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C 0 P .Y 

THE DEPUTY SECRETARY OF DEFENSE 

WASHINGTON 25, D. C. 

25 JAN 1965 

MEMORANDUM FOR UNDER SECRETARY OF THE AIR FORCE 

SUBJECT: MOD Management 

Reference: (a) Ltt to Dr. Seamans frm Dr. Brown dtd 

11 Jan. 65 

A recent classified memorandum from your office described 

your management plan, for the. MOD program. I can see no 

objection from the viewpoint of OSD to your intended 

arrangements as a-methodof proceeding with the early 

stages of the program during the next several months and 

the olan seems compatibleiwith,thetbjectives outlined 

in my rremoranclum of 4 January 1965. 

In continuing MOL-related transactions .with NASA during. _ 

the period, I believe it is,important,that you have 

.freedom of executive. Aotion,and I note'that the plan so 

permits. 

As an aid during the' current series of studies and 

planning activities, the DDR&E staff are prepared to 

participate to the extent you consider detirable.as 

individual problems,arise:! 

DDR&E responSibilities•during -this period may be handled 

by the usual procedures of review at,the appropriate, 

times as outlinedjii,Ref-.- .(a), 

/Signed 

CYRUS R. VANCE 

DM/CRAP: A iT 3 YOB! INTVIVA14 

DECLAS$MEU trtelt le YtAill, 

DOD CIR AB00,10 
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.. . ., ...1: ,1 DEPARTMENT OF THE MR FORCE 

• ,---- - ..._. WASHINGTON . 

e•Ficr.: OF 11.1::. LINDIZR SZCRZTARY 

_ • • , 

;r:im 

14 JAN V3 

MEMORANDUM FOR THE DEPUTY SECRETARY OF DEFENSE 

SUBJECT: MOL Management 

REFERENCES: 1. Memo for SAFUS from DDR&E, subject: Manned 

Orbital Laboratory, dated 4 January 1965 

2. Memo for SAFUS from DepSecDef, subject: MCI, 

Management;•dated 7 January 1965 

It is.the purpose of this memorandum to describe to you 

the Air Force plan for management of the MOL program. The 

- . attached chart depicts the principal elements and lines of 

organization which will be discussed-in some detail. Our 

..objective has been .to define a management concept which provideS for the following: - 

- 1. - Streamlined management for both black .and white portions. 

of - the program. 

. . 

2. Centralized program direction, for both black and white 

portions of the program. 

3. Firm management control and continuous review of the 

.programat the Secretary of the. Air Force level. 

4. Effective coordination, with NASA and other Government 

agencies at the Secretary of the Air Force level. 

The attached chart depicts an interim organizational 

- structure for the critical- study phase between now and 1May1965. 

he following. describes,the principal 'elements of the chart, Ex.d.• 

defines the assignment-of the management responsibilities for 

the study phase. . 

• 

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Executive management of the MOL program is assigned to the 

Under Secretary of the Air Force. The Under Secretary will be 

the principal program manager during the critical phase between 

nox,7 and the 15 May MOL program review requested in reference (1). 

In this period all program decisions on the initiation, timing, 

and phasing of all study contracts will be made by SAFUS/DNRO. 

Development of and consolidation of program documents and development plans in response to the guidance in reference (1) will be 

closely monitored and reviewed by SAFUS prior to approval and 

presentation of the proposed MOL program on 15 May. The Under 

Secretary will also provide for. liaison and informal contacts 

with NASA to facilitate the exchange of information and requirements previdusly agreedoto. 

MOL Committee 

The MOL Committee' will be constituted as shown. It will 

function as an Air Force "Boad of Directors" for the management 

of the MOL program and will conduct, in depth, periodic program 

reviews of the status and progress achieved in preparing the 

proposed MOL program development plan. By the conduct of such 

reviews the Chief 'of Staff with hii principal staff assistant, 

DCS/R&D can provide, on 'a timely basis, his views, experience 

and guidance to the overall direction of the program. The Office 

of the Special Assistant for MOL will provide the Secretariat 

function. 

Special Assistant for MOL 

This individual.is the principal staff agent to assist 

SAFUS in carrying out-the objectives of the MOL program. He is, 

at the same time, the principal operating agent in AFSC for 

directing the execution of. the MOL.program. This duality is 

accomplished by providing him with two positions. He will be.: 

assigned as a Deputy for MOL to the Commander of AFSC and .will 

be designated by Secretary of the Air Force Order as the 

Assistant for MOL toOSAF. In his AFSC capacity, he will have 

an office from which he can direct and.supervise the support Of 

and resources.of the Systems-Command. In his OSAF. capacity, 

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he will have an office from which he can effect the staff 

support actions necessary to insure effective management and 

support of the program. His office will provide a focal point 

for timely program status information available in a comprehensive 

form for °SAS and OSD.review. This office will also serve as 

the secretariat to the MOL Committee. Of particular importance, 

he will consolidate the white'and black aspects of the program 

into a cohesive effort. The'Special Assistant will have direct 

channels to SAFUS, pcs/R&D, Commander AFSC, SSD, DCAISF(SSD), 

and SAFSP. The DCS/R&D willbe responsible for bringing to 

the Air Staff those matters in connection with the program 

that require the Attention of the functional staff. 

Functional Channels 

. MOL activities will be conducted in both black and white. 

channels. The black activities, covering the studies and 

developments in the reconnaissance payload area, will be handled 

under a special code word classification, DORIAN, and these 

activities will be covered by a detailed security plan 

established by SAFUS. Management of these activities will be 

handled by the DNRO directly through NRO channels to SAFSP. 

All program decisions will be made by the DNRO with assistance 

from the Special Assistant for MOL, .The white activities will 

not be specially'classified and will include the booster, the 

spacecraft, the laboratory, and most payloads related 'to the 

secondary and tertiary program objectives, as outlined in 

reference (1). The white activities will be handled through 

' Air Force channels, with some deparlares from the normal 

practices.. The MOL program will be exempted from the 375 AF 

f Regulatien Series and the DSMG. 'Specific procedures that will 

'be used will be reviewed and approved by the MOL Committee, 

$ 'In the interim period we are in, SAFUS will provide direction 

to AFSC via the Chief of Staff to implement the white portions 

of the program. The Chief of Staff responsibility will be 

nominal in these matters since he and DCS/R&D will be members 

.of the MOL Committee and the DCS/R&D will have day-to-day . 

functional contact with the Office of the Special Assistant 

for MOL. 

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Other Echelons. 

1. Commander,.AFSC, is assigned management responsibility 

for the white aspects of the program. The Special Assistant 

for MOL will be responsible for keeping the Commander, AFSC, 

informed of the conduct of the total program, and will, in his. - 

Deputy for MOL capacity, execute the field management of the 

white portions of the MOL program. •• 

2. Commander, SSD, Will assume normal command responsibilities. The Deputy Commander of Manned Space Flight (SSD) will 

establish the position of DepUty for Payloads and Test Plans 

• as a Provisional.SPO to perform the day-to-day.management of 

the white'aspects of the program, in addition to duties in 

connection with black. responsibilities Outlined below. . 

3. SAFSP is assigned - management responsibility for the . 

black aspects,-• including special payload studies and payload 

test plans. • In this'capacity, SAFSP, as Deputy Commander, SSD 

for•Space will have directive control over the DC/MSFand the. 

Deputy for Payloads andTest:Plans.-.'• In addition, SAFSP will. be 

responsible, for procurement,and:security related to special 

payloads-. 

4. SAFSP will establish' a Special Payload office to handle 

the day-to-day management of payload studies and. test plans. -

This office•will work on a day-to-day basis with the Deputy for 

Payloads and Test Plans in, connection with the Special.Payloads. 

All-of - the outlined procedures.and concepts have been -

Subject to thorough discUssion-with the principals involved in -

order to achieve a set of procedures which would achieve our mange 

ment objectives. The management plan will be further addressed in • 

our preliminarypresentation:scheduled --oJ_ 16 January. 

••; 

Inclosure 

Organization Chart 

cc: Secretary of Defense' 

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