governance reforms, (3) assigned a senior official with appropriate authority to oversee long-term strategy implementation, or (4) articulated oversight activities that would help ensure accountability and strategy implementation,” the audit reads.
The 2019 National Defense Authorization Act directed DOD to define EMSO integration processes and procedures, but a DOD official on the EMSO cross ..
Support the originator by clicking the read the rest link below.
