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Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance: Actions Are Needed to Increase Integration and Efficiencies of DOD's ISR Enterprise

GAO-11-465 Published: Jun 03, 2011. Publicly Released: Jun 03, 2011.
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Highlights

The success of intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) systems in collecting, processing, and disseminating intelligence information has fueled demand for ISR support, and the Department of Defense (DOD) has significantly increased its investments in ISR capabilities since combat operations began in 2001. In fiscal year 2010, intelligence community spending --including for ISR--exceeded $80 billion. Section 21 of Public Law 111-139 mandated that GAO identify programs, agencies, offices, and initiatives with duplicative goals and activities. This report examines the extent to which: (1) DOD manages and oversees the full scope and cost of the ISR enterprise; (2) DOD has sought to identify and minimize the potential for any unnecessary duplication in program, planning, and operations for ISR; and (3) DOD's ISR Integration Roadmap addresses key congressionally directed management elements and guidance.

Recommendations

Matter for Congressional Consideration

Matter Status Comments
To ensure that future versions of the ISR Integration Roadmap meet all of the elements of an integrated ISR roadmap identified in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004 as well as the 2008 House of Representatives Committee on Armed Services report, Congress may wish to consider establishing additional accountability in legislation, such as conditioning a portion of ISR funding on completion of all congressionally directed management elements, including the development of an integrated ISR investment strategy.
Closed – Not Implemented
Congress did not decide to amend current legislative language regarding the ISR Roadmap.

Recommendations for Executive Action

Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of Defense To improve management of DOD's ISR enterprise and increase its ability to achieve efficiencies, the Secretary of Defense should direct the USD(I) to collect and aggregate complete financial data--including information on dual-use assets, urgent operational needs, capability funding from multiple sources, and military personnel funding--to inform resource and investment decisions.
Closed – Not Implemented
DOD did not provide any information regarding how the department was taking action to implement this recommendation.
Department of Defense To improve management of DOD's ISR enterprise and increase its ability to achieve efficiencies, the Secretary of Defense should direct the USD(I) to establish goals and timelines to ensure progress and accountability for design and implementation of its defense intelligence enterprise architecture, including clarifying how the department plans to use the architecture and tools it is developing to achieve efficiencies.
Closed – Implemented
DOD originally planned to issue a strategy and roadmap for the Defense Intelligence Information Enterprise by May 2012 that would establish goals and timelines for implementation of a defense intelligence architecture. However, DOD did not issue this strategy and roadmap and instead planned to develop a broader ISR Integration Roadmap that will incorporate the previously envisioned strategy and roadmap for the Defense Intelligence Information Enterprise. In September 2015 DOD noted that the updated ISR Roadmap is in final review and would be issued in calendar year 2015. This addresses the intent of the recommendation.
Department of Defense To improve management of DOD's ISR enterprise and increase its ability to achieve efficiencies, the Secretary of Defense should direct the USD(I) to expand the scope of current efficiency efforts to include ISR collection activities.
Closed – Not Implemented
DOD has suspended its department-wide program of initiatives to achieve efficiencies.
Department of Defense To identify efficiencies in ISR capability development, the Secretary of Defense should direct the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the USD(I) to collaborate in developing decision support tool(s), such as the Joint Staff's decision support tool, and to establish implementation goals and timelines for completion of such efforts.
Closed – Implemented
DOD is developing a Defense Intelligence Information Enterprise Framework, which is intended to enable the interoperability of ISR information systems architecture, identify future cost avoidance for the entire Defense Intelligence Information Enterprise, and optimize security in an increasingly hostile threat environment. DOD plans to start using this architecture in the near future. According to USDI officials, DOD has started to use the architecture as a decision support tool. Taken together, these actions address the intent of the recommendation.

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Topics

Cost analysisDefense capabilitiesDefense contingency planningDefense industryDefense operationsDefense procurementElectronic surveillanceEnterprise architectureFederal fundsFederal intelligence agenciesFunds managementInformation systemsInteragency relationsMilitary intelligenceMilitary operationsMilitary systems analysisNational defense operationsNeeds assessmentProgram evaluationProgram managementRequirements definitionStrategic planningSystems analysisTechnology assessmentDuplication of effortProgram goals or objectivesProgram implementation