The information business: a profile of the defense technical information center

Defense AT&L, July-August, 2005 by Sandy Schwalb

The Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC[R], pronounced "Dee-tick") collects and distributes authoritative Department of Defense scientific, research, and engineering information to the defense community. Through a major portion of the 1990s, DTIC was part of the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Acquisition). A DoD reorganization in 1998 transferred DTIC to the Defense Information Systems Agency. In 2004, we returned to the acquisition, technology, and logistics community. Now a DoD field activity, DTIC is one of several organizations whose work reaches across all segments of the Department.

DTIC reports to Dr. Ronald Sega, director. Defense Research and Engineering (DDR & E). Sega calls DTIC the "DoD technical information broker" that will play a vital role in DDR & E's mission. In his view, technology is critical to DoD transformation. He would like to see every DoD researcher, acquisition professional, tester and/or operator sit down at the computer and find out what the DoD is doing in research, why we are doing the work, when it will be completed, and who knows more about this information.

Specialized Information Solutions

DTIC is a major player in the DoD e-gov initiative to consolidate information about federally funded R & D. In April, DTIC and DDR & E launched the R & E Portal providing one-stop access to DoD research and engineering information. The portal lets users "intelligently" search a wide range of defense-related information and export results to desktop applications. Initially, this new service, located at <https://rdte.osd.mil>, is available to DTIC registered users (see below) who are either DoD employees or DoD contractors.

Our primary customers are those who have a legitimate business relationship with DoD. In November 2004, there were close to 11,000 registered DTIC users, with more than 60 percent DoD employees, close to 30 percent from organizations contracted to the government, and the remaining 10 percent from non-DoD federal agencies, colleges, universities and research centers. The first step in getting information from DTIC is to register for services at <www.dtic.mil/dtic/registration/index.html>.

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Forming one facet of DTIC administrative activities are the management and funding contractor-operated joint service-oriented information analysis centers to be found at <http://iac.dtic.mil>. Chartered by the DoD, IACs locate and analyze scientific and technical information in specific subject areas and are staffed by experienced technical-area scientists, engineers, and information specialists. The IACs possess historical, technical, scientific, and related data collected on a worldwide basis. Many of their products and services are free--for example, the latest scientific and engineering information on specific technical subjects, and consultation with or referral to world-recognized technical experts.

A Leader in Exploiting the Web

The Directorate of Component Information Support was established in 1991 to exploit DTIC's expertise in information science and technology. Since then, DTIC has supported many DoD components in developing tools and processes that enhance the storage, retrieval, and use of information. An effective support program has been created for senior-level planners and other users of information resources. This shared infrastructure allows many organizations to obtain technologies and resources that no single organization could afford on its own.

An important part of modern military campaigns is public awareness, and DTIC plays a vital role in this effort. Following the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, DTIC staff worked with the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Office of Public Affairs, to build and make ready for launch in two days the Defend America Web site, located at <www.defendamerica.mil>.

In 2004, DTIC worked on the Web site of the Regional Air Movement Control Center (RAMCC), which coordinates the movement of fixed-wing aircraft in support of coalition military, humanitarian and commercial air operations over Iraqi, Afghani and Pakistani airfields. RAMCC promotes the safety and efficiency of military, peacekeeping, and humanitarian assistance and other operations in both Afghanistan and Iraq. The site was used quite heavily during the Afghan inauguration ceremonies in December 2004.

To Distribute or Not to Distribute

DTIC provides a wide range of data and information products on policy, scientific and technical planning, budget, R & D descriptions, management, test and evaluation, research results, training, law, command histories, conference proceedings, DoD directives and instructions, foreign documents and translations, journal articles, security classification guides, technical reports, and summaries of works in progress.

While DTIC has much material available to the public (almost half of DoD's technical reports are publicly available the day they are published), some information has a security classification. The DoD's scientific and technical information is always categorized (or "marked," the term used in the defense community) by the office that originates the document. The marking determines how and with whom the information can be shared.