Organizational Alternatives for the Department of Defense Non-Lethal Weapons Program : Institute for Defense Analyses , December , 2024
Organizational Alternatives for the Department of Defense Non-Lethal Weapons Program : Institute for Defense Analyses , December , 2024
From the report: "The 1996 National Defense Authorization Act called on the Department of Defense (DoD) to centralize responsibility for development of non-lethal weapons technology. The Department responded by establishing the DoD Non-Lethal Weapons (NLW) Program and assigning the Commandant of the Marine Corps as its executive agent (EA), in partnership with Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) and Service stakeholders.
The program has developed and demonstrated a range of technologies, some of which have been integrated into fielded systems. Despite these accomplishments, the program has drawn criticism over the years for not transitioning advanced technologies into programs of record that address requirements outside of law enforcement, peacekeeping, and perimeter defense—in spite of the fact that since 2017, there have been 32 official requests from Combatant Commanders for non-lethal weapons capabilities, as well as prior formal operational requirements (from the Military Services) for non-lethal weapons. According to a 2023 Joint Requirements Oversight Council (JROC) memorandum, the capabilities are not fielded because they “regularly fall below the prioritization ‘cut-line’ so that they (the Services) can continue to modernize the Joint Force’s lethal capabilities.” The memorandum directs a series of actions to elevate the priority of NLW, including an organizational study, because the JROC stated that,
The current organizational paradigm for the DoD Non-Lethal Weapons Program is ineffectual in providing capabilities to the Joint Force to enable active operations to counter adversary coercion and enhance lethal effects in combat operations."
Authors - Dechant, Jason A., Fitzsimmons, Michael F., Lippitz, Mike, Patterson, Christina, Coletta, EmilySubjects
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