| Operational Test and Evaluation Force | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Operational Test and Evaluation Force (OPTEVFOR) seal | |
| Active | December, 1947 – Present |
| Country | United States of America |
| Branch | United States Navy |
| Type | Systems Operational Testing and Evaluation (OT&E) |
| Part of | Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (OPNAV) - N091 |
| Garrison/HQ | Norfolk Naval Base,Virginia |
| Commanders | |
| Commander | Rear Admiral Stephen R. Tedford, USN |
| Chief of Staff | Captain Rolando Ramirez |
| Command Master Chief | Master Chief Michael Wentzel |
TheOperational Test and Evaluation Force (OPTEVFOR) is an independent and objective agency within theUnited States Navy for the operational testing and evaluation (OT&E) ofnaval aviation,surface warfare,submarine warfare,C4I,cryptologic, andspace systems in support Navy andDepartment of Defense acquisition programs.
OPTEVFOR traces its origins to the final months ofWorld War II when the need arose for an effective means to combat Japanesekamikaze attacks. On 2 July 1945, theComposite Task Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, was formed to develop tactics and evaluate equipment to counter the Kamikazes. This force was commanded byVice AdmiralWillis A. Lee, USN, and consisted of miscellaneous types of combatant ships and drone aircraft.
Following the end of World War II, the Composite Task Force was consolidated with other fleet units doing development work and in December 1947, was re-designated as theOperational Development Force (OPDEVFOR), with the force commander flying his flag on theUSSAdirondack (AGC 15), as an operational command reporting to Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. Atlantic Fleet. In 1949, the command moved ashore to theNorfolk Naval Base. With its expanding OT&E responsibilities, a subordinate liaison command, located theSan Diego Naval Base, created to serve as a liaison with theU.S. Pacific Fleet.[1]
VX-6 was one of six air development squadrons formed by the United States Navy beginning in 1946 to develop and evaluate aircraft tactics and techniques. These squadrons were initially directed by the Operational Development Force, which was redesignated in May 1959 as the Operational Test and Evaluation Force (OPTEVFOR). These six squadrons were initially designated asVX-1 (tail codeXA),VX-2 (tail codeXB),VX-3 (tail codeXC),VX-4 (tail codeXF),VX-5 (tail codeXE) andVX-6 (tail codeXD). On 1 January 1969, the surviving Air Development Squadrons (VX-1, VX-4, VX-5 and VX-6) became Air Test and Evaluation Squadrons. Their designations were changed to VXE-1, VXE-4, VXE-5 and VXE-6. Their tail codes of these squadrons were changed toJA,JF,JE andJD, respectively.[2]
In May 1959, the command was renamedOperational Test and Evaluation Force (OPTEVFOR) to reflect more accurately its increased responsibilities regarding weapon systems and tactics testing and evaluation (T&E). In 1960, the OPTEVFOR headquarters moved to its present location, located off Terminal Boulevard near theU.S. Atlantic Fleet headquarters.
Due to Congressional andDOD initiatives to improve the defense acquisition process, in 1971, OPTEVFOR was designated the Navy's sole (OT&E) agency, with greater involvement in the research and development (R&D) process and production decision-making process. In keeping with these expanded responsibilities, the Force Commander (COMOPTEVFOR) began reporting directly to theChief of Naval Operations (CNO).[1]
In 2013, the COMOPTEVFOR was the lead operational test agency who, along withJoint Staff, J6Joint Deployable Analysis Team (JDAT), coordinated the 11th Bold Quest coalition demonstration. Warfighters, technology teams and testers under the flags of 10 nations and each of the U.S. military services came together atMarine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C. to stress test theIFF integrated suite andAegis ballistic missile defense system Mode 5 in partnership with COMOPTEVFOR under 13 separate initiatives.[3]JDAT assisted the COMOPTEVFOR with Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) Mode 5 Level 1 Joint Operational Test Approach analysis to validate the interoperability of fielded combat systems and served as COMOPTEVFOR’s lead analysis organization, responsible for all reconstruction and coordination of issues with Service program offices, and producing a detail report of results for submission to DOT&E.[4]
OPTEVFOR provides OT&E policy direction, technical and procedural guidance, and financial support for the independent and objective testing and evaluation of the systems and tactics at the direction of the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO). In terms of its relationship to operational fleet units, OPTEVFOR is supported by theCommander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command (COMUSFF); theCommander, U.S. Pacific Fleet (COMPACFLT); and theCommander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe (COMUSNAVEUR). It also closely follows all R&D programs within the Navy and its laboratories (including theOffice of Naval Research), with the CNO authorizing direct liaison between OPTEVFOR and the heads of development agencies involving all technical matters for Navy research, development, testing, and evaluation. Evaluation of systems are done by personnel with technical experience with the equipment being tested and evaluated. Finally, OPTEVFOR coordinates operational test and evaluation (OT&E) activities with the operational test agencies of the other U.S. military services as well as theDOD Director of Operational Test and Evaluation, who establishes operational test policy for theU.S. Defense Department.
The Fleet Research, Development, Test & Evaluation (RDT&E) Support Process conforms to the most current version of SECNAVINST 5000.2 pertaining to Navy or multi-service testing and evaluation (T&E) activities.[5] It recommends that T&E requests for fleet commander support be made in writing, viaCNO-OPNAV (N091/N912), nine (9) month prior to the actual testing activity. The Fleet RDT&E Support Process defines the appropriate formats for request for T&E activities. Fleet RDT&E Support Process defines the levels of fleet commander support as follows:
The Fleet RDT&E Support Process also mandates that all T&E requests be submitted and updated on a quarterly basis beginning nine (9) months prior to the quarter that the T&R activity in order to provide adequate scheduling for the fleet command, and mandates that CNO-OPNAV (N091/N912) be promptly notified of any cancellations. The Fleet RDT&E Support Process defines prioritization of fleet commander support for T&E activities as follows:
Finally, the Fleet RDT&E Support Process also defines unscheduled RDT&E support requirements, including the appropriate format for Emergency Fleet Support Requests. The Commander, Operational Test and Evaluation Force (COMOPTEVFOR) is designated as the RDT&E fleet-support scheduling agent for CNO (N091), including all at-sea operational test and evaluation (OT&E) activities.
The Aviation Warfare Division is responsible for the planning and execution of operational testing and evaluation (OT&E) activities pertaining to the Navy and Marine Corps' aviation acquisition programs. Testing of these programs are done at the following field activities:
These programs includestrike/fighter, assault weapon,airborne electronic warfare, air-basedanti-submarine warfare, aviation maintenance, and trainer systems.[8]
The C4I & Space Division responsible for the planning and execution of operational test and evaluation (OT&E) activities pertaining to the Navy's ashore and afloat command, control, communications, computer and intelligence (C4I) systems.[9]
The Comptroller/Resource Management Division provides the plans, programs, and budgets of OPTEVFOR's fiscal resources.[10]
The Expeditionary Warfare Division is responsible for the planning and execution of operational test and evaluation (OT&E) activities of JointChemical/Biological traditional acquisition programs, Anti-Terrorist Force Protection (ATFP) programs,Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD),riverine warfare, anddiving andsalvage programs.[11]
The Information Resources Division assists the staff with current and planned automated information systems (AIS), technology and office automation, and telecommunications, including hardware and software support, configuration control and management, requirements analysis and system analysis, design recommendations, and user training.[12]
The Security Division oversees and coordinates OPTEVFOR security policy and programs.[13]
The Surface Warfare Division is responsible for the planning and execution of operational test and evaluation (OT&E) activities of U. S. Navy surface ships and associated engineering, auxiliary, combat systems, and systems, as well as theU. S. Coast Guard'sDeepwater acquisition program.[14]
The Training Division provides general military and acquisition-specific training as well as that which is acquisition specific.[15]
Tests and evaluates all undersea warfare systems, including submarine, surface and aviation anti-submarine warfare and mine warfare systems.[16]
OPTEVFOR exercises operational control over four aircraft squadrons that conduct operational test and evaluation (OT&E) programs:
OPTEVFOR also maintains a detachment at theSPAWAR Systems Center Liaison Office at theSan Diego Naval Base,California.
The Operational Test and Evaluation Force (COMOPTEVFOR) islisted asTask Force 142 under theUnited States Fleet Forces Command. However OPTEVFOR is a direct report agency to theChief of Naval Operations.
