R 081857Z DEC 17
MARADMIN 669/17
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC CDI//
SUBJ/MARINE CORPS SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY//
REF/A/DOC/MCO/3960.6 – MARINE CORPS SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (S AND T)//
REF/B/DOC/MCO/5311.6 – ADVOCATES AND PROPONENTS//
REF/C/DOC/MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING, DATED 26 JAN 2015, BETWEEN CDD, ONR-30, MCSC, TECOM, AND MCWL.//
REF/D/DOC/COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS/SEP16//
REF/E/DOC/MARINE CORPS S AND T STRATEGIC PLAN//
REF/F/DOC/SECNAVINST 5000.42//
NARR/REF (A) IS MARINE CORPS ORDER ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY POLICY. REF (B) IS MARINE CORPS ORDER ON ADVOCACY AND PROPONENCY. REF (C) IS MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING ESTABLISHING THE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY EXECUTIVE STEERING COMMITTEE. REF (D) IS THE MARINE CORPS OPERATING CONCEPT. REF (E) IS THE MARINE CORPS SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (S AND T) STRATEGIC PLAN. REF (F) IS SECNAV INSTRUCTION ON ACCELLERATED ACQUISITION.//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  Purpose.  This message clarifies the duties and responsibilities of the Executive Agent for Marine Corps S and T (EA, MCS and T) as reflected in reference (a) and provides guidance for USMC interactions with Office of Naval Research (ONR), Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), and Strategic Capabilities Office (SCO).  Coordination in the S and T arena is vital in order to maintain momentum in the larger combat development process.
2.  Background
  a.  Reference (b) establishes DC, CDI as the Marine Corps S and T Advocate, and designates CG, MCWL as the Marine Corps S and T Proponent.  The Marine Corps S and T enterprise is an integral part of the larger Naval Research Enterprise (NRE).  It is a collaborative effort led by the Deputy Commandant, Combat Development and Integration (DC, CDI) and the Commanding General, Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory (CG, MCWL), but inherently involves the Joint Non-Lethal Weapons (JNLW) Directorate, ONR, DARPA, and other Marine Corps resource sponsors and Advocates.
  b.  The Commandant of the Marine Corps provided the future vision for the Marine Corps based on strategic guidance as currently defined in reference (e).  As the EA, MCS and T, CG, MCWL expands on the CMCs vision by developing Marine Corps warfighting concepts and capabilities that enable the Marine Corps to field combat-ready and relevant forces.  The Science and Technology Objectives (STO) articulated in reference (f) are products developed in coordination within the Marine Corps S AND T enterprise.
  c.  In 2015, the CG, MCWL assumed fiscal planning, programming and budgeting responsibility for Marine Corps S and T Programs.  The intent of this consolidation was to gain efficiencies, improve overall Marine Corps S and T effectiveness, and develop a more integrated approach for RDTE funding throughout the Marine Corps to ensure that Marine Corps S and T Programs incorporate input from the advocates, and reflect prioritized Marine Corps requirements.
3.  In order to ensure a coordinated and synchronized execution of S and T efforts for the Marine Corps, DC, CDI is assigning the responsibility and the necessary authority to the CG, MCWL as the EA, MCS and T, to coordinate and align Marine Corps S and T priorities, budgetary planning, and capability development within the Naval Research and Development Enterprise (NRDE), DARPA, SCO and DIUx.  While this does not limit access to the NRDE, Marine Corps entities shall work through the EA, MCS and T to ensure a collaborative and coordinated effort in this important combat development area.
4.  Policy and procedures
  a.  DC, CDI exercises Marine Corps S and T oversight responsibilities through CG, MCWL in his role as the EA, MCS and T to develop the vision, policies, and strategies needed to exploit scientific research and technological development.
  b.  CG MCWL/EA, MCS and T establishes and coordinates the Marine Corps S and T process, conducts technical and programmatic reviews, and proposes changes as necessary to DC, CDI.  Additionally, CG, MCWL develops the Marine Corps S AND T Strategic Plan and serves as the coordinating authority for the S AND T Executive Steering Committee, which is tasked to review the S AND T Program and Process, identify S AND T issues, recommend solutions to facilitate effective management, and track execution and transition of products.
  c.  Planning and Programming shall include the Program Objective Memorandum (POM) and Program Review (PR) submission.  The CG, MCWL, acting as the EA, MCS and T, will approve all submissions prior to forward input to DC, CDI. ONR-30, JNLW, and MCWL will jointly prepare, submit and defend the Marine Corps S and T POM/PR request to the DC CDI/CG MCCDC.
  d.  Budgeting shall include but will not be limited to, DON Budget and Office of Secretary of Defense (OSD/Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Budget Estimates Submission (BES) R-exhibit submission leading to the Presidents Budget submission.  Code 30, JNLW, and MCWL will jointly prepare, brief, and defend the PE submission as required.
  f.  Similarly, Marine Corps elements who desire to express support for, or participate in, projects being executed by ONR, the NRDE, DARPA and SCO should do so in coordination with CG, MCWL (S and T).
5.  The Marine Corps Rapid Capabilities Office was established under the command of CG, MCWL to accelerate the identification, assessment, and development of emergent and disruptive capabilities that will inform future requirements and enterprise investment planning for the acquisition process.  RCO projects reviewed and approved by a General Officer Board of Directors consisting of DC CDI, CG MARCORSYSCOM, Director Capabilities Development Directorate and CG MCWL in order to ensure that RCO efforts are addressing service priorities and to maximize the speed of increased procurement should a project be successful.
  a.  Nominations for RCO projects should be submitted via the MCWL webpage (LINK), through the Commandants Innovation Portal (LINK), or via email (MCRCO(AT)USMC.MIL).  The RCO currently has the capacity to execute 3-4 projects annually:  selection of projects will be extremely competitive.  However, if a Marines idea is selected for execution, the RCO will seek to include the Marine in the development and assessment of the project.
  b.  In order to ensure visibility in the combat development process, and to improve coordination of rapid development, prototyping, and related efforts by other Marine elements for prototyping and/or fielding non-Program of Record capabilities in which the Marine Corps element will be the lead customer, primary proponent, primary stakeholder, or primary investor, projects will be submitted to CG, MCWL (RCO) for information briefing to the RCO GOBoD.  Elements executing these projects will provide periodic updates on progress to CG, MCWL (RCO) in parallel with updates to their chain of command.  Funding and manpower for these projects will normally be provided or coordinated by the Marine Corps element executing the project.
6.  Applicability.  This MARADMIN is applicable to the Marine Corps Total Force.
7.  Release authorized by Lieutenant General Robert S. Walsh, Deputy Commandant, Combat Development and Integration.//