Accession Number:

ADA495792

Title:

Defense Management: Actions Needed to Address Stakeholder Concerns, Improve Interagency Collaboration, and Determine Full Costs Associated with the U.S. Africa Command

Descriptive Note:

Congressional rept.

Corporate Author:

GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE WASHINGTON DC

Personal Author(s):

• Pendleton, John H.
• Repasky, Robert L.
• Burke, Tim
• Caraher, Leigh
• Matheson, Taylor
• Simco, Amber
• Coleman, Grace
• La Due Lake, Ron
• McAllister, Lonnie

Report Date:

2009-02-01

Pagination or Media Count:

48.0

Abstract:

In February 2007, the President directed the Department of Defense DoD to establish the U.S. Africa Command AFRICOM to help strengthen U.S. security cooperation with African nations and bring peace and stability to the continent. For this review, GAO assessed the following DoD actions 1 efforts to establish the command and communicate its mission, 2 progress in integrating personnel from other U.S. government agencies into AFRICOM, and 3 plans and costs for establishing a permanent headquarters and supporting offices in Africa. In assessing DoDs efforts to establish AFRICOM, GAO analyzed relevant documentation and obtained perspectives from the combatant commands, military services, Office of the Secretary of Defense, Department of State State, U.S. Agency for International Development, and nongovernmental organizations. GAO recommends that AFRICOM include three key elements in its communications strategy, seek formal commitments for interagency personnel, and develop a comprehensive assessment of the possible locations of its permanent command headquarters and offices in Africa. In responding to a draft of this report, DoD partially agreed with GAOs recommendations and noted that in some cases it was already taking action.

Descriptors:

• *MILITARY FORCES(UNITED STATES)
• *PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT
• *AFRICA
• *MISSIONS
• *INTERAGENCY COORDINATION
• *MANAGEMENT PLANNING AND CONTROL
• *UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT
• COST ESTIMATES
• DEPARTMENT OF STATE
• GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES
• INTEGRATION
• DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
• MILITARY PERSONNEL
• POSITION(LOCATION)

Subject Categories:

• Administration and Management
• Government and Political Science
• Personnel Management and Labor Relations
• Military Forces and Organizations

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE