According to DOD, the speed of technical innovation and the complexity  of advanced weapon systems, such as the F-35, are creating an  increasing demand for specialized intelligence mission data to provide  information for sensors and automated processes supporting the  warfighter. DOD Has Certifications for Intelligence and Acquisition Personnel and the Air Force and Army Have Developed Certifications for Personnel Who Provide Intelligence Support to Acquisition Programs

Neither USD(I) certifications for the defense intelligence workforce nor  USD(AT&L) certifications for the defense acquisition workforce include a  certification specific to those personnel providing intelligence support to  acquisition programs. The Services and USD(AT&L) Have Developed Some Training for Personnel Providing Intelligence Support to Acquisition Programs, but Cannot Ensure Personnel Are Trained to Carry Out Duties

The services have developed varying levels of training for the personnel  who provide intelligence support to acquisition programs in the absence  of certifications required by DOD for these personnel. Without requiring certifications for personnel who provide intelligence  support to acquisition programs, DOD has no assurance that these  personnel are qualified and prepared to carry out their duties. DOD Has Multiple Efforts Underway to Improve Processes and Procedures for Integrating Intelligence into Major Defense Acquisition Programs but Faces Challenges Prioritizing Intelligence Mission Data Needs

As of July 2016, DOD had multiple efforts underway to improve  processes and procedures for integrating intelligence into major defense  acquisition programs. DOD’s Acquisition Intelligence Requirements Task Force Identified the Need for, but DOD Has Not Required Prioritization of, Intelligence Mission Data

Officials from USD(AT&L), USD(I), and Joint Staff stated that while there  have previously been other weapon systems with intelligence mission  data shortfalls, such as the F-22 and F-18G, the F-35’s greater reliance  on intelligence mission data and concerns regarding the service  intelligence centers’ ability to produce the needed data brought the  problem to the forefront. That  presentation of information does not convey a prioritization of what the  weapon system most needs to perform its mission. Without specific DOD guidance requiring  intelligence mission data prioritization, new processes and procedures  such as those developed by the task force and the services may not be  fully implemented. With no required process to prioritize intelligence  mission data, the intelligence community may continue to process  requests for intelligence mission data as they are received, and thus  weapon systems may not have the intelligence mission data they need to  successfully perform their missions once operational. DOD Is Developing New Tools for Integrating Intelligence into Acquisition Programs but Faces Challenges in Development and Implementation

As of July 2016, DOD was developing new tools to better integrate  intelligence into acquisition programs. Without effectively  communicating such information to potential users, DIA may not receive  useful feedback as it develops the tool, and concerns regarding  timeliness, usability, and redundancy may not be effectively addressed. As a result, DOD may use  funds unnecessarily to develop a tool that is not needed. Fourth, without conducting an assessment of the  need for and defining requirements for development of its proposed  Acquisition Intelligence Support Assessment tool, DOD may be using  funds to unnecessarily develop a tool that is not needed or, if needed,  may not be fully implemented or sustained once operational. Appendix II: Objectives, Scope, and Methodology

The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 includes a  provision that we review the processes and procedures for the integration  of intelligence into the defense acquisition process. This report  evaluates, for major defense acquisition programs, the extent to which  DOD has (1) processes and procedures for certifying and training  personnel assigned to provide intelligence support to acquisition  programs; (2) efforts to improve processes and procedures for integrating  intelligence into its acquisition programs; and (3) efforts to develop new  tools for integrating intelligence into its acquisition programs.
Why GAO Did This Study

DOD has reported that it expects to invest $1.6 trillion on acquiring 80 major defense acquisition programs, many of which depend on intelligence input both during the acquisition process and to effectively perform missions once deployed. The complexity of advanced weapon systems, such as the F-35, is creating increasing demand for intelligence mission data—such as radar signatures—for sensors and processes supporting warfighters.
The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 includes a provision that GAO review intelligence integration into DOD acquisitions. This report evaluates, for major defense acquisition programs, the extent to which DOD has (1) processes and procedures for certifying and training personnel providing intelligence input into acquisition programs; (2) efforts to improve processes and procedures for integrating intelligence into its acquisitions; and (3) efforts to develop tools to integrate intelligence into its acquisitions. GAO compared certification and training to relevant guidance; reviewed relevant documents to identify intelligence inputs and the provision of intelligence input into acquisition programs; and interviewed cognizant officials.

What GAO Found

The Department of Defense (DOD) has developed certifications and training for acquisition and intelligence personnel, but it does not have certifications for certain personnel who provide intelligence support to acquisition programs. These personnel help integrate threat information on foreign capabilities and intelligence mission data—technical intelligence such as radar signatures and geospatial mapping data—into acquisition programs. DOD uses certifications to determine that an employee has necessary education, training, and experience. The lack of certifications for personnel providing intelligence support to acquisition programs has led to the services developing varying levels of training: the Air Force certifies and requires training specific to providing intelligence support, the Army offers training that is not required, and the Navy has no formal training. Without certifications for personnel providing intelligence support to acquisition programs, DOD does not have assurance that these personnel are prepared to carry out their duties.
DOD has multiple efforts underway to improve processes and procedures for integrating intelligence into its acquisitions but does not require prioritization of intelligence mission data, which would identify those data most needed for a weapon system to perform its mission. A task force DOD created in 2015 to better integrate intelligence into acquisition programs identified the need for prioritization and proposed processes and procedures for doing so. Without department-wide requirements to prioritize intelligence mission data, new processes and procedures such as those developed by the task force may not be fully implemented and weapon systems could be deployed without the intelligence mission data they need to perform their missions.
DOD is developing two tools for integrating intelligence into major defense acquisition programs. One tool to share threat information lacks a communication plan to obtain feedback from users to better ensure its effectiveness. Without user feedback, DOD may not receive useful information to develop the tool. The other tool is for acquisition programs to communicate their intelligence needs to the intelligence community, though the services did not identify a need for the tool and there is no mechanism to fund its implementation and operation. Without assessing the need for such a tool or plans or funding for implementation and operation, DOD may be using funds unnecessarily to develop an unneeded tool.

What GAO Recommends

GAO recommends DOD create certifications and training for intelligence support personnel, require that intelligence mission data be prioritized, develop a communication plan for a threat information tool, and determine the need to develop another tool. DOD concurred with GAO's recommendations.