DOD Issues Plan to Implement EMS Operations Superiority Strategy

The Department of Defense has released an implementation plan to move forward with the military-wide electromagnetic spectrum operations superiority strategy.

The classified plan, approved by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on July 15, promotes alignment on both EMS operations and technology acquisition, C4ISRNET reported.

One of the new directives under the plan is the transfer of EMS strategy oversight responsibilities from the Joint Chiefs of Staff to the DOD chief information officer. The change, slated to take effect in the fall, requires the CIO to create and lead an EMS workforce and ensure the proper allocation of resources for related tasks.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff previously employed an oversight group within an existing EMSO Cross Functional Team to establish processes and procedures to develop, integrate and enhance joint EMS operations across all domains.

Additionally, the DOD’s implementation plan calls for the establishment of a new unit under the U.S. Strategic Command called the Joint EMSO Center. JEC will be set up to ensure joint EMS operations readiness and identify deficiencies in capabilities across the joint force.

An accompanying capability development plan was also created to guide officials in prioritizing EMS investments between components and services.

The move to improve electromagnetic warfare forces comes after the release of a watchdog report highlighting the DOD’s EMS-related challenges in governance and organization, technology acquisition and development, operational concepts, spectrum management, and staffing and training.