This management advisory identifies concerns found during the DoD Office of Inspector General’s “Evaluation of the DoD’s Development and Implementation of Quantum Technologies” (Project No. D2025-DEV0SI-0100.001). We previously provided copies of the draft management advisory and requested written comments on the recommendations. We considered management’s comments on the draft management advisory when preparing the final advisory. These comments are included in the advisory. The Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering agreed with the recommendation with comments for parts (c) and (d).
During our evaluation, we identified concerns related to the DoD’s implementation
of the FY 2019 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) requirement that directed
the Secretary of Defense to carry out a quantum information science and technology
research and development program (the DoD Quantum Information Science Program).1
Specifically, section 234 of the NDAA required the Secretary of Defense to act through
the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering to carry out and supervise
the planning, management, and coordination of the DoD Quantum Information Science
Program.2 To determine whether t he Office of t he Under Secretary of Defense for Research
and Engineering (OUSD[R&E]) complied with section 234 requirements, we interviewed
OUSD(R&E) personnel from the Quantum Science Office and analyzed documentary evidence
provided by stakeholders. We found that the OUSD(R&E) did not: (1) formalize the DoD
Quantum Information Science Program, (2) supervise stakeholders’ efforts, or (3) coordinate
a plan for meeting the program’s challenges, milestones, and technical goals, as required
by section 234 of the NDAA.