The Insider

By Dan Dupont
March 29, 2012 at 5:41 PM

The Government Accountability Office today released its annual "Assessments of Selected Weapon Programs," which GAO describes as an area on its "high-risk list."

From the summary:

The total estimated cost of the Department of Defense’s (DOD) 2011 portfolio of 96 major defense acquisition programs stands at $1.58 trillion. In the past year, the total acquisition cost of these programs has grown by over $74.4 billion or 5 percent, of which about $31.1 billion can be attributed to factors such as inefficiencies in production, $29.6 billion to quantity changes, and $13.7 billion to research and development cost growth. DOD’s portfolio is dominated by a small number of programs, with the Joint Strike Fighter accounting for the most cost growth in the last year, and the largest projected future funding needs. The majority of the programs in the portfolio have lost buying power in the last year as their program acquisition unit costs have increased. The number of programs in the portfolio has decreased from 98 to 96 in the past year and, looking forward, is projected to decrease again next fiscal year to its lowest level since 2004.

In the past 3 years, GAO has reported that newer programs are demonstrating higher levels of knowledge at key decision points. However, most of the 37 programs GAO assessed this year are still not fully adhering to a knowledge-based acquisition approach. Of the eight programs from this group that passed through one of three key decision points in the acquisition process in the past year, only one—Excalibur Increment Ib—implemented all of the applicable knowledge-based practices. As a result, most of these programs will carry technology, design, and production risks into subsequent phases of the acquisition process that could result in cost growth or schedule delays.

GAO also assessed the implementation of selected acquisition reforms and found that most of the 16 future programs we assessed have implemented key provisions of the Weapon Systems Acquisition Reform Act of 2009. Programs have also started to implement new DOD initiatives, such as developing affordability targets and conducting “should cost” analysis. Finally, as could be expected from the increased activity early in the acquisition cycle, the 16 future programs we assessed are planning to spend more funds in technology development than current major defense acquisition programs.

By Christopher J. Castelli
March 29, 2012 at 3:52 PM

The huge cost of new SSBN(X) nuclear ballistic submarines cannot be borne by the Navy's shipbuilding account alone, acting Pentagon acquisition chief Frank Kendall told the Senate Armed Services Committee this morning at his confirmation hearing. Officials will have to find "some other way" besides the shipbuilding account to pay that bill, Kendall said.

The Navy's latest 30-year shipbuilding plan, sent to Congress Wednesday, is affordable for the next five years but thereafter "presents a resourcing challenge" largely due to the investment requirements associated with the new subs, Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton Carter informed lawmakers in a letter accompanying the plan. See here for our story.

By John Liang
March 28, 2012 at 8:28 PM

The Air Force plans to hold a Pentagon briefing tomorrow at noon on the F-22A Raptor's oxygen-generation system, according to a Defense Department announcement issued this afternoon.

The briefers will be retired Air Force Gen. Gregory Martin, chair of the Scientific Advisory Board study on the F-22; Maj. Gen. Noel Jones, director of operational capability requirements and deputy chief of staff for operations, plans and requirements; and Maj. Gen. Charlie Lyon, Air Combat Command's director of operations, the statement reads, adding:

They will provide an update on the secretary of the Air Force-directed study into the systems safety issues involving F-22 oxygen generation systems and discuss F-22 operations since the September 2011 return to fly order.

For more info on the F-22A, check out InsideDefense.com's recent coverage:

New Air Force Program To Execute F-22A Pre-Planned Improvement Package

F-22 Crash Review Marks IG's First In-Depth Mishap Assessment Since 1990s

Air Force Chief Defends F-22A Crash Investigation Report

DOD IG Launches Assessment Of F-22A Crash Report That Blamed Pilot

For the latest military aircraft news, check out InsideDefense.com's Aircraft Alert.

By Christopher J. Castelli
March 28, 2012 at 3:33 AM

Navy Secretary Ray Mabus has sent Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), the top Republican on the Senate Armed Service Committee, a letter responding to the senator's call for a detailed plan for controlling soaring costs in the multibillion-dollar program to build new aircraft carriers.

In the coming weeks, the Navy and shipbuilder Huntington Ingalls Industries "must develop a credible plan to control costs" for the lead ship in the new carrier class, the Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78), and the following two ships, McCain counseled Mabus in a March 21 letter.

Mabus' eight-page reply, dated March 26 and first reported earlier today by Defense News, lays out the Navy's approach for ensuring CVN-79 and follow ship affordability focuses on tackling a handful of key challenges "while applying the many lessons learned in the course of CVN-78 procurement."

We have Mabus' letter.

By Christopher J. Castelli
March 27, 2012 at 6:15 PM

The Defense Department will ask Congress for more funding for Israel's Iron Dome missile defense system, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said today.

"The Department of Defense has been in conversations with the Government of Israel about U.S. support for the acquisition of additional Iron Dome systems and intends to request an appropriate level of funding from Congress to support such acquisitions based on Israeli requirements and production capacity," Little said this afternoon in a statement.

Supporting the security of the State of Israel is a "top priority" of President Obama and Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, Little said, noting the United States has previously provided $205 million in support of Israel’s Iron Dome short-range rocket and mortar defense system.

"During the rocket attacks earlier this month, the Iron Dome system played a critical role in Israel's security," Little said. "When nearly 300 rockets and mortars were fired at southern Israel, Iron Dome intercepted over 80 percent of the targets it engaged, saving many civilian lives."

By Thomas Duffy
March 27, 2012 at 10:14 AM

In roughly one month the Army plans to issue two separate reports on its modular force transformation; one fulfilling a statutory requirement for 2012 and the other updating its 2011 report released in September, according to a Government Accountability Office report issued yesterday.

The Fiscal Year 2007 National Defense Authorization Act requires the Army to submit annually a report on the progress of its force transformation -- moving from a division-based force to a brigade-based force. The 2011 law, enacted in January 2011, made adjustments to that statute the Army was to include in its report last year. It didn't. According to the GAO:

Army officials responsible for developing the mandated report said that they did not address the amended requirements because they were not aware of the changes in the legislation. Army officials attributed this oversight to internal communications.

Army officials also told the GAO that "responding to the legislative requirements that require the Army to discuss plans for the future will be challenging because decisions about the size and structure of the Army force are under review and may not be finalized prior to the reporting date."

By John Liang
March 26, 2012 at 10:19 PM

During a speech this morning, Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin (D-MI) had some nice things to say about the Missile Defense Agency's efforts to fight counterfeit parts in its supply chain:

Last year, our Armed Services Committee investigated counterfeit electronics parts in Defense Department weapon systems.  We found 1,800 cases in the supply chain involving more than 1 million counterfeit parts -- overwhelmingly from China.  The Missile Defense Agency was not immune to the problem.  But under [agency Director] General [Patrick] O'Reilly's leadership, MDA has tackled the issue head-on.  General O'Reilly created some of the strongest protections in the Department of Defense to protect our weapons from counterfeit electronic parts.  Our contractors cooperated with our investigation. They have much at stake in protecting the systems on which our security depends from this flood of counterfeit parts.

By Jordana Mishory
March 22, 2012 at 8:09 PM

A means of helping unmanned aerial vehicles provide far more surveillance time and intelligence information per mission while reducing support costs has been successfully developed by industry -- but will not be employed, according to a project accomplishments summary by one of the companies.

The June 2011 summary, as reported today by Secrecy News, notes that Sandia National Laboratories and Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation felt that the technical goals of the UAV ultra-persistence research projects were accomplished.“Overall, performance, specific power parameters, technical complexities, security safety and other operational features were successfully investigated,” the report states. Northrop "was quite pleased with the results of analysis and design, although it was disappointing to all that the political realities would not allow use of the results.”

According to the project accomplishments summary, Northrop Grumman Corporation Integrated Systems “requested support from Sandia to develop an ultra-persistent propulsion and power system (UP3S) for potential incorporation into next generation UAV systems. The team members tried to determine which energy storage and power generation concepts could most effectively push UAV propulsion and electrical power capabilities to increase UAV sortie duration from days to months while increasing available electrical power at least two-fold.”

So what is this technology? Secrecy News writes that it “seems clear that the Sandia-Northrop project contemplated the use of nuclear technology for onboard power and propulsion.” The project summary refers to “propulsion and power technologies that [go] well beyond existing hydrocarbon technologies,” the website reports. Secrecy News also notes that the lead investigator at Sandia, Steven Dron, specializes in nuclear propulsion.

The summary adds that the technology and systems designs considered "have previously never been applied to" UAVs. However, it adds, none of the results can be shared with the public "due to national security constraints."

By John Liang
March 22, 2012 at 6:20 PM

The intelligence community this morning released an unclassified study on global water security.

The bottom line, according to the assessment:

During the next 10 years, many countries important to the United States will experience water problems -- shortages, poor water quality, or floods -- that will risk instability and state failure, increase regional tensions, and distract them from working with the United States on important US policy objectives. Between now and 2040, fresh water availability will not keep up with demand absent more effective management of water resources. Water problems will hinder the ability of key countries to produce food and generate energy, posing a risk to global food markets and hobbling economic growth. As a result of demographic and economic development pressures, North Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia will face major challenges coping with water problems.

This isn't the first time the intelligence community has worried about the availability of potable water across the globe, however.

Following a March 2 speech Defense Secretary Leon Panetta gave in Louisville, KY, Panetta was asked about climate change and its possible effect on national security. Here's what he said, according to a Pentagon transcript:

With regards to climate change, the -- actually, what we developed at the CIA was an intelligence branch of the CIA that focused on that issue actually for intelligence purposes, because of the implications that these changes might have with regards to national security.

For example, when we incur greater droughts, when we incur areas that in fact have less rain and are incurring unusual climate impacts, it creates obviously an impact in terms of the population.  It's something we have to be aware of because that can create chaos.  We've seen that happen in Africa.  We've seen that happen in other parts of the world.  So we need to have that kind of intelligence.

In addition, because of the ice melt, there are indications of a rising ocean.  We've already seen that take place.  And there our concern is how will that impact on ports, how will that impact on facilities, how will that impact on low line levels that could be impacted by that?  So we continue to try to get intelligence on that as well.

In addition, obviously, we do look at the polar ice cap and are able through imagery to determine what's happening with polar ice cap and just how quickly is it melting and what that impact will be.  I can tell you.  As the polar ice cap melts, the national security implications are that countries like Russia and others are going to be looking for the opportunity to go into those areas and try to go after the resources in the Arctic.  They've already made claims to that effect.

So clearly as it melts, as those opportunities increase, then there are countries that are going to assert themselves, try to gain access to the resources that are there.  That also constitutes an issue that relates to national security.

So from an intelligence point of view, it's important for us to keep track of those trends.  You know, this isn't about the battle of climate change and the issues related to that.  This is about what we are seeing happen and the intelligence that flows from that.  And that is important for us to consider as we look at issues that can threaten America's national security.

. . . And one can go ever further back: In June 2008, InsideDefense.com cited a senior intelligence official as saying that climate change could lead to a range of global crises over the next two decades that would degrade U.S. military readiness by diverting key transportation assets and combat support forces. Further:

Thomas Fingar, deputy director of national intelligence for analysis, told a joint House committee hearing today [June 25, 2008] in testimony that such crises might include humanitarian relief operations and missions to prop up governments of weak states reeling from extreme weather events.

These findings -- distilled from an assessment of the national security implications of global climate change prepared by all 16 U.S. intelligence agencies, portions of which InsideDefense.com first reported last week -- could have direct implications for Pentagon planners responsible for the size and shape of U.S. forces as well as the portfolio of weapon systems the Defense Department buys.

"As climate changes spur more humanitarian emergencies, the international community's capacity to respond will be increasingly strained," states Fingar's testimony, prepared for a joint hearing today of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and the House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming.

"The United States, in particular will be called upon to respond," he said. "The demands of these potential humanitarian responses may significantly tax U.S. military transportation and support force structures, resulting in a strained readiness posture and decreased strategic depth for combat operations."

Another finding with immediate relevance to Pentagon planners concerns possible warming temperatures in Africa, an event that could have particular consequence for the Defense Department as it works to establish a new unified U.S. military command with responsibility for overseeing the American operations there.

"The United States' new military area of responsibility -- Africa Command -- is likely to face extensive and novel operational requirements," Fingar's prepared testimony states. "Sub-Saharan African countries -- if they are hard-hit by climate impacts -- will be more susceptible to worsening disease exposure. Food insecurity, for reasons of both shortages and affordability, will be a growing concern in Africa as well as other parts of the world. Without food aid, the region will likely face higher levels of instability -- particularly violent ethnic clashes over land ownership."

In general, the intelligence community assessment found that climate change may trigger food and water shortages, aggravate health problems and the spread of disease, increase the potential for conflict, property damage -- including critical infrastructure -- and erode coasts.

By Jason Sherman
March 22, 2012 at 4:11 PM

Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, yesterday convened a second “strategic seminar" where combatant commanders and service chiefs examined the implications of the new Defense Strategic Guidance issued by President Obama and Defense Secretary Leon Panetta in early January.

“We explored complex scenarios that test the strategy, determined how far our future programmed force can stretch, and discussed new and innovative ways to solve traditional problems,” Dempsey wrote on his Facebook page yesterday. “These seminars are valuable as we take a thorough look at how to best execute the defense strategy.”

More background on the seminars .

By John Liang
March 20, 2012 at 8:04 PM

A multiagency committee charged with overseeing the U.S. strategic and critical materials stockpile wants to hear from the public on a proposal to establish three new research projects, according to a Federal Register notice published this morning:

The purpose of this notice is to advise the public that the National Defense Stockpile Market Impact Committee . . . is seeking public comments on the potential market impact of the proposed supplement to the Fiscal Year 2012 Annual Materials Plan related to establishing three new material research and development projects. The research and development projects involve three materials -- cadmium zinc tellurium (CZT) substrates, trichlorobenzene (TCB), and rhenium alloy. The role of the Market Impact Committee is to advise the National Defense Stockpile Manager on the projected domestic and foreign economic effects of all acquisitions and disposals involving the stockpile and related material research and development projects. Public comments are an important element of the Committee's market impact review process.

The committee is comprised of representatives from the Defense, Energy, Homeland Security, Commerce, State, Agriculture, Interior and Treasury departments, and is co-chaired by the Commerce and State departments.

By Jason Sherman
March 19, 2012 at 9:05 PM

Two key lawmakers today cautioned the Pentagon to avoid any preliminary action to implement force structure reductions proposed in the fiscal year 2013 budget request until congressional authorization is granted.

In a letter today to Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin (D-MI) and Ranking Member John McCain (R-AZ) outlined their concerns:

In our preliminary review of the fiscal year 2013 budget request, it has become clear that the Department intends to begin implementing decisions under this budget request by taking actions in fiscal year 2012.  It is also clear that there are programs where the Department plans to implement actions in 2012 before any of the congressional defense committees will have had an opportunity to act on the fiscal year 2013 budget request.  While we understand that doing so may help the Department achieve more “savings” than might be otherwise realized, the Department should avoid taking actions that would restrict Congress’ ability to consider and act on the fiscal year 2013 budget request.

We request that you not take actions to implement decisions that would be difficult or impossible to reverse by anticipating congressional approval of what may turn out to be very contentious proposals before the committees have had an opportunity to produce bills reflecting their responses to the fiscal year 2013 budget request.

By John Liang
March 19, 2012 at 6:31 PM

House Armed Services strategic forces subcommittee Chairman Mike Turner (R-OH) has again invited Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA) to tour the facilities at Los Alamos National Lab in New Mexico.

Last month, Markey introduced legislation that would cut $100 billion in spending on "outdated, wasteful nuclear weapons and related programs over the next ten years," he said in a statement, adding: "Let's cut new nuclear weapons and not programs for the poor, the elderly, the sick and the children of our country."

In a March 16 statement, Turner said: "Without ever seeing the true state of these facilities, Mr. Markey is living in blissful ignorance. It must make calling for funding cuts and unilateral disarmament a lot easier. No one who has toured these facilities and has seen their deplorable conditions would deny the need for this funding."

In a letter sent to Markey the same day, Turner writes:

It is clear from your response that you have been given grossly inaccurate, or wholly out-of-context, information on the plutonium and uranium facilities -- and their prospective replacements -- at the Los Alamos National Laboratory and the Y-12 National Security Complex. We very much need to get you to Los Alamos and Y-12 as soon as possible to clear up this terribly mistaken information.

This is not the first time Turner has written Markey on the state of U.S. nuclear labs. Click on the below to view those related letters:

Rep. Turner's 11/30/2011 Letter To Rep. Markey On Nuclear Deterrent Costs

Turner 11/4/2011 Letter On The Cost Of The U.S. Nuclear Deterrent

By John Liang
March 16, 2012 at 4:44 PM

A Defense Department report detailing the national security implications of returning to the president the authority to move satellites and related components from the U.S. Munitions List (USML) to the less-stringent Commerce Control List (CCL) must be submitted to Congress in the next three weeks if lawmakers are to have adequate time this year to pass legislation to permit such transfers, Inside U.S. Trade reports this morning, citing a senior congressional aide:

"The window for real constructive legislative action is not very wide," said David Fite, a House Foreign Affairs Committee staff member who works on export control issues for Ranking Member Howard Berman (D-CA).

Many lawmakers will not make up their minds about whether to support legislation that would restore the president's authority over the transfer of items off USML Category XV, which covers satellites and related components, until the so-called "Section 1248" report is released, Fite said at a March 14 forum on export controls at the Satellite 2012 conference.

The report, required as part of Section 1248 of the 2010 National Defense Authorization Act, could be forthcoming soon now that it is in the inter-agency review process, according to Lou Ann McFadden, an official with the Defense Technology Security Administration (DTSA) who spoke at the same forum.

Although McFadden would not assign a specific expected date to the report's release to Congress, she said it is in the final coordination stages. The report will be accompanied by a proposed revision of Category XV and a corresponding rule showing where transferred items will be placed.

Fite encouraged the administration to make the release of the report a "big deal." "This can't be released at 5 o'clock on a Friday afternoon," he said, adding that national security professionals, preferably wearing uniforms, should be publicly involved.

The transfer of militarily less significant items from the USML to the CCL where they will be subject to a broad export license exception is a key part of the administration's export control reform initiative. The reform effort's current goal is to restructure what are viewed as arcane controls that are impacting U.S. commercial trade of items currently on the USML.

Despite an imminent release of the report, Fite acknowledged that it's "almost too late for this Congress" to pass legislation on satellites.

Fite said there will need to be enough time for markups and floor debates in both chambers. Additionally, after passage in each chamber, the two bills would likely have to go through a conference proceeding.

In addition to procedural considerations, Fite signaled that passing such a bill may become more difficult the closer it gets to the November presidential election. Although there is bipartisan support for legislation already introduced in the House, Republican opponents of the reform initiative may be more likely to raise objections to the satellites bill in order to score political points given that the export control reform is a presidential initiative,

Passing such a bill would clear the one legislative hurdle this phase of the president's export control reform effort needs to overcome.

Berman has already introduced a bill, H.R. 3288, that would restore authority over satellites to the president with certain conditions. Fite also said there is a companion bill that will be introduced in the Senate in the coming weeks.

But for any legislation in the Senate will have to overcome opposition from Sen. Jon Kyl (R-AZ), who was closely involved in pushing for the 1999 legislation that moved all satellites, parts and components and related technology from the CCL to the USML.

Control of satellites has been a hot-button issue after a 1999 scandal in which U.S. satellite manufacturers Loral and Hughes Space and Communications were found responsible for the unlicensed export of missile design information to China during the course of an independent investigation to review the failure of a Chinese launch vehicle. This fueled fears that China would be able to further develop the same launch capabilities it could use for a nuclear weapon.

In the wake of that scandal, Congress obtained the authority to determine if Category XV items can be moved off the USML.

Supporters of legislation that restore the president's authority over satellite transfers have said the U.S. space industrial base has lost competitive ground to satellite producers in Europe who can manufacture and export commercial satellites and related parts without the same export restrictions.

Supporters go further to say that this is a national security risk to the U.S. as foreign companies are beginning to "design out" U.S. satellite parts and components that are subject to the International Trafficking in Arms Regulations (ITAR) that govern items on the USML.

This has led at least one European satellite manufacturer, Thales Alenia, to advertise "ITAR free" satellites that do not require customers to undergo the scrutiny of the U.S. export control system because of U.S. content.

Fite said an ongoing State Department investigation into a so-called "ITAR free" satellite that was sold to China without a license even though it still contained U.S.-controlled content has highlighted the national security impact of maintaining too stringent restrictions on commercial satellites.

For more news from this week's Satellite 2012 conference, check out this morning's issue of Inside the Air Force:

Loverro, Shelton Stress ORS Emphasis Will Remain Despite Closure

DOD Asks Congress To Nix Biennial GPS Reporting Requirement

Rep. Ruppersberger Urges DOD To Adopt Space-Launch Competition

Pentagon Takes Key Step Toward Acquiring New SBIRS Satellites

By John Liang
March 15, 2012 at 6:56 PM

North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command are holding their annual Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Summit this week at Peterson Air Force Base, CO, according to a NORTHCOM statement released today. The statement further reads:

The purpose of this year's summit is to bring together Canadian and U.S. CBRN personnel from local, state, national and military organizations to give the current composition of the CBRN Response Enterprise a hard look and determine if changes need to be made.

"It's part two of a three-part strategic assessment for the CBRN Response Enterprise," said Army Lt. Col. Pete Lofy, Deputy Chief of NORAD and USNORTHCOM CBRN Operations. "The first part was a rehearsal of concept for the CBRN Response Enterprise and had a military focus. Round two has an interagency focus."

Lofy said the summit will look at several aspects of the enterprise and ask hard questions. Any changes that are determined to be necessary would affect the Fiscal Year 2015 CBRN Response Enterprise.

"We're going to look at whether we are addressing the missions and requirements," he said. "Do we have the right units conducting these missions? Are the logistical functions set up to support the CBRN Response Enterprise? And are we satisfying the Interagency's requirements for consequence management in the homeland?"

The summit consists of panel discussions, working groups, static displays and a table-top exercise wherein CBRN organizations respond to a simulated incident on the U.S.-Canadian border.

Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada, Public Safety Canada and Canada Command have sent representatives to the summit while on the U.S. side organizations such as the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, as well as local responders from Denver and Michigan will also be participating.

In September 2010, InsideDefense.com reported that DOD should elevate the importance of its homeland-security mission to make it equal with warfighting as a means of ensuring that Pentagon planners set aside enough forces to support civil authorities in the aftermath of a catastrophe on U.S. soil with chemical, biological, or nuclear agents, according to a commission chartered by Congress. Further:

Despite DOD's claims in the 2010 Quadrennial Defense Review that homeland security is a key mission, there is "inadequate provision" for a task known as defense support of civil authorities (DSCA) in the military force-generation cycle, according to the panel's Sept. 15 report.

"DOD is not placing sufficient emphasis on budget and planning priorities related to DSCA missions, including CBRNE response," states the document. "DOD must have the ability to generate forces for the execution of DSCA missions, notwithstanding its other commitments."

The recommendation is one of many forwarded to Defense Secretary Robert Gates and congressional defense leaders by the Advisory Panel on Department of Defense Capabilities for Support of Civil Authorities After Certain Incidents. The Fiscal Year 2008 National Defense Authorization Act called for the creation of the panel, which first met on Sept. 15, 2009. The group published its final report, titled "Before Disaster Strikes -- Imperatives for Enhancing Defense Support of Civil Authorities," in accordance with disclosure requirements governing government advisory groups.

U.S. Northern Command should get a plus-up of federal forces operating under Title 10 of the U.S. Code, the report states. It does not say how many such forces panelists believe are needed.

"Despite the advent of the National Guard [Homeland Response Forces], given the magnitude of a catastrophic CBRNE incident, general-purpose Title 10 forces that may be required for DSCA should be identified, at least by type," the document states.

In July 2010, InsideDefense.com reported that the Pentagon's acquisition executive had established a standing advisory panel to regularly assess the vulnerability of U.S. military weapons to attack from an electromagnetic pulse designed to cripple microcircuits and electronic systems.

Ashton Carter, the then-under secretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics, directed the Defense Science Board to form a permanent task force "to assess all aspects of survivability of DOD systems and assets to EMP [electromagnetic pulse] and other nuclear weapon effects," according to a March 1, 2010, memo. InsideDefense.com further reported:

Carter has authorized the assistant to the secretary of defense for nuclear and chemical and biological defense programs, Andrew Weber, to "act upon the advice and recommendations" of the task force, according to the memo.

The new task force -- co-chaired by Miriam John, former head of Sandia National Laboratories' California division, and Joe Braddock, founder of the BDM Corporation -- will "conduct an independent review and assessment of DOD's EMP survivability program and review other matters associated with nuclear survivability," according to the memo. . . .

In September 2008, the Defense Department issued a policy requiring all mission-critical weapon systems to have a plan to withstand the effects of a nuclear attack -- which includes a powerful electromagnetic pulse. This directive -- in the form of DOD Instruction No. 3150.09 -- stated that "survivability may be achieved by hardening, [tactics, techniques or procedures], or another mitigation procedure as funding allows."

Carter wants the new task force to "assess implementation" of this instruction as well as to "assess the effectiveness" of the Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Survivability Oversight Group (CSOG) led by Weber and created to review and monitor the execution of DOD CBRN survivability policy.

Check out the DSB's subsequent conclusions here:

DSB Report on EMP Survivability of Defense Systems