Department of Defense
DIRECTIVE
NUMBER 3100.16
January 26, 2009
Incorporating Change 1, May 8, 2017
USD(P)
SUBJECT: DoD Management of Space Professional Development
References: Enclosure 1
1. PURPOSE. This Directive:
a. Pursuant to the authorities provided in DoD Directive (DoDD) 5101.02E (Reference (a)),
establishes policy and assigns responsibilities for managing and providing oversight of a cadre of
DoD space professionals (military and civilian) expert in space planning, programming,
acquisition, operations, requirements, science and technology, research and development, and
other space-related support disciplines.
b. In accordance with U.S. Government Accountability Office Report to Congressional
Committees GAO-05-833 (Reference (b)), establishes a focused management approach for a
cadre of DoD space professionals by:
(1) Institutionalizing management authorities and responsibilities for the cadre of DoD
space professionals.
(2) Assisting the Military Departments in developing appropriate performance measures
and an evaluation plan to measure DoD progress in integrating and developing its cadre of space
professionals.
(3) Monitoring Military Departments’ progress and providing periodic reports to senior
DoD leadership.
2. APPLICABILITY. This Directive applies to OSD, the Military Departments, the Office of
the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Joint Staff, the Combatant Commands, the
Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Defense, the Defense Agencies, the DoD
Field Activities, and all other organizational entities in the Department of Defense (hereafter
collectively referred to as the “DoD Components”). The term “Military Services,” as used
herein, refers to the Army, the Navy, the Air Force, and the Marine Corps.
