This report formally transmits the attached briefing in response to section 343(a) of The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 (Pub. L. No. 111-84). The Act requires the Comptroller General to provide a report on the sustainment strategy for the AV-8B Harrier aircraft and provide the results to the congressional defense committees no later than 180 days after the enactment of the Act. On April 26, 2010, we provided the briefing to your offices to satisfy the mandate.

Because the AV-8B Harrier aircraft sustainment strategy does not detail how the Navy will measure the execution of all the responsibilities of the organizations accountable for coordinating AV-8B maintenance events, the Single Process Owners; we are recommending that the Navy develop and implement metrics for evaluating the execution of all the stated Single Process Owners' responsibilities. A draft was sent to the Department of Defense and no comments were provided.

Status Legend:

Review Pending-GAO has not yet assessed implementation status.

Open-Actions to satisfy the intent of the recommendation have not been taken or are being planned, or actions that partially satisfy the intent of the recommendation have been taken.

Closed-implemented-Actions that satisfy the intent of the recommendation have been taken.

Closed-not implemented-While the intent of the recommendation has not been satisfied, time or circumstances have rendered the recommendation invalid.

• Review Pending
• Open
• Closed - implemented
• Closed - not implemented

Recommendation for Executive Action

Recommendation: To properly evaluate the execution of all the Single Process Owners' stated responsibilities in coordinating the AV-8B PMI-2/3 workload, the Secretary of Defense should direct the Secretary of the Navy to develop and implement additional metrics for evaluating each of the Single Process Owners' stated responsibilities and incorporate these metrics in the AV-8B Performance Based Agreement.

Agency Affected: Department of Defense

Status: Review Pending

Comments: When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.