The Defense Department released an implementation plan Friday establishing specific target dates and timelines for its Operational Energy Strategy (OES).
A couple of these deadlines are due during the 2nd quarter of fiscal year 2012, which ends March 31. These include: Establishing operational energy consumption baselines and establishing a departmental alternative fuels policy.
Many are due during the 3rd quarter–April 1 through June 30. These include reports on: Improving and updating operational energy baselines, supporting current operations with energy improvements, improving the operational energy efficiency of the military departments, identifying operational energy security risks at fixed installations, incorporating operational energy into modeling and simulation and applying operational energy analyses to defense acquisitions.
Some are due in the 4th quarter–July 1 through Sept. 30–or by the end of FY ’12. These include: Establishing DoD operational energy performance metrics; assessing DoD energy, science and technology (S&T) gaps and recommending solutions; establishing a DoD alternative fuels investment portfolio; adapting and adopting police, doctrine and Professional Military Education (PME) for operational energy and incorporating operational energy into combatant command activities.
The OES, released in June 2011, sets the direction for operational energy use within the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD), Office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS) and the Joint Staff, combatant commands, military departments and defense agencies, according to the implementation plan. The OES–reduce demand for energy in military operations, expand and secure energy supplies for the military and build energy security into the future force–is to assure future U.S. forces have a reliable supply of energy for 21st century military missions, according to the implementation plan.
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has directed Assistant Secretary of Defense for Operational Energy Plans and Programs Sharon Burke to co-lead a Defense Operational Energy Board with Air Force Director for Logistics Lt. Gen. Brooks Bash, a designee of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Army Gen. Martin Dempsey.
“Smart use of energy can be a strategic advantage for the U.S. military against our adversaries,” Panetta said in a statement. “As we continue to invest in the best military force to defend America today and tomorrow, I want the department to harness the best energy innovations at all levels, from the individual warfighter to the largest installation, to enhance our operational effectiveness and deliver more bang for the buck.”