The Director, Operational Test and Evaluation (DOT&E) is the principal staff assistant and adviser to the US Secretary of Defense on operational and live fire test and evaluation activities involving U.S. Department of Defense weapons systems.^[1]

Responsibilities

The director reports directly to the Secretary and Deputy Secretary of Defense, with the following responsibilities:

• Development and dissemination of Department of Defense operational test and evaluation policy and procedures
• Review and analysis of operational test and evaluation results for Department of Defense acquisition programs
• Independent assessments of operational test and evaluation activities as it pertains to budgetary and financial issues for the Secretary of Defense, the Department of Defense, and the United States Congress
• Oversight to ensure the adequacy of operational test and evaluation for major Department of Defense acquisition programs and to confirm the operational effectiveness and suitability of the defense systems in combat use

History

The director's position was established September 24, 1983, by the Department of Defense Authorization Act of Fiscal Year 1984 (P.L. 98–94), and by Defense Directive 5141.2 of April 2, 1984.

Organization

The Operational Test and Evaluation Directorate of the Office of the Secretary of Defense is organized as follows:

• Air Warfare Joint Test and Evaluation
• Land and Expeditionary Warfare / Integrated Resource Analysis Team/Test and Evaluation Threat Resource Activity (IRAT/TETRA)
• Live Fire Test and Evaluation
• Naval Warfare
• Net Centric and Space Systems

The Director of Operational Test and Evaluation also maintains liaison with the Joint Chiefs of Staff J6 Joint Deployable Analysis Team.^[2]

Directors