THE JOINT STAFF

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20318·8000

JROCM 025-06
16 February 2006
JOINT REQUIREMENTS
OVERSIGHT COUNCIL

MEMORANDUM FOR VICE CHIEF OF STAFF, US AIR FORCE

Subject: National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System

Program, Nunn-McCurdy Certification

1. Due to recent Congressional notification of a Nunn-McCurdy breach, the

Secretary of Defense must certify or cancel the National Polar-orbiting
Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS) program. An element of
the certification decision is a determination of whether the NPOESS program is
essential to national security. To assist that determination, the Joint
Requirements Oversight Council (JROC) will review program requirements and
essentiality.

2. To support the JROC process, request the Air Force, as DOD lead, with
assistance from the Department of Commerce and National Aeronautics and
Space Administration provide a decision brief to revalidate or amend the
capabilities contained in the 2001 Integrated Operational Requirements
Document (lORD) II to the JROC on 6 April 2006. In addition to addressing
requirements explicitly stated in the lORD II, request the briefing address the
following key issues/ questions:

a. Has the operational environment changed since the lORD II program

requirements were validated in 2001? How do any changes impact current
validated requirements or external program dependencies on polar-orbiting
environmental monitoring capabilities?

b. How does NPOESS support National Space Policy and US National

Security in:

(1) Enhancing operations of US and allied forces;

(2) Satisfying military and/or intelligence requirements during

peace and crisis as well as through all levels of conflict; and

(3) Supporting the activities of national policy and decision

makers, the Intelligence Community, combatant commanders and
military Services) to include other federal officials.
 c. Is the threshold level of polar-orbiting environmental monitoring
capability defined in the lORD II still necessary or can the US meet the
capability needs via other means (e.g., other space or non-space platforms,
non-NPOESS data collection, commercial or foreign sources), at an acceptable
level of risk?

d. Identify current program cost drivers for achieving threshold and

objective capabilities.

e: Identify the risks to national security from potential capability gaps

based on operational availability of legacy Defense Meteorological Satellite
Program and Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite constellation
capabilities. Include overall and orbit specific impacts and mitigation
approaches to the DOD, Department of Commerce/National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration and National Aeronautics and Space
Administration environmental monitoring missions.

3. The requested briefing will serve as the basis for Battlespace Awareness
Functional Capability Board review of the NPOESS program and
recommendations to the JROC. The Battlespace Awareness Functional
Capability Board point of contact is CAPT Steve Warren, USN, (703) 614-7916.
The J-8 points of contact are COL Robert Brewster, USA, (703) 697-6299 and
Mr. Paul Rabe, (703) 614-9626. . r;«.//?/. //
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Vice Admiral, USN

JROC Secretary

copy to:
Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics
Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller)
Under Secretary of Defense for Policy
Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence
Deputy Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere, Department of
Commerce
Vice Chief of Staff, US Army
Vice Chief of Naval Operations
Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps
Director, Program Analysis and Evaluation
Director, National Reconnaissance Office

2
Director, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency
Associate Administrator for Science, National Aeronautics and Space
Administration
Assistant Administrator for National Weather Service, National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration
Assistant Administrator for National Environmental SatelIite, Data and
Information Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,
Deputy Associate Administrator for Science, National Aeronautics and Space
Administration