Attack Warning: Better Management Required to Resolve NORAD Integration Deficiencies
IMTEC-89-26
Published: Jul 07, 1989. Publicly Released: Jul 07, 1989.
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Highlights
Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Air Force's development and integration of five modernization programs for the data processing and communications components of the North American Aerospace Defense Command's Tactical Warning and Attack Assessment (TW/AA) system.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Defense | To encourage effective management over at least $535 million planned to be spent on the TW/AA system, the Secretary of Defense should restructure the roles and responsibilities of the key managers within the TW/AA executive management structure. The Secretary should designate a single manager, at a level below the Air Force Chief of Staff, with responsibility, authority, and accountability for the entire life cycle of the TW/AA system, from requirements through acquisition to operations and maintenance. The Secretary should further ensure that the designated system manager has control over the necessary budgetary and management resources to carry out his responsibilities. |
The Air Force has not designated a single manager below the Chief of Staff with accountability, responsibility, and authority for the TW/AA program. Further, an Air Force review team issued a report on July 24, 1990, that found that problems were more process-related than a result of the management structure. The Air Force has designated a system executive manager for the program.
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| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should direct the designated system manager to revalidate system requirements with the user for each modernization program. The Secretary should further direct the system manager to include in the congressionally mandated Defense Acquisition Board (DAB) management review the: (1) actions and timetable for resolving known system integration problems; (2) mechanism the manager intends to employ to improve continuity in program management; and (3) actions to identify and resolve future integration problems in a timely fashion. |
The DAB memorandum has been finalized. The Air Force's Electric Systems Division (ESD) has a system in place to track the resolution of integration problems and quarterly program reviews with NORAD and ESD are improving program management.
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IT acquisitionsAir defense systemsAir Force procurementCentralizationCost overrunsManagement information systemsMilitary systems analysisSystems designSystems development life cycleWarning systems