Defense Space Support to Civil Authority: How Can Policy be Improved?
Abstract
This thesis analyzes documentation from 2006 to 2010 on U.S. space policy to determine its importance to Defense Support to Civil Authority (DSCA). The primary thesis question is as follows: Defense space support to civil authority: How can policy be improved? In answering this question, the thesis examines domestic and international laws, international treaties, national policy, national strategy and capabilities, executive requests, and congressionally approved resources across the Department of Defense (DoD) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that affect the development and sustainment of space systems for defense and civil support. These influences are byproducts of overall national policy and the National Security Strategy, and they directly affect the size and makeup of U.S. space activity. The United States continues to have a stake in the defense of aerospace to maintain homeland security, support international commerce, respond to natural and manufactured threats, and collect and transmit information crucial to support decisions. Secondary questions that the thesis addresses are as follows: What influences U.S. policy?; What is the U.S. National Space Policy, and how current is it?; Does national policy address existing conditions adequately?; What is national strategy, and how current is it?; How well is national strategy aligned with national policy?; Is national strategy developing appropriate capabilities?; What is the national budget for the major departments involved in Defense Support to Civil Authority?; How well are U.S. financial resources aligned with national policy?; Does spending reflect policy priorities?; What is the overall evaluation of performance?; How well does performance reflect policy goals?; How well do the President, DoD, and DHS rate the nation's security performance?
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 11, 2010
- Accession Number
- ADA524497
Entities
People
- Sean P. Coakley
Organizations
- United States Army Command and General Staff College