United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 2007-05-21 monographic deposited born digital 13 p. GA 1.13:GAO-07-803R https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-07-803R P0b002ee180388a60 f:d07803r DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-24 GAOREPORTS-GAO-07-803R machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-GAO-07-803R GAO-07-803R Base realignments Cost analysis Defense cost control Defense procurement Facility transfer Military facilities Military forces National defense operations Reporting requirements Risk assessment Security assessments Strategic planning Cost estimates Cheyenne Mountain (WY) Correspondence A69806 The Department of Defense (DOD) built the Cheyenne Mountain Operations Center located near Colorado Springs, Colorado, in the early 1960s to withstand a multimegaton-yield-weapon strike and to provide protection against chemical and biological warfare. The mission of the Cheyenne Mountain Directorate is to monitor, process, and interpret air, missile, and space events that could threaten North America or have operational effects on U.S. forces or capabilities. This mission is conducted at five major centers--the Command Center, Air Warning, Missile Correlation, Operations Intelligence Watch, and Space Control--all currently located within Cheyenne Mountain. Elements of United States Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) and Air Force Space Command are also located in Cheyenne Mountain. The Air Force's modernization of the attack warning systems within Cheyenne Mountain will cost more than $700 million from fiscal years 2000 through 2006. DOD officials have stated that they no longer need to continue operating in this hardened facility considering that the threat of an intercontinental ballistic missile strike in today's environment is low. In July 2006, the former Commander of NORAD and USNORTHCOM announced plans to move certain functions from Cheyenne Mountain and create an integrated command center at Peterson Air Force Base, which he projected at that time would save between $150 million and $200 million per year. Additionally, USSTRATCOM announced plans to relocate its missile warning mission from Cheyenne Mountain to Schriever Air Force Base, Colorado, and Air Force Space Command is in the process of moving the Space Control Center from Cheyenne Mountain to Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and USNORTHCOM officials told us that after these functions have been moved, Cheyenne Mountain will be used as an alternate command center, a continuity of operations relocation facility, and a training center. You asked us to determine (1) the estimated costs, savings, and benefits associated with moving functions from Cheyenne Mountain to other locations; and (2) how DOD evaluated the security implications associated with moving the functions, and what these implications are. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-07-803R/html/GAOREPORTS-GAO-07-803R.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-07-803R/pdf/GAOREPORTS-GAO-07-803R.pdf GAO-07-803R https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-07-803R Correspondence GAO-07-803R; Defense Infrastructure: Full Costs and Security Implications of Cheyenne Mountain Realignment Have Not Been Determined; Base realignments Cost analysis Defense cost control Defense procurement Facility transfer Military facilities Military forces National defense operations Reporting requirements Risk assessment Security assessments Strategic planning Cost estimates Cheyenne Mountain (WY)