§397. Principal Information Operations Advisor
(a)
(b)
(1) Oversight of policy, strategy, planning, resource management, operational considerations, personnel, and technology development across all the elements of information operations of the Department.
(2) Overall integration and supervision of the deterrence of, conduct of, and defense against information operations.
(3) Promulgation of policies to ensure adequate coordination and deconfliction with the Department of State, the intelligence community (as such term is defined in section 3 of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3003)), and other relevant agencies and departments of the Federal Government.
(4) Coordination with the head of the Global Engagement Center to support the purpose of the Center (as set forth by section 1287(a)(2) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (
(5) Establishing and supervising a rigorous risk management process to mitigate the risk of potential exposure of United States persons to information intended exclusively for foreign audiences.
(6) Promulgation of standards for the attribution or public acknowledgment, if any, of operations in the information environment.
(7) Development of guidance for, and promotion of, the capability of the Department to liaison with the private sector and academia on matters relating to the influence activities of malign actors.
(8) Such other matters relating to information operations as the Secretary shall specify for purposes of this subsection.
(Added
Editorial Notes
References in Text
The enactment of this Act, referred to in subsec. (a), probably means the date of enactment of
Amendments
2021-Subsec. (b)(5).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Assessment and Optimization of Department of Defense Information and Influence Operations Conducted Through Cyberspace
"(a)
"(b)
"(1) An inventory of the components of the Department of Defense conducting information and influence operations conducted through cyberspace.
"(2) An examination of sufficiency of resources allocated for information and influence operations conducted through cyberspace.
"(3) An evaluation of the command and control, oversight, and management of matters related to information and influence operations conducted through cyberspace across the Office of the Secretary of Defense and the Joint Staff.
"(4) An evaluation of the existing execution, coordination, synchronization, deconfliction, and consultative procedures and mechanisms for information and influence operations conducted through cyberspace.
"(5) Any other matters determined relevant by the Principal Information Operations Advisor and the Principal Cyber Advisor to the Secretary of Defense.
"(c)
"(1) Actions that the Department will implement to improve the execution, coordination, synchronization, deconfliction, and consultative procedures and mechanisms for information and influence operations conducted through cyberspace.
"(2) An evaluation of potential organizational changes required to optimize information and influence operations conducted through cyberspace.
"(3) Any other matters determined relevant by the Principal Information Operations Advisor and the Principal Cyber Advisor to the Secretary of Defense.
"(d)
"(e)
Conducting of Military Operations in the Information Environment
"(b)
"(2) The military operations referred to in paragraph (1), when appropriately authorized include the conduct of military operations short of hostilities and in areas outside of areas of active hostilities for the purpose of preparation of the environment, influence, force protection, and deterrence of hostilities.
"(c)
"(d)
"(2) Each briefing under paragraph (1) shall include, with respect to the military operations in the information environment described in such paragraph, the following:
"(A) An update, disaggregated by geographic and functional command, that describes the operations carried out by the commands.
"(B) An overview of authorities and legal issues applicable to the operations, including any relevant legal limitations.
"(C) An outline of any interagency activities and initiatives relating to the operations.
"(D) Such other matters as the Secretary considers appropriate.
"(e)
"(f)
"(1)
"(2)
"(g)
"(1)
"(A) develop or update, as appropriate, a strategy for operations in the information environment, including how such operations will be synchronized across the Department of Defense and the global, regional, and functional interests of the combatant commands;
"(B) conduct an information operations posture review, including an analysis of capability gaps that inhibit the Department's ability to successfully execute the strategy developed or updated pursuant to subparagraph (A);
"(C) designate Information Operations Force Providers and Information Operations Joint Force Trainers for the Department of Defense;
"(D) develop and persistently manage a joint lexicon for terms related to information operations, including 'information operations', 'information environment', 'operations in the information environment', and 'information related capabilities'[;] and [sic]
"(E) determine the collective set of combat capabilities that will be treated as part of operations in the information environment, including cyber warfare, space warfare, military information support operations, electronic warfare, public affairs, and civil affairs; and
"(F) designate a Department of Defense entity to develop, apply, and continually refine an assessment capability for defining and measuring the impact of Department information operations, which entity shall be organizationally independent of Department components performing or otherwise engaged in operational support to Department information operations.
"(2)
"(3)
"(A) The establishment of lines of effort, objectives, and tasks that are necessary to implement such strategy and eliminate the capability gaps identified under paragraph (1)(B).
"(B) In partnership with the Principal Cyber Advisor to the Secretary of Defense and in coordination with any other component or Department of Defense entity as selected by the Secretary of Defense, an evaluation of any organizational changes that may be required within the Office of the Secretary of Defense, including potential changes to Under Secretary or Assistant Secretary-level positions to comprehensively conduct oversight of policy development, capabilities, and other aspects of operations in the information environment as determined pursuant to the information operations posture review under paragraph (1)(B).
"(C) An assessment of various models for operationalizing information operations, including the feasibility and advisability of establishing an Army Information Warfare Command.
"(D) A review of the role of information operations in combatant commander operational planning, the ability of combatant commanders to respond to hostile acts by adversaries, and the ability of combatant commanders to engage and build capacity with allies.
"(E) A review of the law, policies, and authorities relating to, and necessary for, the United States to conduct military operations, including clandestine military operations, in the information environment.
"(4)
"(h)
"(1)
"(2)
"(A) How the Department of Defense will organize to develop a combined information operations strategy and posture review under subsection (g).
"(B) How the Department will fulfill the roles and responsibilities of the Principal Information Operations Advisor under section 397 of title 10, United States Code (as added by subsection (a)).
"(C) How the Department will establish the information operations cross-functional team under subsection (f)(1).
"(D) How the Department will utilize boards and working groups involving senior-level Department representatives on information operations.
"(E) Such other matters as the Secretary of Defense considers appropriate.
"(i)
"(1) The terms 'foreign power' and 'United States person' have the meanings given such terms in section 101 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (50 U.S.C. 1801).
"(2) The term 'hostilities' has the same meaning as such term is used in the War Powers Resolution (50 U.S.C. 1541 et seq.).
"(3) The term 'clandestine military operation in the information environment' means an operation or activity, or associated preparatory actions, authorized by the President or the Secretary of Defense, that-
"(A) is marked by, held in, or conducted with secrecy, where the intent is that the operation or activity will not be apparent or acknowledged publicly; and
"(B) is to be carried out-
"(i) as part of a military operation plan approved by the President or the Secretary of Defense;
"(ii) to deter, safeguard, or defend against attacks or malicious influence activities against the United States, allies of the United States, and interests of the United States;
"(iii) in support of hostilities or military operations involving the United States armed forces; or
"(iv) in support of military operations short of hostilities and in areas where hostilities are not occurring for the purpose of preparation of the environment, influence, force protection, and deterrence."
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