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Frequently Asked Questions
1. What does NMCO stand for?NMCO is an acronym for the National Maritime Domain Awareness Coordination Office. Return to top 2. What federal agency or department is NMCO under?NMCO is a multi-agency office created by the U.S. National Concept of Operations for Maritime Domain Awareness to coordinate MDA efforts among U.S. federal, state, and local agencies, tribal authorities, other nations, and the maritime industry in support of the U.S. National Plan to Achieve MDA. Staff members are on loan from other agencies as required, including the U.S. Navy, Coast Guard, Maritime Administration (MARAD), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM). Because NMCO is not under any specific agency, it is able to serve as an honest broker on behalf of the interests of all members of the maritime community of interest in developing effective MDA. Return to top 3. What authority does NMCO have and where is it derived from?NMCO is responsible to the U.S. National Security Council's Maritime Security Interagency Policy Committee (MSIPC) for effective access to maritime information and data critical to building the situational awareness component of Global Maritime Domain Awareness and operates on behalf of the MSIPC. The Director of NMCO derives his primary authority from the U.S. National Concept of Operations for Maritime Domain Awareness, which was approved by the National Security Council and Homeland Security Council Deputies Committee (NSC/HSC/DC) July 6, 2007, as a means of executing the U.S. National Plan to Achieve Maritime Domain Awareness in support of the National Strategy for Maritime Security and National Security Presidential Directive 41 / Homeland Security Presidential Directive 13 (NSPD41/HSPC13), Maritime Security Policy. Through coordination with various U.S. government agencies, NMCO is granted authorization to engage in certain specific activities to develop maritime awareness. For example, the U.S. Department of State has delegated authority to NMCO to coordinate certain MDA activities with the governments of other states; the U.S. Coast Guard has delegated authority to NMCO to coordinate certain MDA activities with international organizations supporting maritime safety; and the U.S. Maritime Administration has delegated authority to coordinate certain MDA activities with the commercial maritime sector. Return to top 4. Who does NMCO report to? What does reporting entail?NMCO reports to the the U.S. Maritime Security Interagency Policy Committee, of which the Director of NMCO is a member. The MSIPC operates within the framework of the National Security Council and reports via the the NSC Deputies Committee and Principals Committee to the President of the United States. Reporting includes participation in quarterly meetings as a member of the MSIPC, and an annual report to the MSIPC on NMCO's activities and implementation of MDA directives. In addition, the Director of NMCO has dual reporting reponsibility to the Commandant of the Coast Guard and to the Chief of Naval Operations, and keeps each apprised of MDA progress and NMCO activities through regular meetings and briefings either directly, or to their respective staffs. Return to top 5. What is the National Security Council (NSC)?The National Security Council (NSC) is the U.S. President's principal forum for considering national security and foreign policy matters with his senior national security advisors and cabinet officials. Since its inception under President Harry Truman, the Council's function has been to advise and assist the President on national security and foreign policies. The Council also serves as the President's principal arm for coordinating these policies among various government agencies. The National Security Council was established by the National Security Act of 1947 (PL 235 - 61 Stat. 496; U.S.C. 402), amended by the National Security Act Amendments of 1949 (63 Stat. 579; 50 U.S.C. 401 et seq.). Later in 1949, as part of the Reorganization Plan, the Council was placed in the Executive Office of the President. For more information, visit: http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/nsc/ Return to top 6. What is the Homeland Security Council (HSC)?The Homeland Security Council (HSC) was established by President George W. Bush on October 8, 2001, through the issuance of Executive Order 13228. The organization and operation of the HSC was further specified by the President in Homeland Security Presidential Directive-1, which was issued on October 29, 2001. The establishment of the HSC was subsequently codified in Title IX of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (Pub. L. 107-296; 116 Stat. 2135; 6 U.S.C 491 et seq.). The HSC's purpose is to ensure coordination of all homeland security-related activities among executive departments and agencies, and to promote the effective development and implementation of all homeland security policies. Under President Barack Obama, the HSC staff has been merged with the NSC staff to become the National Security Staff. However, the HSC will continue to serve the President. For more information, visit:
7. What is the Principals Committee (NSC/HSC/PC)/(NSC/PC)?Under President George W. Bush, the NSC/HSC Principals Committee (NSC/HSC/PC) was the senior interagency forum for consideration of policy issues affecting national and homeland security. The NSC/HSC/PC reviewed, coordinated, and monitored the development and implementation of national and homeland security policy. The NSC/HSC/PC was intended as a flexible instrument -- a forum available for Cabinet-level officials to meet to discuss and resolve issues not requiring the President's participation. Under President Barack Obama, the National Security Council Pricipals Committee (NSC/PC) is the senior interagency forum for policy issues affecting national security, per Presidential Directive 1 of February 13, 2009. Under President Obama, the regular members include the Secretary of State, Secretary of the Treasury, Secretary of Defense, the Attorney General, the Secretary of Energy, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, the Representative of the United States of America to the United Nations, the Chief of Staff to the President, The Director of National Intelligence, and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Return to top 8. What is the Deputies Committee (NSC/HSC/DC)/(NSC/DC)?The NSC Deputies Committee (NSC/DC) serves as the senior sub-Cabinet interagency forum for consideration of policy issues affecting national and homeland security. The NSC/DC reviews and monitors the work of the NSC/HSC interagency process (including Interagency Policy Committees/working groups). The Deputies Committee focuses significant attention on policy implementation. Periodic reviews of the Administration's major foreign policy initiatives are scheduled to ensure that they are being implemented in a timely and effective manner. Also, these reviews periodically consider whether existing policy directives should be revamped or rescinded. Return to top 9. What is the Maritime Domain?According to National Security Presidential Directive 41 / Homeland Security Presidential Directive 13 (NSPD41/HSPC13), Maritime Security Policy, the "Maritime Domain" is comprised of "all areas and things of, on, under, relating to, adjacent to, or bordering on a sea, ocean, or other navigable waterway, including all maritime-related activities, infrastructure, people, cargo, and vessels and other conveyances." Return to top 10. What is MDA?In the United States, Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) is defined by National Security Presidential Directive 41 / Homeland Security Presidential Directive 13 (NSPD41/HSPC13), Maritime Security Policy, as the effective understanding of anything associated with the global maritime domain that could impact the security, safety, economy or environment of the United States. (See Question 9, "What is the Maritime Domain" above.) Several other nations have also undertaken MDA programs under various names, including Maritime Domain Awareness, Maritime Situation Awareness, Maritime Awareness, etc. Effective MDA requires international collaboration that supports the maritime awareness requirements of each partcipant. Therefore, many uses of the terms "MDA," "Maritime Domain Awareness," or "Maritime Awareness" do not refer specifically to the United States, but rather: "The effective understanding of anything associated with the global maritime environment that could impact safety, security, the economy and the environment." Return to top 11. Does the United States have a national vision for MDA?Yes. National Security Presidential Directive 41 / Homeland Security Presidential Directive 13 (NSPD41/HSPC13), Maritime Security Policy underscores the importance of securing the Maritime Domain and introduces MDA as a critical requisite for maritime security. The National Strategy for Maritime Security directed the development of eight supporting plans for various aspects of maritime security, one of which was the National Plan to Achieve Maritime Domain Awareness (NPAMDA). It sets forth the path toward achieving understanding of the maritime domain. In support of the NPAMDA, The National Concept of Operations for MDA lays out an even more specific course of action for achie ving MDA, including establishing NMCO. Return to top 12. How does GMSA contribute to MDA?Conceptually, MDA is the integration of Global Maritime Situational Awareness and Global Maritime Intelligence, according to the U.S. National Concept of Operations for Maritime Domain Awareness. Global Maritime Situational Awareness results from the persistent monitoring of maritime activities in such a way that trends and anomalies can be identified. The U.S. Global Maritime Intelligence Integration Plan states that Global Maritime Intelligence is the product of legacy, as well as changing intelligence capabilities, policies and operational relationships used to integrate all available data, information, and intelligence in order to identify, locate, and track potential maritime threats. Essentially, MDA is a matter of knowing what is happening in the maritime domain and understanding how it could impact safety, security, the economy or environment in order to enable effective action. NMCO helps develop a complete picture of the maritime domain on a global scale to enable that understanding. Return to top 13. What is the relationship between NMCO and GMAII?Director of NMCO and Director Global Maritime and Air Intelligence Integration partner on developing effective MDA for the United States. The Director of NMCO and Director GMAII both sit on the U.S. Maritime Security Interagency Policy Committee and jointly co-chair the U.S National Maritime Domain Awareness Stakeholders Board and its Executive Steering Committee. NMCO focuses primarily on developing sharing of non-classified maritime data to develop a knowledge of what is occurring in the maritime domain. GMAII focuses on improving maritime intelligence collection and sharing, developing an undertanding of the combined maritime picture to enable effective action. Return to top 14. What is the MDA Stakeholders Board?The National Maritime Domain Awareness Stakeholders Board (SHB), comprised of U.S. federal agencies with missions or responsibilities in the maritime domain, was tasked by the U.S. National Concept of Operations to Achieve MDA to optimize and guide information sharing and develop capabilities related to the key functional aspects of Maritime Domain Awareness; collection, fusion, analysis and dissemination of data, information, and intelligence. Through NMCO and GMAII, the SHB provides the Maritime Security Interagency Policy Committee of the U.S. National Security Council recommendations to update strategic-level guidance and revise policy as appropriate; particularly policies and standards to promote information and intelligence sharing across a wide range of domestic and international maritime stakeholders. A full list of MDA SHB responsibilities is contained in the National Concept of Operations for MDA and the National MDA Stakeholders Board Charter. Return to top 15. What is the MDA Stakeholders Board Executive Steering Committee (SHB ESC)?The National MDA Stakeholders Board Executive Steering Committee is comprised of the two offices charged with coordinating interagency MDA efforts -- NMCO and GMAII, who co-chair the ESC -- and the MDA Executive Agents from the U.S. agencies with the most active roles in developing maritime domain awareness in support of the National Strategy for Maritime Security. Currently, the departments of Transportation, Homeland Security, and Defense have named executive agents who sit on the ESC. The ESC meets more frequently than the SHB and streamlines interactions between key MDA players. The ESC has been authorized by the SHB and Maritime Security Interagency Policy Committee (MSIPC) of the U.S. National Security Council (NSC) to decide on courses of action for all recommendations put forth by the full Board; establish and review progress of sub-committees as directed by the co-chairs; provide the MSIPC with final recommendations to update strategic-level guidance and revise policy as appropriate; and recommend the agenda and desired objectives for full Board meetings. Return to top 16. What are the MDA Enterprise Hubs?The National Concept of Operations for MDA recognized that current technical, cultural, political, and policy limitations inhibit day-to-day attainment of MDA. To address these barriers, the CONOPS identified the need to develop Enterprise Hubs from within existing organizations with capabilities that already make substantial contributions to MDA in one or more of the following subject areas:
NMCO administers the Enterprise Hubs, which are responsible for overall coordination of information flow for their respective subject areas both domestically and internationally, and facilitation of the sharing of related intelligence, information, and data. Enterprise Hubs are intended to leverage their experience and expertise to provide leadership for the community in a particular area of expertise, not to be the exclusive federal provider of information and products for that subject area. Hubs are a means to an end, not an end state for information sharing. They are a means for dividing the task of developing MDA into manageable segments and assigning experts to lead the way. For more information, please visit http://www.gmsa.gov/hubs Return to top 17. How does NMCO support department/agency/service MDA initiatives and programs?No single agency has the resources or authority to develop complete Maritime Domain Awareness. NMCO helps coordinate efforts by the many stakeholders who use maritime information to develop a shared information environment that enables all participants to improve their MDA. Return to top 18. Is NMCO a joint program office?No. NMCO is a multi-agency office with broad responsbilities for global maritime information sharing. However, it lacks some of the authorities of a joint program office. Return to top 19. How is NMCO funded?NMCO has no budget. Personnel costs for NMCO, including training and many travel costs, are borne by the agencies that provide staffing -- primairly the U.S. Navy, Coast Guard, Maritime Administration, U.S. Northern Command and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Other travel costs are borne by agencies or organizations on whose behalf NMCO staff members are traveling. In addition, some travel costs are borne by organizations that invite NMCO staff members to participate in events. Per the National Concept of Operations for MDA, a cabinet-level organization provides administrative support to NMCO, including identification of office space, associated administrative supplies and basic services. Currently, the Department of Homeland Security provides that support through the U.S. Coast Guard. Return to top 20. Who is on the NMCO staff and how many members are there?According to the National Concept of Operations for Maritime Domain Awareness, at a minimum, NMCO staff should come from the Departments of Homeland Security (DHS), Defense (DOD), Justice (DOJ), Transportation (DOT), Commerce (DOC), State (DOS), and Treasury and the Director of National Intelligence (DNI). Specifically, Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Intelligence Community, the Coast Guard (USCG), the Navy (USN) and the Maritime Administration (MARAD) should provide full-time representatives to the NMCO staff based on articulated needs and skill sets from the Director of NMCO. There are usually between 20 and 25 individuals on the staff. The current staff is comprised of personnel on loan from the Navy (DOD), Coast Guard (DHS), Maritime Administration (DOT), Northern Command (DOD), Intelligence Community (DNI), and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (DOC). In addition, NMCO receives regular support from personnel at DOS and DOJ. NMCO partners closely with the staff of the Director of Global Maritime and Air Intelligence Integration (GMAII), which includes staff from DNI. Return to top 21. What is a service oriented architecture and how does it relate to MDA?A service oriented architecture is a means of drawing from various sources of data to provide specific services to users. In developing MDA, a service oriented architecture foundation provides a structure for interoperable computing. The core services include:
A service oriented architecture is one of four "product lines" upon which the MDA enterprise structure will depend as invisioned in the U.S. National CONOPS for MDA. The other three are:
A full description of the intended MDA architecture is included in the National CONOPS for MDA. Return to top 22. What does UDOP mean and why is it important?A UDOP, or User-Defined Operational Picture, allows each user of a system to create the operational picture that best supports the decision-making requirements of his/her organization using data sources and processing methods of his/her choosing. In other words, all users draw from the same pool of data, but each can structure the output in the way that best supports that user's mission. The U.S. National Concept of Operations for MDA envisions a UDOP of the maritime domain as a primary goal for MDA efforts. Because the Global Maritime Community of Interest is comprised of agencies and organization with an extremely broad range of missions and responsiblities, a Common Operational Picture (COP) would be ineffective. However, certain organizations might find a COP best serves their needs, and would be able to configure such a COP using the architure that supports a UDOP. Return to top 23. Will all users have the same access to information?National Concept of Operations for MDA calls for the MDA enterprise architure to ensure each user is able to access all of and only the information for which he/she has permissions based on the needs, rights and authorities of the user and of the organizations publishing the information. Although the broadest feasible sharing of information is a key tennet of MDA, it can only be achieved if organizations with information can be assured that classified, proprietary and other sensitive information is protected in keeping with applicable statutes and regulations. Return to top 24. Who ensures MDA information standards? For what purpose?Within the United States, the National Concept of Operations for Maritime Domain Awareness established a national-level MDA governance construct which is responsible for providing clear information sharing policies, protocols and standards to allow, to the maximum extent possible, individual agencies and partners to collaborate fully and broadly share information, while protecting civil liberties. The National MDA Stakeholder Board Executive Steering Committee (see Questions 14 and 15 above) is responsible for providing sufficient direction in developing policy and standards to guide individual agencies and partners in sharing information and is kept informed of progress and issues by the The MDA Architecture Management Hub and the Information Enterprise Hubs (see Question 16 above). To the maiximum extent possible, standards are being developed to comply with applicable national and international consensus standards to enable interoperability between diverse systems. Specifically, the Enterprise Hubs promote and implement data sharing standards which allow information to be displayed and disseminated to the right person, in the right place, and in the right format using a wide variety of systems in use throughout the federal government, the international community, civil agencies and private sector. Lack of data standardization may act as a barrier to the efficient and effective flow of information; adds to the costs for businesses and governments; and makes the data difficult or in many cases impossible to use. Benefits associated with information-sharing standards include:
25. Will proprietary information be shared within the MDA information sharing environment? If so, with whom?Yes, an MDA architecture founded upon net-centric principles will provide a secure, collaborative, information-sharing environment and unprecedented access to decision-quality information. A fundamental attribute of a net-centric environment is the ability for any consumer of information to get the information that is needed, when it is needed. This construct establishes an environment in which each data provider publishes their data for consumers to discover and retrieve, based on appropriate permissions. This approach effectively separates the data from the underlying application or system making it available to a wide range of qualified users for a wide range of uses. The Enterprise will have multi-level security protocols with cross-domain information sharing allowing information to flow between classification domains. (see also Questions 23 and 24 above). A key benefit of information sharing through a properly developed architecture rather than through a system of personal relationships is greater assurance of the protection of sensitive, classified, and proprietary information, privacy, and civil liberties. Return to top 26. Will Law Enforcement information be shared? If so, with whom?Yes. See Question 25 above. Return to top 27. Will classified information be shared? If so, with whom?Yes. See Question 25 above. Return to top This page was last updated on May 18, 2010. |
