Operational Test and Evaluation (OT&E)

The Office of the Director, Operational Test and Evaluation (DOT&E) was created by Congress in 1983. The Director is prescribed, by authority of the Secretary of War, policies and procedures for the conduct of operational test and evaluation (OT&E) in the Department of War (DoW). The Director provides guidance to and consults with the Secretary of War, the Under Secretary of War for Acquisition and Sustainment, the Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering, and the Service Secretaries with respect to OT&E. DOT&E's provides oversight to a wide range of the Department’s acquisitions programs, including Major Defense Acquisition Programs (MDAPs) and programs from across each of the six adaptive acquisition pathways . Programs identified as MDAPs for the purposes of test and evaluation may not proceed beyond low-rate initial production (BLRIP) until initial OT&E of the program is complete. DOT&E is involved early in the planning phase of each program to ensure adequate testing is planned and executed. Key elements of DOT&E's oversight authority include: - Approval of component Test and Evaluation Master Plans (TEMPs). - Approval of component OT&E test plans (TPs). - Oversight of military department preparation for and conduct of field operational tests; analysis and evaluation of the resultant test data; the assessment of the adequacy of the executed test and evaluation; and assessment of the operational effectiveness, suitability, and survivability of the defense business and weapon systems. - Reporting results of OT&E that support BLRIP decisions to the Secretary of War and Congress, and providing an annual report summarizing all OT&E activities and the adequacy of test resources within the DoW during the previous fiscal year. - Review of DoW budgets and financial matters related to OT&E, and recommendations to the Secretary of War on all matters relating to operational test facilities and equipment. DOT&E also oversees and resources OT&E community efforts to plan and execute joint operational evaluations of information assurance (cyber survivability) and interoperability of fielded systems and networks during major Combatant Command (CCMD) and Service exercises. DOT&E reports the mission-focused trends and findings in the annual report and provides a mission risk assessment each fiscal year.