R 141530Z DEC 21
MARADMIN 707/21
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC CDI WASHINGTON DC//
SUBJ/PROTECTION OF MARINE CORPS CRITICAL PROGRAMS AND TECHNOLOGIES//
REF A/HQMC OPORDER 3070.2020 FORCE DESIGN CRITICAL INFORMATION PROTECTION AND COMMUNICATION ORDER DTD 7 JULY 2020//
REF B/DC PPO MESSAGE DTG 101657Z MAY 2019 OPERATIONS SECURITY AND PROTECTING MARINE CORPS CAPABILITIES//
NARR/REF A PROVIDES GUIDANCE FOR PROTECTING CRITICAL PROGRAMS AND TECHNOLOGIES, AND REF B PROVIDES OPERATIONS SECURITY GUIDANCE FOR MARINE CORPS CAPABILITIES – NOTE: REF B IS CLASSIFIED.//
POC/DOYLE/EN/GS15/DEP DIR OPS/DC CD&I/TEL: (703) 784-6730/EMAIL: ERIK.DOYLE@USMC.SMIL.MIL//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  Background.  
1.a.  The United States is facing a persistent and significant foreign intelligence threat, impacting our economic and military advantage.  The role of non-traditional collectors has increased significantly, and these factors have combined to cause the United States to lose significant amounts of technology and information, most of which is unclassified or Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI).  The inability to adequately defend the information relating to our most significant acquisition programs has serious consequences to military strategies and negatively impacts the technical advantages derived by the warfighter.  We must identify which technologies, capabilities, and programs are pivotal to providing the warfighter an advantage early on and ensure they are safeguarded throughout their respective lifecycles.  These efforts will assure that data/information deemed critical for the Marine Corps to support the National Defense Strategy is protected from disclosure, adversary collection, or corporate espionage.
1.b.  Annually DoD identifies controlled unclassified critical programs and technologies (CP&T) that require enhanced protection.  The CP&T list is intended to focus efforts to ensure capabilities are not made available to adversaries.
1.c.  DC CD&I is the lead and coordinates with Cdr MarCorSysCom, DC PP&O, and Cdr MCIA in the development of the Marine Corps CP&T list. 
1.d.  CP&T are tiered based on their importance to the Marine Corps achieving its mission with Tier 1 being the most critical.
2.  Scope.  This document publishes the Marine Corps 2021 Critical Programs and Technologies (CP&T) list.  It further identifies original classification guidance, individual requirements and protection measures, and directs countermeasures which shall be applied to the individual programs and technologies in order to defend the military advantages they provide the warfighter and their roles in supporting the National Defense Strategy. 
3.  Discussion.
3.a.  The USecDef Original Classification Decision for the List of Critical Programs and Technologies dtd 1 MAY 2019 is provided at the following SIPRNET URL:  https:(slash)(slash)intelshare.intelink.sgov.gov/sites/cdi/Shared%20Documents/Forms/AllItems.aspx and provides classification guidance for the CP&T list – select items are highlighted below. 
3.a.1.  [101.2] Associating one or more programs/technologies to the CPT&L is U/CUI unless details of the area can be exploited to cause damage to national security.  If details are provided the information may be classified up to TS.
3.a.2.  [101.3] The complete list of the DoD CP&T list, without further details is classified secret.
3.a.3.  [101.4] Detailed description of any program/technology or its unique components and its association to the CP&T list is classified Secret or Top Secret based on the degree of potential damage.
3.a.4.  [101.6] Identification of Tier 1 or Tier 2 CP&T when combined with vulnerabilities, threats, or mitigations is classified Secret or Top Secret based on the degree of potential damage.
3.b.  The Marine Corps 2021 CP&T list is provided at the following SIPRNET URL:  https:(slash)(slash) intelshare.intelink.sgov.gov/sites/cdi/Shared%20Documents/Forms/AllItems.aspx.  
3.c.  Identifying the programs and technologies is the first step of a continuous process that includes identifying threats to protecting the areas and identifying and implementing specific protection measures for each program and technology.
3.d.  Development of individual protection plans is a long range effort – though the risks to these areas is real today.  Until specific plans are developed, Marines are to take the following measures to protect CP&T. The reference amplifies these measures.
3.d.1.  Information on CP&T items should be encrypted when transmitted on MCEN-N (NIPRNET).
3.d.2.  Limit distribution of operational use and characteristics of CP&T items to U.S. Government and cleared contractors.
3.d.3.  Address CP&T areas and their protection in operations security programs.
3.d.4.  Identify potential breaches of information to the lead for the CP&T (Programs – Cdr MarCorSyCom, Technologies – CG Marine Corps Warfighting Lab).
3.d.5.  The public affairs posture for all programs and technologies on the CP&T list is passive, response to query only.  The communication director at DC CD&I and MarCorSysCom have communication lead and no other COMMSTRAT shop has authority to address a CP&T related query.  If needed, the lead organization for each area can provide guidance for their technologies and programs. 
4.  Release authorized by Lieutentant General Karsten S. Heckl, Deputy Commandant for Combat Development and Integration.//