LIBERATOR[_4_]
February 2nd 09, 09:46 AM
On Jan 31, 7:32*am, Mike > wrote:
> Homeland Defense: Actions Needed to Improve Management of Air
> Sovereignty Alert Operations to Protect U.S. Airspace
> GAO-09-184, January 27, 2009http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d09184.pdf
>
> This is the accessible text file for GAO report number GAO-09-184
> entitled 'Homeland Defense: Actions Needed to Improve Management of
> Air
> Sovereignty Alert Operations to Protect U.S. Airspace' which was
> released on January 28, 2009.
>
> This text file was formatted by the U.S. Government Accountability
> Office (GAO) to be accessible to users with visual impairments, as
> part
> of a longer term project to improve GAO products' accessibility.
> Every
> attempt has been made to maintain the structural and data integrity
> of
> the original printed product. Accessibility features, such as text
> descriptions of tables, consecutively numbered footnotes placed at
> the
> end of the file, and the text of agency comment letters, are provided
> but may not exactly duplicate the presentation or format of the
> printed
> version. The portable document format (PDF) file is an exact
> electronic
> replica of the printed version. We welcome your feedback. Please E-
> mail
> your comments regarding the contents or accessibility features of
> this
> document to .
>
> This is a work of the U.S. government and is not subject to copyright
> protection in the United States. It may be reproduced and distributed
> in its entirety without further permission from GAO. Because this
> work
> may contain copyrighted images or other material, permission from the
> copyright holder may be necessary if you wish to reproduce this
> material separately.
>
> Report to Congressional Requesters:
>
> United States Government Accountability Office:
> GAO:
>
> January 2009:
>
> Homeland Defense:
>
> Actions Needed to Improve Management of Air Sovereignty Alert
> Operations to Protect U.S. Airspace:
>
> GAO-09-184:
>
> GAO Highlights:
>
> Highlights of GAO-09-184, a report to congressional requesters.
>
> Why GAO Did This Study:
>
> According to U.S. intelligence, the threat to U.S airspace remains.
> The
> North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) is to defend U.S.
> air
> space and the U.S. Air Force has 18 sites in the United States that
> conduct air sovereignty alert (ASA) operations. ASA operations
> support
> fighter aircraft in conducting homeland air defense operations. GAO
> examined the extent to which (1) NORAD has adopted a risk-based
> management approach to determine ASA operational requirements; (2)
> the
> Air Force has implemented ASA operations as a steady-state mission in
> accordance with Department of Defense (DOD), NORAD, and Air Force
> directives and guidance; (3) the Air Force assesses the readiness of
> units conducting ASA operations; and (4) the Air Force faces
> challenges
> in sustaining ASA operations for the future and what plans, if any,
> it
> has to address such challenges. GAO reviewed relevant ASA guidance,
> directives, and planning documents; and interviewed DOD officials,
> including the commanders of all 18 ASA sites.
>
> What GAO Found:
>
> Responding to individual requests from DOD, NORAD has done some
> assessments to determine ASA operational requirements. NORAD has not
> adopted a risk-based approach to determining ASA requirements,
> including routine risk assessments. Although GAO previously reported
> on
> the benefits to organizations that routinely do risk assessments to
> determine program requirements, NORAD does not conduct such
> assessments
> because DOD does not require NORAD to do so. However, such
> assessments
> could enhance NORAD’s ability to determine and apply the appropriate
> levels and types of units, personnel, and aircraft for the ASA
> mission.
>
> The Air Force has not implemented ASA operations in accordance with
> DOD, NORAD, and Air Force directives and guidance, which instruct the
> Air Force to establish ASA as a steady-state (ongoing and indefinite)
> mission. The Air Force has not implemented the 140 actions it
> identified to establish ASA as a steady-state mission, which included
> integrating ASA operations into the Air Force’s planning,
> programming,
> and funding cycle. The Air Force has instead been focused on other
> priorities, such as overseas military operations. While implementing
> ASA as a steady-state mission would not solve all of the challenges
> the
> units must address, it would help them mitigate some of the
> challenges
> associated with conducting both their ASA and warfighting missions.
>
> NORAD has partially assessed the readiness of ASA units; however the
> Air Force has not evaluated personnel, training, and quantity and
> quality of equipment. Readiness measures are designed to ensure that
> DOD forces are properly trained, equipped, and prepared to conduct
> their assigned missions. For example, while NORAD evaluated the
> extent
> to which aircraft were maintained for ASA operations and the units’
> ability to respond to an alert and to locate and intercept aircraft,
> it
> did not evaluate training. Because the Air Force has not implemented
> ASA as a steady-state mission or formally assigned the mission to the
> units, it does not assess ASA readiness. By assessing the readiness
> of
> units that consistently conduct ASA operations, DOD would be better
> assured that these units are organized, trained, and equipped to
> perform ASA operations.
>
> The Air Force faces two challenges to sustaining its ASA capabilities
> over the long term—(1) replacing or extending the service life of
> aging
> fighter aircraft and (2) replacing ASA units with equipment and
> trained
> personnel when they deploy. For example, if aircraft are not replaced
> by 2020, 11 of the 18 current air sovereignty alert sites could be
> without aircraft. The Air Force has not developed plans to mitigate
> these challenges because it has been focused on other priorities.
> Plans
> would provide the Air Force information that could assist it in
> ensuring the long-term sustainability of ASA operations and the
> capability of ASA units to protect U.S. airspace.
>
> What GAO Recommends:
>
> GAO recommends that DOD conduct routine risk assessments, implement
> ASA
> as a steady-state mission, and develop plans to address future
> challenges. DOD agreed with some and partially agreed with other
> recommendations. GAO clarified the recommendations based on DOD
> comments on a draft of this report.
>
> To view the full product, including the scope and methodology, click
> on
> [hyperlink,http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-184]. For more
> information, contact Davi M. D'Agostino at (202) 512-5431 or
> .
>
> [End of section]
>
> Contents:
>
> Letter:
>
> Results in Brief:
>
> Background:
>
> NORAD Has Assessed ASA Operational Requirements but Not on a Routine
> Basis as Part of a Risk-Based Management Approach:
>
> The Air Force Has Not Implemented ASA Operations as a Steady-State
> Mission in Accordance with NORAD, DOD, and Air Force Directives and
> Guidance:
>
> Readiness of Units Performing ASA Operations is Partially Assessed by
> NORAD and PACOM but Not by the Air Force:
>
> ASA Operations Face Significant Challenges to Long-Term
> Sustainability,
> but the Air Force Has Not Developed Plans to Mitigate These
> Challenges:
>
> Conclusion:
>
> Recommendations for Executive Action:
>
> Agency Comments and Our Evaluation:
>
> Appendix I: Scope and Methodology:
>
> Appendix II: Comments from the Department of Defense:
>
> Appendix III: GAO Contact and Staff Acknowledgements:
>
> Related GAO Products:
>
> Tables:
>
> Table 1: A Five-Phase Risk-Based Management Framework:
>
> Table 2: DOD Commands and Organizations That We Visited During This
> Review:
>
> Table 3: ASA Units That We Contacted During Our Structured
> Interviews:
>
> Figures:
>
> Figure 1: F-15s on Alert at Portland, Oregon ASA Site:
>
> Figure 2: F-16 on Alert at Atlantic City, New Jersey ASA Site:
>
> Figure 3: Locations of the 18 Steady-State ASA Sites in the United
> States as of October 2008:
>
> Figure 4: Differences Between ASA Operations and Homeland Defense Air
> Missions:
>
> Figure 5: Factors Identified by ASA Unit Commanders as Moderately or
> Greatly Impacting Units' Ability to Conduct ASA Operations:
>
> Figure 6: Projected Number of Current ASA Sites with and without
> Viable
> Aircraft to Conduct ASA Operations between Fiscal Years 2008 and 2032
> based on current F-22 and F-35 Fielding Schedules:
>
> Abbreviations:
>
> AFB: Air Force Base:
>
> ANG: Air National Guard:
>
> ANGB: Air National Guard Base:
>
> ANGS: Air National Guard Station:
>
> ASA: Air Sovereignty Alert:
>
> DOD: Department of Defense:
>
> EXORD: Execution Order:
>
> NGB/ANG: National Guard Bureau/Air National Guard:
>
> NORAD: North American Aerospace Defense Command:
>
> NORTHCOM: U.S. Northern Command:
>
> PACOM: U.S. Pacific Command:
>
> [End of section]
>
> United States Government Accountability Office:
> Washington, DC 20548:
>
> January 27, 2009:
>
> The Honorable Patrick Leahy:
> United States Senate:
>
> The Honorable Christopher S. Bond:
> United States Senate:
>
> The Honorable Gene Taylor:
> House of Representatives:
>
> The Honorable Frank A. LoBiondo:
> House of Representatives:
>
> In the hours after the tragic events of September 11, 2001, the North
> American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) [Footnote 1] engaged in
> efforts to defend the air sovereignty of the United States against a
> new type of air attack--one that was initiated from within our own
> borders. Although federal agencies responsible for protecting
> domestic
> airspace have taken measures to deter such attacks, the National
> Strategy for Aviation Security, issued in March 2007, recognizes that
> air attacks are still a threat to the United States and its people.
> [Footnote 2] U.S. intelligence agencies have also stated that the
> threat to U.S air sovereignty remains.
>
> The commander of NORAD is charged with the missions of aerospace
> warning and aerospace control for North America.[Footnote 3] To
> accomplish these missions, NORAD has fully fueled, fully armed
> aircraft
> and trained personnel on alert 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, at 18
> air sovereignty alert (ASA) sites across the United States. The Air
> Force provides NORAD with personnel and equipment for these
> operations
> including fighter aircraft, which include F-15 and F-16 aircraft as
> shown in figures 1 and 2.
>
> Figure ...
>
> read more »
Thanks for the extensive data.
> Homeland Defense: Actions Needed to Improve Management of Air
> Sovereignty Alert Operations to Protect U.S. Airspace
> GAO-09-184, January 27, 2009http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d09184.pdf
>
> This is the accessible text file for GAO report number GAO-09-184
> entitled 'Homeland Defense: Actions Needed to Improve Management of
> Air
> Sovereignty Alert Operations to Protect U.S. Airspace' which was
> released on January 28, 2009.
>
> This text file was formatted by the U.S. Government Accountability
> Office (GAO) to be accessible to users with visual impairments, as
> part
> of a longer term project to improve GAO products' accessibility.
> Every
> attempt has been made to maintain the structural and data integrity
> of
> the original printed product. Accessibility features, such as text
> descriptions of tables, consecutively numbered footnotes placed at
> the
> end of the file, and the text of agency comment letters, are provided
> but may not exactly duplicate the presentation or format of the
> printed
> version. The portable document format (PDF) file is an exact
> electronic
> replica of the printed version. We welcome your feedback. Please E-
> your comments regarding the contents or accessibility features of
> this
> document to .
>
> This is a work of the U.S. government and is not subject to copyright
> protection in the United States. It may be reproduced and distributed
> in its entirety without further permission from GAO. Because this
> work
> may contain copyrighted images or other material, permission from the
> copyright holder may be necessary if you wish to reproduce this
> material separately.
>
> Report to Congressional Requesters:
>
> United States Government Accountability Office:
> GAO:
>
> January 2009:
>
> Homeland Defense:
>
> Actions Needed to Improve Management of Air Sovereignty Alert
> Operations to Protect U.S. Airspace:
>
> GAO-09-184:
>
> GAO Highlights:
>
> Highlights of GAO-09-184, a report to congressional requesters.
>
> Why GAO Did This Study:
>
> According to U.S. intelligence, the threat to U.S airspace remains.
> The
> North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) is to defend U.S.
> air
> space and the U.S. Air Force has 18 sites in the United States that
> conduct air sovereignty alert (ASA) operations. ASA operations
> support
> fighter aircraft in conducting homeland air defense operations. GAO
> examined the extent to which (1) NORAD has adopted a risk-based
> management approach to determine ASA operational requirements; (2)
> the
> Air Force has implemented ASA operations as a steady-state mission in
> accordance with Department of Defense (DOD), NORAD, and Air Force
> directives and guidance; (3) the Air Force assesses the readiness of
> units conducting ASA operations; and (4) the Air Force faces
> challenges
> in sustaining ASA operations for the future and what plans, if any,
> it
> has to address such challenges. GAO reviewed relevant ASA guidance,
> directives, and planning documents; and interviewed DOD officials,
> including the commanders of all 18 ASA sites.
>
> What GAO Found:
>
> Responding to individual requests from DOD, NORAD has done some
> assessments to determine ASA operational requirements. NORAD has not
> adopted a risk-based approach to determining ASA requirements,
> including routine risk assessments. Although GAO previously reported
> on
> the benefits to organizations that routinely do risk assessments to
> determine program requirements, NORAD does not conduct such
> assessments
> because DOD does not require NORAD to do so. However, such
> assessments
> could enhance NORAD’s ability to determine and apply the appropriate
> levels and types of units, personnel, and aircraft for the ASA
> mission.
>
> The Air Force has not implemented ASA operations in accordance with
> DOD, NORAD, and Air Force directives and guidance, which instruct the
> Air Force to establish ASA as a steady-state (ongoing and indefinite)
> mission. The Air Force has not implemented the 140 actions it
> identified to establish ASA as a steady-state mission, which included
> integrating ASA operations into the Air Force’s planning,
> programming,
> and funding cycle. The Air Force has instead been focused on other
> priorities, such as overseas military operations. While implementing
> ASA as a steady-state mission would not solve all of the challenges
> the
> units must address, it would help them mitigate some of the
> challenges
> associated with conducting both their ASA and warfighting missions.
>
> NORAD has partially assessed the readiness of ASA units; however the
> Air Force has not evaluated personnel, training, and quantity and
> quality of equipment. Readiness measures are designed to ensure that
> DOD forces are properly trained, equipped, and prepared to conduct
> their assigned missions. For example, while NORAD evaluated the
> extent
> to which aircraft were maintained for ASA operations and the units’
> ability to respond to an alert and to locate and intercept aircraft,
> it
> did not evaluate training. Because the Air Force has not implemented
> ASA as a steady-state mission or formally assigned the mission to the
> units, it does not assess ASA readiness. By assessing the readiness
> of
> units that consistently conduct ASA operations, DOD would be better
> assured that these units are organized, trained, and equipped to
> perform ASA operations.
>
> The Air Force faces two challenges to sustaining its ASA capabilities
> over the long term—(1) replacing or extending the service life of
> aging
> fighter aircraft and (2) replacing ASA units with equipment and
> trained
> personnel when they deploy. For example, if aircraft are not replaced
> by 2020, 11 of the 18 current air sovereignty alert sites could be
> without aircraft. The Air Force has not developed plans to mitigate
> these challenges because it has been focused on other priorities.
> Plans
> would provide the Air Force information that could assist it in
> ensuring the long-term sustainability of ASA operations and the
> capability of ASA units to protect U.S. airspace.
>
> What GAO Recommends:
>
> GAO recommends that DOD conduct routine risk assessments, implement
> ASA
> as a steady-state mission, and develop plans to address future
> challenges. DOD agreed with some and partially agreed with other
> recommendations. GAO clarified the recommendations based on DOD
> comments on a draft of this report.
>
> To view the full product, including the scope and methodology, click
> on
> [hyperlink,http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-184]. For more
> information, contact Davi M. D'Agostino at (202) 512-5431 or
> .
>
> [End of section]
>
> Contents:
>
> Letter:
>
> Results in Brief:
>
> Background:
>
> NORAD Has Assessed ASA Operational Requirements but Not on a Routine
> Basis as Part of a Risk-Based Management Approach:
>
> The Air Force Has Not Implemented ASA Operations as a Steady-State
> Mission in Accordance with NORAD, DOD, and Air Force Directives and
> Guidance:
>
> Readiness of Units Performing ASA Operations is Partially Assessed by
> NORAD and PACOM but Not by the Air Force:
>
> ASA Operations Face Significant Challenges to Long-Term
> Sustainability,
> but the Air Force Has Not Developed Plans to Mitigate These
> Challenges:
>
> Conclusion:
>
> Recommendations for Executive Action:
>
> Agency Comments and Our Evaluation:
>
> Appendix I: Scope and Methodology:
>
> Appendix II: Comments from the Department of Defense:
>
> Appendix III: GAO Contact and Staff Acknowledgements:
>
> Related GAO Products:
>
> Tables:
>
> Table 1: A Five-Phase Risk-Based Management Framework:
>
> Table 2: DOD Commands and Organizations That We Visited During This
> Review:
>
> Table 3: ASA Units That We Contacted During Our Structured
> Interviews:
>
> Figures:
>
> Figure 1: F-15s on Alert at Portland, Oregon ASA Site:
>
> Figure 2: F-16 on Alert at Atlantic City, New Jersey ASA Site:
>
> Figure 3: Locations of the 18 Steady-State ASA Sites in the United
> States as of October 2008:
>
> Figure 4: Differences Between ASA Operations and Homeland Defense Air
> Missions:
>
> Figure 5: Factors Identified by ASA Unit Commanders as Moderately or
> Greatly Impacting Units' Ability to Conduct ASA Operations:
>
> Figure 6: Projected Number of Current ASA Sites with and without
> Viable
> Aircraft to Conduct ASA Operations between Fiscal Years 2008 and 2032
> based on current F-22 and F-35 Fielding Schedules:
>
> Abbreviations:
>
> AFB: Air Force Base:
>
> ANG: Air National Guard:
>
> ANGB: Air National Guard Base:
>
> ANGS: Air National Guard Station:
>
> ASA: Air Sovereignty Alert:
>
> DOD: Department of Defense:
>
> EXORD: Execution Order:
>
> NGB/ANG: National Guard Bureau/Air National Guard:
>
> NORAD: North American Aerospace Defense Command:
>
> NORTHCOM: U.S. Northern Command:
>
> PACOM: U.S. Pacific Command:
>
> [End of section]
>
> United States Government Accountability Office:
> Washington, DC 20548:
>
> January 27, 2009:
>
> The Honorable Patrick Leahy:
> United States Senate:
>
> The Honorable Christopher S. Bond:
> United States Senate:
>
> The Honorable Gene Taylor:
> House of Representatives:
>
> The Honorable Frank A. LoBiondo:
> House of Representatives:
>
> In the hours after the tragic events of September 11, 2001, the North
> American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) [Footnote 1] engaged in
> efforts to defend the air sovereignty of the United States against a
> new type of air attack--one that was initiated from within our own
> borders. Although federal agencies responsible for protecting
> domestic
> airspace have taken measures to deter such attacks, the National
> Strategy for Aviation Security, issued in March 2007, recognizes that
> air attacks are still a threat to the United States and its people.
> [Footnote 2] U.S. intelligence agencies have also stated that the
> threat to U.S air sovereignty remains.
>
> The commander of NORAD is charged with the missions of aerospace
> warning and aerospace control for North America.[Footnote 3] To
> accomplish these missions, NORAD has fully fueled, fully armed
> aircraft
> and trained personnel on alert 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, at 18
> air sovereignty alert (ASA) sites across the United States. The Air
> Force provides NORAD with personnel and equipment for these
> operations
> including fighter aircraft, which include F-15 and F-16 aircraft as
> shown in figures 1 and 2.
>
> Figure ...
>
> read more »
Thanks for the extensive data.