Navy Maritime Domain Awareness Concept

This document provides overarching guidance for the development and application of Maritime Domain Awareness MDA across all levels of command for the United States Navy. It provides the conceptual framework to prioritize MDA efforts across the Navy, ensure alignment with external MDA initiatives, and inform the Fleet MDA Concept of Operations CONOPS. Classified elements to Navys overall MDA Concept can be found in Appendix A, allowing widespread dissemination of the main document. The time horizon for fully implementing this concept is 10 years. Efforts to improve MDA are ongoing. Initial progress may be slow, but will accelerate as barriers to broad-based information sharing are overcome. This concept does not encroach on roles and responsibilities of other agencies within the U.S. Government. When working in the international arena, Navy will coordinate with appropriate U.S. Government agencies and comply with applicable policy, standards, and protocols. Particular attention will be given to close alignment with the Department of Defense DoD Chief Information Officer, the Departments of State, Homeland Security, Transportation and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.