SECRETARY
OF
DEFENSE
1000
DEFENSE
PENTAGON
WASHINGTON
,
DC
20301
-
1000
AUG
1 8
2018
MEMORANDUM FOR CHIEF MANAGEMENT OFFICER OF THE DEPARTMENT OF
DEFENSE
SECRETARIES OF THE MILITARY DEPARTMENTS
CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF
UNDER SECRET ARIES OF DEFENSE
CHIEF OF THE NATIONAL GUARD BUREAU
COMMANDERS OF THE COMBATANT COMMANDS
GENERAL COUNSEL OF THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
INSPECTOR GENERAL OF THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER OF THE DEPARTMENT
OF DEFENSE
ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE FOR LEGISLATIVE
AFFAIRS
ASSISTANT TO THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE FOR PUBLIC
AFFAIRS
DIRECTORS OF THE DEFENSE AGENCIES
DIRECTORS OF THE DOD FIELD ACTIVITIES
SENIOR INTELLIGENCE OVERSIGHT OFFICER
SUBJECT: Guidance for the Domestic Use
of
Unmanned Aircraft Systems in
U.S.
National
Airspace
This policy memorandum provides guidance for the domestic
1
use
of
Department
of
Defense (DoD) unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) in U.S. National Airspace to ensure that such
use is in accordance with U.S. law and DoD policy. Policy Memorandum 15-002, "Guidance
for the Domestic Use
of
Unmanned Aircraft Systems," February 17, 2015 is hereby rescinded .
. This guidance implements measures identified in
DoD's
efficiency and effectiveness
review
of
domestic use
of
DoD UAS. The revisions in this memorandum streamline the
approval process for domestic use. Changes are as follows:
(
1)
Delegating authority to approve the domestic employment
of
smaller U AS
2
to the
Secretaries
of
the Military Departments;
(2) Authorizing the Geographic Combatant Commanders to approve the domestic use
of
smaller UAS in support
of
Force Protection and Defense Support
of
Civil
Authorities Incident Awareness and Assessment, and;
(3) Authorizing State Governors to approve State National Guard use
of
smaller UAS
1
The term "domestic" means any State
of
the United States, the District
of
Columbia, the Commonwealth
of
Puerto
Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth
of
the Northern Mariana Islands, any
possession
of
the United States, and the territorial sea and internal waters
of
the United States.
2
Smaller UAS" include those UAS
in
Category Groups 1 through
3.
Joint Publication 3-30, as amended, Command
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