Metrics for the Quadrennial Defense Review’s Operational Goals

Publication Date: January 2003

Publisher: RAND Corporation

Author(s): Bruce W. Bennett; Paul K. Davis; Charles T. Kelley; Elwyn Harris

Research Area: Military and defense

Type: Brief

Abstract:

The Department of Defense has adopted an approach to defense planning that is based on capabilities rather than specific scenarios or threats. It is using this approach for transforming the U.S. military to meet newly emerging national security challenges. The recent Quadrennial Defense Review highlighted what it called six operational goals for the focus of the transformation: o Project and sustain U.S. forces in distant anti-access and area-denial environments o Deny enemies sanctuary by providing persistent surveillance, tracking, and rapid engagement o Protect bases of operation at home and abroad and defeat the threat of chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and enhanced high-explosive (CBRNE) weapons o Assure information systems in the face of attack and conduct effective information operations o Enhance the capability and survivability of space systems o Leverage information technology and innovative concepts to develop interoperable joint command, control, communications, and computer intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (C4ISR). It then sought metrics for evaluating, advancing, and monitoring progress in attaining these goals. This documented briefing contains the slides and text of a briefing that takes a first cut at identifying such metrics. Although the metrics may use units common in current planning, such as hours, days, feet, and kilometers, the order of magnitude of those units has changed so that the new operational concepts are required to stretch beyond the limits of current capabilities.