Assistant Secretary of Defense for Networks & Information Integration
Encyclopedia
The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Networks & Information Integration (abbreviated ASD(NII)) provides management and oversight of all DoD information technology, including national security systems. The ASD(NII) also serves as the Chief Information Officer
(CIO) of the United States Department of Defense
(DoD), a position distinct from the ASD and governed by the Clinger-Cohen Act
.
The ASD(NII)/DoD CIO is the principal staff assistant and advisor to the Secretary of Defense and Deputy Secretary of Defense on networks and network-centric policies and concepts; command, control and communications (C3); non-intelligence space matters; enterprise-wide integration of DoD information matters; Information Technology
(IT), including National Security Systems (NSS); information resources management (IRM); spectrum management
; network operations
; information systems
; information assurance
(IA); positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) policy, including airspace and military-air-traffic control activities; sensitive information integration; contingency support and migration planning; and related matters.
The ASD(NII)/DoD CIO had responsibilities for integrating information and related activities and services across the Department of Defense. The ASD(NII)/DoD CIO also serves as the DoD Enterprise-level strategist
and business adviser from the information, IT, and IRM perspective; Information and IT architect for the DoD enterprise; and, DoD-wide IT and IRM executive.
The Director, Defense Information Systems Agency
(DISA), reports to the ASD(NII)/DoD CIO.
In August 2010, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates
announced that the position of ASD(NII) would be eliminated.
ASD(C3I) traces its origins back to the Assistant to the Secretary of Defense (Telecommunications), an advisory position established in May 1970. A single person held this position before it was replaced in January 1972 by the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Telecommunications), an office with more weight in the Pentagon bureaucracy. The post was eliminated in January 1974, with responsibilities transferred to the Director, Telecommunications and Command and Control Systems under Defense Directive 5135.1.
In March 1977, a new post, the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Command, Control, Communications and Intelligence), was established by Defense Directive 5137.1, replacing both the Director, Telecommunications and Command and Control Systems and the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Intelligence)/Director of Defense Intelligence. (The ASD(I) had been established in November 1971, with some functions transferred from the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Administration). From July 1976 to March 1977, the ASD(I) held the additional designation of Director of Defense Intelligence.)
Starting in October 1977, the ASD(C3I) also served as Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering. In March 1981, the office was retitled Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Communications, Command, Control, and Intelligence, a position with more bureaucratic weight than that of an assistant secretary. However, the Department of Defense Authorization Act of 1984 (P.L. 98-94), passed in September 1983, mandated the existence of an ASD(C3I). Thus, this post reverted to the title assistant secretary of defense in April 1985 (following Defense Directive 5137.1). The ASD(C3I) was the principal staff officer to Secretary of Defense in his role as executive for the National Communications System
. The ASD(C3I) also had responsibilities to oversee the activities of DISA, the Defense Intelligence Agency, and the Defense Security Service. Following Pentagon reorganizations in 2003, the portfolio of ASD(C3I) was transferred to the ASD(NII), the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence
, the Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency
and elsewhere.
, "The task group is identifying many of the tough choices that must be made, not only because it is good business management, but today's fiscal environment and future warfighting requirements will not tolerate these inefficiencies." In his remarks, Punaro recommended downsizing the Combatant Commands and all OSD organizations, "particularly the elimination of Networks and Information Integration."
On August 9, Secretary Gates announced at a press conference that DoD will be eliminating the office of the ASD(NII), and DISA will assume its information technology operational responsibilities. According to Gates, " The Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Networks and Information Integration or NII was set up in 2003 when policy, oversight and advocacy functions for command, control and communications split off from intelligence. The resulting arrangement for dealing with enterprise IT and hardware issues, which includes a similar function for the J-6 on the Joint Staff, has since become redundant, costly and cumbersome."
At the same time, Gates also announced that DoD would be standing up a "refashioned and strengthened" CIO, a position whose existence is mandated in the Clinger-Cohen Act
. Because the position no longer includes the permanent assistant secretary title, Senate confirmation is no longer required.
Chief information officer
Chief information officer , or information technology director, is a job title commonly given to the most senior executive in an enterprise responsible for the information technology and computer systems that support enterprise goals...
(CIO) of the United States Department of Defense
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
(DoD), a position distinct from the ASD and governed by the Clinger-Cohen Act
Clinger-Cohen Act
The Clinger–Cohen Act , formerly the Information Technology Management Reform Act of 1996 , is a 1996 United States federal law, designed to improve the way the federal government acquires, uses and disposes information technology ....
.
The ASD(NII)/DoD CIO is the principal staff assistant and advisor to the Secretary of Defense and Deputy Secretary of Defense on networks and network-centric policies and concepts; command, control and communications (C3); non-intelligence space matters; enterprise-wide integration of DoD information matters; Information Technology
Information technology
Information technology is the acquisition, processing, storage and dissemination of vocal, pictorial, textual and numerical information by a microelectronics-based combination of computing and telecommunications...
(IT), including National Security Systems (NSS); information resources management (IRM); spectrum management
Spectrum management
Spectrum management is the process of regulating the use of radio frequencies to promote efficient use and gain a net social benefit.The term radio spectrum typically refers to the full frequency range from 3 kHz to 300 GHz that may be used for wireless communication...
; network operations
Netops
NetOps is defined as the operational framework consisting of three essential tasks, Situational Awareness , and Command & Control that the Commander of US Strategic Command , in coordination with DoD and Global NetOps Community, employs to operate, manage and defend the Global Information Grid ...
; information systems
Information systems
Information Systems is an academic/professional discipline bridging the business field and the well-defined computer science field that is evolving toward a new scientific area of study...
; information assurance
Information Assurance
Information assurance is the practice of managing risks related to the use, processing, storage, and transmission of information or data and the systems and processes used for those purposes...
(IA); positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) policy, including airspace and military-air-traffic control activities; sensitive information integration; contingency support and migration planning; and related matters.
The ASD(NII)/DoD CIO had responsibilities for integrating information and related activities and services across the Department of Defense. The ASD(NII)/DoD CIO also serves as the DoD Enterprise-level strategist
Federal Enterprise Architecture
A federal enterprise architecture is the enterprise architecture of a federal government. It provides a common methodology for information technology acquisition, use, and disposal in the Federal government....
and business adviser from the information, IT, and IRM perspective; Information and IT architect for the DoD enterprise; and, DoD-wide IT and IRM executive.
The Director, Defense Information Systems Agency
Defense Information Systems Agency
The Defense Information Systems Agency is a United States Department of Defense agency that provides information technology and communications support to the President, Vice President, Secretary of Defense, the military Services, and the Combatant Commands.As part of the Base Realignment and...
(DISA), reports to the ASD(NII)/DoD CIO.
In August 2010, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates
Robert Gates
Dr. Robert Michael Gates is a retired civil servant and university president who served as the 22nd United States Secretary of Defense from 2006 to 2011. Prior to this, Gates served for 26 years in the Central Intelligence Agency and the National Security Council, and under President George H. W....
announced that the position of ASD(NII) would be eliminated.
History
This office was previously known as the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Command, Control, Communications and Intelligence), or ASD(C3I), and was redesignated ASD(NII) in May 2003.ASD(C3I) traces its origins back to the Assistant to the Secretary of Defense (Telecommunications), an advisory position established in May 1970. A single person held this position before it was replaced in January 1972 by the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Telecommunications), an office with more weight in the Pentagon bureaucracy. The post was eliminated in January 1974, with responsibilities transferred to the Director, Telecommunications and Command and Control Systems under Defense Directive 5135.1.
In March 1977, a new post, the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Command, Control, Communications and Intelligence), was established by Defense Directive 5137.1, replacing both the Director, Telecommunications and Command and Control Systems and the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Intelligence)/Director of Defense Intelligence. (The ASD(I) had been established in November 1971, with some functions transferred from the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Administration). From July 1976 to March 1977, the ASD(I) held the additional designation of Director of Defense Intelligence.)
Starting in October 1977, the ASD(C3I) also served as Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering. In March 1981, the office was retitled Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Communications, Command, Control, and Intelligence, a position with more bureaucratic weight than that of an assistant secretary. However, the Department of Defense Authorization Act of 1984 (P.L. 98-94), passed in September 1983, mandated the existence of an ASD(C3I). Thus, this post reverted to the title assistant secretary of defense in April 1985 (following Defense Directive 5137.1). The ASD(C3I) was the principal staff officer to Secretary of Defense in his role as executive for the National Communications System
National Communications System
The National Communications System is an office within the United States Department of Homeland Security charged with enabling national security and emergency preparedness communications using the national telecommunications system.-Background and history:The genesis of the NCS began in 1962...
. The ASD(C3I) also had responsibilities to oversee the activities of DISA, the Defense Intelligence Agency, and the Defense Security Service. Following Pentagon reorganizations in 2003, the portfolio of ASD(C3I) was transferred to the ASD(NII), the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence
Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence
The Under Secretary for Intelligence or USD is a high-ranking civilian position in the Office of the Secretary of Defense within the U.S. Department of Defense that acts as the principal advisor and deputy to the Secretary and Deputy Secretary of Defense on matters relating to intelligence...
, the Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency
Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency
The Director of the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency is a three-star military officer and is the highest ranking intelligence officer in the Department of Defense. He is the primary military intelligence advisor to the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and also...
and elsewhere.
Elimination
On May 17, 2010, Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates directed an independent panel of corporate executives (known as the Defense Business Board) to make recommendations on options to materially reduce DoD overhead and increase efficiency in internal business operations. On July 22, the Defense Business Board offered a series of proposals on how the Pentagon could cut $100 billion from its budget over the next five years. According to Arnold Punaro, the group's chair and retired executive at SAICSAIC
The acronym SAIC can stand for:*Science Applications International Corporation*School of the Art Institute of Chicago*Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation*Shanghai Aviation Industrial Company*Special Agent in Charge, acronym used by some U.S...
, "The task group is identifying many of the tough choices that must be made, not only because it is good business management, but today's fiscal environment and future warfighting requirements will not tolerate these inefficiencies." In his remarks, Punaro recommended downsizing the Combatant Commands and all OSD organizations, "particularly the elimination of Networks and Information Integration."
On August 9, Secretary Gates announced at a press conference that DoD will be eliminating the office of the ASD(NII), and DISA will assume its information technology operational responsibilities. According to Gates, " The Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Networks and Information Integration or NII was set up in 2003 when policy, oversight and advocacy functions for command, control and communications split off from intelligence. The resulting arrangement for dealing with enterprise IT and hardware issues, which includes a similar function for the J-6 on the Joint Staff, has since become redundant, costly and cumbersome."
At the same time, Gates also announced that DoD would be standing up a "refashioned and strengthened" CIO, a position whose existence is mandated in the Clinger-Cohen Act
Clinger-Cohen Act
The Clinger–Cohen Act , formerly the Information Technology Management Reform Act of 1996 , is a 1996 United States federal law, designed to improve the way the federal government acquires, uses and disposes information technology ....
. Because the position no longer includes the permanent assistant secretary title, Senate confirmation is no longer required.
Past Assistant Secretaries
The table below includes both the various titles of this post over time, as well as all the holders of those offices.| Name | Tenure | SecDef(s) Served Under | President(s) Served Under |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assistant to the Secretary of Defense (Telecommunications) | |||
| Louis A. deRosa | July 22, 1970 - July 1, 1971 | Melvin R. Laird Melvin R. Laird Melvin Robert Laird is an American politician and writer. Laird was a Republican congressman who also served as Richard Nixon's Secretary of Defense from 1969 to 1973. Laird urged Nixon to maintain a policy of withdrawing US soldiers from Vietnam... |
Richard Nixon Richard Nixon Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under... |
| Assistant Secretary of Defense (Telecommunications) | |||
| Eberhardt Rechtin | January 14, 1972 - February 15, 1973 (Acting) February 15, 1973 - September 29, 1973 |
Melvin R. Laird Melvin R. Laird Melvin Robert Laird is an American politician and writer. Laird was a Republican congressman who also served as Richard Nixon's Secretary of Defense from 1969 to 1973. Laird urged Nixon to maintain a policy of withdrawing US soldiers from Vietnam... Elliot L. Richardson James R. Schlesinger James R. Schlesinger Dr. James Rodney Schlesinger is an American politician. He is best known for serving as Secretary of Defense from 1973 to 1975 under Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford... |
Richard Nixon Richard Nixon Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under... |
| David L. Solomon (Acting) | September 30, 1973 - January 17, 1974 | James R. Schlesinger James R. Schlesinger Dr. James Rodney Schlesinger is an American politician. He is best known for serving as Secretary of Defense from 1973 to 1975 under Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford... |
Richard Nixon Richard Nixon Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under... |
| Director, Telecommunications and Command and Control Systems | |||
| David L. Solomon (Acting) | January 17, 1974 - February 18, 1974 | James R. Schlesinger James R. Schlesinger Dr. James Rodney Schlesinger is an American politician. He is best known for serving as Secretary of Defense from 1973 to 1975 under Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford... |
Richard Nixon Richard Nixon Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under... |
| Thomas Reed | February 19, 1974 - January 2, 1976 | James R. Schlesinger James R. Schlesinger Dr. James Rodney Schlesinger is an American politician. He is best known for serving as Secretary of Defense from 1973 to 1975 under Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford... Donald H. Rumsfeld |
Richard Nixon Richard Nixon Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under... Gerald Ford Gerald Ford Gerald Rudolph "Jerry" Ford, Jr. was the 38th President of the United States, serving from 1974 to 1977, and the 40th Vice President of the United States serving from 1973 to 1974... |
| Assistant Secretary of Defense (Communications, Command, Control, and Intelligence) | |||
| Gerald P. Dinneen | April 4, 1978 - January 20, 1981 | Harold Brown Harold Brown (Secretary of Defense) Harold Brown , American scientist, was U.S. Secretary of Defense from 1977 to 1981 in the cabinet of President Jimmy Carter. He had previously served in the Lyndon Johnson administration as Director of Defense Research and Engineering and Secretary of the Air Force.While Secretary of Defense, he... |
Jimmy Carter Jimmy Carter James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office... |
| Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Communications, Command, Control, and Intelligence | |||
| Donald C. Latham | July 26, 1981 - August 16, 1984 | Caspar W. Weinberger | Ronald Reagan Ronald Reagan Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor.... |
| Assistant Secretary of Defense (Communications, Command, Control, and Intelligence) | |||
| Donald C. Latham | August 6, 1984 (sic) - July 6, 1987 | Caspar W. Weinberger | Ronald Reagan Ronald Reagan Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor.... |
| Thomas P. Quinn (Acting) | July 18, 1987 - May 23, 1988 | Caspar W. Weinberger Frank C. Carlucci III |
Ronald Reagan Ronald Reagan Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor.... |
| Gordon A. Smith | May 24, 1988 - May 12, 1989 | Frank C. Carlucci III William Howard Taft IV William Howard Taft IV William Howard Taft IV is an attorney who has served in the United States government under several Republican administrations. He is the son of William Howard Taft III and the great-grandson of U.S. President William Howard Taft.... (Acting) Richard B. Cheney |
Ronald Reagan Ronald Reagan Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor.... George H. W. Bush George H. W. Bush George Herbert Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 41st President of the United States . He had previously served as the 43rd Vice President of the United States , a congressman, an ambassador, and Director of Central Intelligence.Bush was born in Milton, Massachusetts, to... |
| Thomas P. Quinn (Acting) | May 13, 1989 - November 19, 1989 | Richard B. Cheney | George H. W. Bush George H. W. Bush George Herbert Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 41st President of the United States . He had previously served as the 43rd Vice President of the United States , a congressman, an ambassador, and Director of Central Intelligence.Bush was born in Milton, Massachusetts, to... |
| Duane Andrews | November 20, 1989 - January 20, 1993 | Richard B. Cheney | George H. W. Bush George H. W. Bush George Herbert Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 41st President of the United States . He had previously served as the 43rd Vice President of the United States , a congressman, an ambassador, and Director of Central Intelligence.Bush was born in Milton, Massachusetts, to... |
| Emmett Paige, Jr. | June 10, 1993 - May 23, 1997 | Leslie Aspin, Jr. Les Aspin Leslie "Les" Aspin, Jr. was a United States Representative from 1971 to 1993, and the United States Secretary of Defense under President Bill Clinton from January 21, 1993 to February 3, 1994.-Early life:... William J. Perry William S. Cohen |
William Clinton William Clinton Bill Clinton is the 42nd President of the United States. William Clinton may also refer to:*William de Clinton, 1st Earl of Huntingdon , English nobleman from prominent Norman family dating to William the Conqueror; Lord High Admiral as of 1333*William Henry Clinton , British general from... |
| Arthur L. Money | February 20, 1998 - October 5, 1999 (Senior Civilian Official) October 5, 1999 - April 7, 2001 |
William S. Cohen Donald H. Rumsfeld |
William Clinton William Clinton Bill Clinton is the 42nd President of the United States. William Clinton may also refer to:*William de Clinton, 1st Earl of Huntingdon , English nobleman from prominent Norman family dating to William the Conqueror; Lord High Admiral as of 1333*William Henry Clinton , British general from... George W. Bush George W. Bush George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000.... |
| John P. Stenbit | August 7, 2001 - May 8, 2003 | Donald H. Rumsfeld | George W. Bush George W. Bush George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000.... |
| Assistant Secretary of Defense (Networks and Information Integration)/DoD CIO | |||
| John P. Stenbit | May 8, 2003 - March 6, 2004 | Donald H. Rumsfeld | George W. Bush George W. Bush George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000.... |
| Linton Wells II (Acting) | March 6, 2004 - November 2005 | Donald H. Rumsfeld | George W. Bush George W. Bush George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000.... |
| John Grimes | November 14, 2005 - April 30, 2009 | Donald H. Rumsfeld Robert M. Gates |
George W. Bush George W. Bush George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000.... Barack Obama Barack Obama Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in... |
| Cheryl Roby (Acting) | May 1, 2009 - October 26, 2010 | Robert M. Gates | Barack Obama Barack Obama Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in... |
| Teri M. Takai (Acting) | October 26, 2010 - | Robert M. Gates Leon Panetta Leon Panetta Leon Edward Panetta is the 23rd and current United States Secretary of Defense, serving in the administration of President Barack Obama since 2011. Prior to taking office, he served as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency... |
Barack Obama Barack Obama Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in... |
See also
- Defense Information Systems AgencyDefense Information Systems AgencyThe Defense Information Systems Agency is a United States Department of Defense agency that provides information technology and communications support to the President, Vice President, Secretary of Defense, the military Services, and the Combatant Commands.As part of the Base Realignment and...
- Federal Enterprise ArchitectureFederal Enterprise ArchitectureA federal enterprise architecture is the enterprise architecture of a federal government. It provides a common methodology for information technology acquisition, use, and disposal in the Federal government....
- Global Information GridGlobal Information GridThe Global Information Grid is an all-encompassing communications project of the United States Department of Defense.It is defined as a "globally interconnected, end-to-end set of information capabilities for collecting, processing, storing, disseminating, and managing information on demand to...
- Joint Task Force-Global Network OperationsJoint Task Force-Global Network OperationsJoint Task Force-Global Network Operations was a subordinate command of United States Strategic Command whose mission is to: direct the operation and defense of the Global Information Grid across strategic, operational, and tactical boundaries in support of the US Department of Defense's full...
- NetOpsNetopsNetOps is defined as the operational framework consisting of three essential tasks, Situational Awareness , and Command & Control that the Commander of US Strategic Command , in coordination with DoD and Global NetOps Community, employs to operate, manage and defend the Global Information Grid ...
- Net-centricNet-centricNet-centric: : Participating as a part of a continuously-evolving, complex community of people, devices, information and services interconnected by a communications network to achieve optimal benefit of resources and better synchronization of events and their consequences.In military connotation...
- Clinger-Cohen ActClinger-Cohen ActThe Clinger–Cohen Act , formerly the Information Technology Management Reform Act of 1996 , is a 1996 United States federal law, designed to improve the way the federal government acquires, uses and disposes information technology ....