The roles and responsibilities of defense acquisition officers and Department of Defense (DoD) chief information officers are governed by U.S. laws and specified in more detail by a growing and complex body of DoD policy. The authors identify policy governing the design, acquisition, and integration of information technology (IT) and national security systems (NSS) that could lead to potential conflicts among these executives when they exercise their duties in the defense acquisition system. They examine the sources of these conflicts, and find that conflicts in the DoD acquisition process have occurred in the areas of setting IT standards and developing an IT architecture. Recent changes in DoD policy have reduced the potential for conflict in IT architecture development; however, the potential for conflict remains in the DoD standard-setting process. The authors recommend changes to DoD policy that can resolve these conflicts.

"Prepared for the United States Navy"--T.p.

Introduction -- The defense acquisition executive -- Chief information officer -- Architecture R&R defined in the United States Code -- Comparison of DAE and CIO roles and responsibilities -- Findings -- Recommendations -- Appendix A: definitions of IT and NSS in the USC -- Appendix B: overview of DoD directives and instructions -- Appendix C: CIO R&R in USC but not considered relevant -- Appendix D: Weapon Systems Acquisition Reform Act of 2009.