Testing Oversight
Operational Test and Evaluation Oversight--Improving But More Is Needed Gao ID: NSIAD-87-108BR March 18, 1987Pursuant to congressional requests, GAO reviewed Department of Defense (DOD) operational test and evaluation activities to identify which areas need emphasis on independent oversight.
GAO found that the Director, Operational Test and Evaluation (OT&E): (1) needed to improve the effectiveness of oversight activities, specifically actual on-site observations of operational tests, operational test analysis, and policy and procedural guidance; (2) observed only a limited number of operational tests performed on weapons systems; (3) was not fully aware of conditions or situations that influenced operational test results; (4) generally limited analyses of service operational tests to test reports rather than test results; and (5) did not provide uniform policy guidance or maintain reliable records pertaining to testing oversight and analyses of test results.