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Office of Net Assessment

{{Short description|Department of Defense threat assessment group}}

The Office of Net Assessment{{cite web|url=https://worldview.stratfor.com/article/net-assessment-united-states|title=Net Assessment: United States|website=Worldview.stratfor.com|access-date=26 March 2019}} (ONA) was an agency of the United States Department of Defense created in 1973 by Richard Nixon to serve as the Pentagon's "internal think tank" that "looks 20 to 30 years into the military's future, often with the assistance of outside contractors, and produces reports on the results of its research".{{cite news|title=Director of Net Assessment|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/director-of-net-assessment/gIQAMsUC5O_topic.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131110183704/http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/director-of-net-assessment/gIQAMsUC5O_topic.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=10 November 2013|newspaper=Washington Post|access-date=17 March 2014}} It was abolished by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth in 2025.{{Cite web |last=Insinna |first=Valerie |date=2025-03-13 |title=Hegseth 'disestablishing' Office of Net Assessment, Pentagon's strategic analysis specialists |url=https://breakingdefense.com/2025/03/hegseth-orders-disestablishing-of-office-of-net-assesment/ |access-date=2025-03-14 |website=Breaking Defense |language=en-US}}

Function

According to Defense Directive 5111.11, the Director shall develop and coordinate net assessments of the standing, trends, and future prospects of U.S. military capabilities and military potential in comparison with those of other countries or groups of countries in order to identify emerging or future threats or opportunities for the United States.Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC), [https://web.archive.org/web/20110322204904/http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/corres/pdf/511111p.pdf "Defense Directive 5111.11"], December 23, 2009.{{cite web|url=http://odam.defense.gov/omp/pubs/GuideBook/DNA.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100828031013/http://odam.defense.gov/omp/pubs/GuideBook/DNA.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=28 August 2010|title=Director of Net Assessment|date=28 August 2010|access-date=26 March 2019}} Paul Bracken explains that it is important to have a good grasp of net assessment because it is an "important part of the language spoken by leaders in the higher levels of DOD" and officers who lack familiarity "will be at a disadvantage in communicating with the civilian leadership".{{cite journal|last=Bracken|first=Paul|title=Net Assessment: A Practical Guide|journal=Parameters|volume=36|date=Spring 2006|pages=90–100|url=http://strategicstudiesinstitute.army.mil/pubs/parameters/articles/06spring/bracken.pdf|author-link=Paul Bracken|access-date=2014-03-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180830142229/http://strategicstudiesinstitute.army.mil/pubs/parameters/articles/06spring/bracken.pdf|archive-date=2018-08-30|url-status=dead}}

List of directors

The Director of Net Assessment was the principal staff assistant and advisor to the Secretary and Deputy Secretary of Defense on net assessment. Andrew Marshall was named its first director, a position he continued to hold under succeeding administrations.{{cite news|last=Whitlock|first=Craig|title=Yoda still standing: Office of Pentagon futurist Andrew Marshall, 92, survives budget ax | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/yoda-still-standing-office-of-pentagon-futurist-andrew-marshall-92-survives-budget-ax/2013/12/04/df99b3c6-5d24-11e3-be07-006c776266ed_story.html|newspaper=Washington Post|date=December 4, 2013}} In October 2014, Marshall announced plans to retire in January 2015.{{Cite web |url=http://www.defensenews.com/article/20141017/DEFREG02/310170029/Marshall-Retire-From-Net-Assessment-Office-January |title=Marshall to Retire from Net Assessment Office in January | Defense News | defensenews.com |access-date=2014-10-20 |archive-date=2014-10-23 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20141023165331/http://www.defensenews.com/article/20141017/DEFREG02/310170029/Marshall-Retire-From-Net-Assessment-Office-January |url-status=dead }} He was replaced by Jim Baker in May 2015.{{cite web|url=https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/605502/dod-announces-appointment-of-james-baker-as-director-of-the-office-of-net-asses/|title=DoD Announces Appointment of James Baker as Director of the Office of|website=U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE|access-date=26 March 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www.linkedin.com/in/jim-baker-a616a96|title=Jim Baker, Director of the Office of Net Assessment |website=Linkedin.com|access-date=26 March 2019}}

Notable staff

Staff members have included:

References

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Category:United States Department of Defense agencies

Category:Military units and formations established in 1973

Category:1973 establishments in Washington, D.C.

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Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 2025

Category:2025 disestablishments in Washington, D.C.