National Missile Defense Contingency Deployment.

The author feels it is time to start identifying who is to operate the National Missile Defense (NMD) System, and to provide a small cadre with facilities at or near the treaty compliant Anti Ballistic Missile site. The authority to accomplish this is under the purview of the Director, Ballistic Missile Defense Organization (BMDD). The paper includes justification for a 'pathfinder' deployment concept tied to current strategy, cost tradeoff, and operational user involvement. The major objective is to reduce the amount of time it takes to deploy a NMD contingency deployment.The goal is to accomplish and fulfill the BMDD vision for an emergency deployment within two years. Actual expense for the 'pathfinder' concept is not a consideration at this time other than to minimize the costs prior to a deployment decision. The recommendation is to approve resources to allow development of the emergency deployment concept. (KAR) P. 3