Defense acronyms and terms

Defense work is full of acronyms, and meanings can differ between services and programs. These are general definitions of widely used US terms; always check your program's own glossary for specifics.

AOR

Area of responsibility: the geographic region a commander is assigned to.

ATO

Authority to operate: formal approval to run an information system after its security risks have been accepted.

BDA

Battle damage assessment: evaluating the effects of military action on a target.

C2

Command and control: how a commander directs and coordinates forces.

C4ISR

Command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.

CDRL

Contract data requirements list: the deliverable documents a contractor must provide.

CMMC

Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification: a Department of Defense framework for contractor cybersecurity practices.

CONOPS

Concept of operations: a description of how a system or plan is intended to be used.

CONUS

Continental United States.

COTS

Commercial off-the-shelf: products bought from the market rather than custom built.

CUI

Controlled unclassified information: sensitive government information that is not classified but still requires safeguarding.

DARPA

Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency: the Department of Defense agency that funds high-risk research.

DCMA

Defense Contract Management Agency: the agency that oversees contractor performance on defense contracts.

DFARS

Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement: Department of Defense rules added to the Federal Acquisition Regulation.

DISA

Defense Information Systems Agency: provides IT and communications support to the Department of Defense.

DoD

Department of Defense.

DOTMLPF

Doctrine, organization, training, materiel, leadership and education, personnel and facilities: categories used to analyze capability needs.

EW

Electronic warfare: using the electromagnetic spectrum to detect, deny or attack, and to protect friendly use of it.

FAR

Federal Acquisition Regulation: the main rules governing US government purchasing.

FMS

Foreign military sales: the US government program for selling defense items to allied governments.

FOUO

For official use only: a legacy marking for sensitive unclassified information, now replaced by CUI.

GFE

Government-furnished equipment: property the government provides to a contractor for use on a contract.

IDIQ

Indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity: a contract type that sets a framework for orders placed over time.

ISR

Intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.

ITAR

International Traffic in Arms Regulations: US rules controlling the export of defense articles and services.

JADC2

Joint all-domain command and control: the concept of connecting sensors and decision makers across all services.

LRIP

Low-rate initial production: an early production phase producing limited quantities to prove manufacturing.

MOA

Memorandum of agreement: a document setting out the responsibilities of parties.

NIPRNet

Non-classified Internet Protocol Router Network: the DoD network for unclassified traffic.

OCONUS

Outside the continental United States.

OTA

Other transaction authority: a flexible agreement type that sits outside standard procurement rules.

PEO

Program executive officer: a senior official responsible for a portfolio of acquisition programs.

POM

Program objective memorandum: a service's proposed spending plan for the coming years.

RFI

Request for information: a document asking industry for input before a formal solicitation.

SBIR

Small Business Innovation Research: a program funding research and development at small businesses.

SCIF

Sensitive compartmented information facility: a secure room or building for handling classified intelligence.

SIPRNet

Secret Internet Protocol Router Network: the DoD network for information classified at the secret level.

SOW

Statement of work: the part of a contract describing the tasks to be performed.

TTP

Tactics, techniques and procedures: the established ways units carry out missions.

UAS

Unmanned aircraft system: an aircraft without an onboard pilot together with its control station and links.