Strategic Communication: A Departmental Transformation

Abstract

The ability to communicate U.S. government and U.S. military policy and purpose is vital in today's information environment. Since 2002, when U.S. military forces have been actively engaged in multiple regions of the world, the worldwide perception of U.S. image has consistently declined. This paper reviews the capabilities gap between existing organizational structure of the DoD Strategic Communication (SC) enterprise, and the nation's requirements for communication strategies. Its premise is that there is no effective single advocate or department with the responsibility, capability, and the authority to ensure an effective strategic communication enterprise. The creation of an Under Secretary of Defense for Strategic Communication, or USD (SC), and the departmental transformation, where all elements of SC (IO, PA, and DSPD) fall under the USD (SC). The new organization would then have the clear leadership necessary to set strategic vision and guidance, set priorities, and allocates resources to ensure that DOD goals and objectives are achieved in support of USG policy and objectives.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 24, 2010
Accession Number
ADA521335

Entities

People

  • Thomas A. Davis

Organizations

  • United States Army War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Combatant Commanders
  • Department Of Defense
  • Department Of State
  • Diplomacy
  • Education
  • Governments
  • Information Operations
  • Interagency Coordination
  • National Security
  • Organizational Structure
  • Psychological Operations
  • Public Diplomacy
  • Strategic Communications
  • Unified Combatant Commands
  • United States
  • United States Government
  • War Colleges

Readers

  • Defense Acquisition Program Management
  • Joint Military Operations and Doctrine.
  • Urban Planning and Geography.