The Department of Defense Office of the Inspector General (DOD OIG) plans to evaluate 11 separate efforts related to space, nuclear deterrence and missile defense in fiscal year 2019, including whether the Air Force properly certified SpaceX for military launch missions.
The DOD OIG released its fiscal year 2019 oversight plan last December with little fanfare, where it details a number of efforts meant to maintain transparency and oversight over the vast department.
“At a time when other nations are modernizing and upgrading their nuclear forces, nearly all elements of the U.S. nuclear weapon stockpile, delivery systems, and other critical infrastructure are operating well beyond their designed service life,” the oversight plan says. “The DoD is faced with the challenge of simultaneously sustaining legacy space and nuclear systems while modernizing and replacing these systems to meet future threats.”
Bloomberg reported Monday that Michael J. Roark, deputy inspector general for intelligence and special program assessments, had sent a letter to Air Force leadership informing them of plans to investigate and requesting contact information.
In order to track the department’s progress in addressing these issues, the inspector general will conduct audits on various space, missile defense and nuclear deterrence initiatives, the report said. “These projects will provide oversight of supply chain risks, security, fielding, testing, and certification of space, ballistic missile defense, and nuclear systems and policies.”
The evaluation is due to begin this month, Roark added. The letter was addressed to Heather Wilson, the service secretary, as well as Air Force Space Command Commander Gen. Jay Raymond and the service’s auditor general, Doug Bennett.
The evaluation was “a self-initiated project” by DOD OIG, said Dwrena K. Allen, an office spokeswoman, adding, “It is one of the key projects in the OIG’s expanding oversight focus on the Department of Defense’s space, missile defense, and nuclear management challenges.”