This paper proposes three recommendations for how Department of State (DOS) can more systematically incorporate U.S. good governance strategic objectives into the oversight of Department of Defense's (DOD) security cooperation and security assistance (SC/SA) programs. First, DOS should utilize its existing concurrent authorities to create new DOS policy that support this objective. Second, this new policy should withhold DOS's concurrence on SC/SA programs until a rigorous, systems-based assessment of the governance within the defense institutions is completed or a justification for deviation is approved. Third, that the foreign assistance guiding principle of "do-no-harm," should be included in the future DOS guidance. Seven do-no-harm lessons include: (1) norms and behaviors; (2) leader incentives; (3) accountability and reforming military justice; (4) human rights; (5) regional organizations; (6) unified action through conditions; and (7) rigorous SC/SA monitoring and evaluations (M&E) in policy. This paper addressed five questions that facilitated these recommendations: (1) SC/SA program objectives; (2) U.S. Government's strategic objectives; (3) DOS's actual authority over DOD implemented SC/SA programs; (4) how DOS's oversight works in practice; and (5) trends within the SC/SA context regarding whether SA/SC programs support the foreign assistance principle of "do-no-harm."

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