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Explanation of Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) acronyms and their definitions. Also refer to Total Quality Management, Star Wars, Space Based Interceptor, SBI, program office, commander, Space Systems Division, SSD, Air force Systems Command, AFSC, Pentagon, President Ronald Reagan, politics, Soviets, USSR, Russians, defensive shield, Ron Kurtus, School for Champions. Copyright © Restrictions
Strategic Defense Initiative Glossary of Terms
by Ron Kurtus (2 November 1998)
The military is extremely fond of using acronyms, especially concerning technical programs.
The following is a list of acronyms and definitions used by the Air Force Systems Command (AFSC) concerning the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI). This is a useful reference when dealing with SDI documents.
AD |
Armament Division (AFSC) |
AEDC |
Arnold Engineering Development Center (AFSC) |
AFATL |
Air Force Armament Laboratory (AFSC) |
AFGL |
Air Force Geophysics Laboratory (AFSC) |
AFOSR |
Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFSC) |
AFR |
Air Force Regulation |
AFRPL |
Air Force Rocket Propulsion Laboratory (AFSC) |
AFSC |
Air Force Systems Command |
AFSCR |
AFSC Regulation |
AFSTC |
Air Force Space Technology Center |
AFWAL |
Air Force Wright Aeronautical Laboratories (AFSC) |
AFWL |
Air Force Weapons Laboratory (AFSC) |
AMO |
Aerospace Medical Division (AFSC) |
APO |
Associate Product Division |
ASD |
Aeronautical Systems Division (AFSC) |
ATC |
Associate Technology Center/Laboratory |
BMO |
Ballistic Missile Office (AFSC) |
CC |
Commander |
CV |
Vice Commander |
C3 |
Command, Control, Communications |
D&F |
Determination and Finding |
DARPA |
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DOD) |
DCS |
Deputy Chief of Staff |
DEW |
Directed Energy Weapons |
DNA |
Defense Nuclear Agency (DOD) |
DOD |
Department of Defense |
DOE |
Department of Energy |
DSDIO |
Director, SDIO |
ESO |
Electronic Systems Division (AFSC) |
FTD |
Foreign Technology Division (AFSC) |
HO |
Headquarters |
IAW |
In Accordance With |
IPD |
Integrating Product Division |
KEW |
Kinetic Energy Weapons |
LEO |
Lead Execution Organization |
LPD |
Lead Product Division |
LTC |
Lead Technology Center |
MAJCOM |
Major USAF Command |
MOA |
Memorandum of Agreement |
MWPOR |
Monthly WPD Report |
NASA |
National Aeronautics and Space Administration |
PDP |
Program Decision Package |
PE |
Program Element |
PEO |
Participating Execution Organization |
PMD |
Program Management Directive |
POM |
Program Objective Memorandum |
RADC |
Rome Air Development Center (AFSC) |
RD&A |
Research, Development and Acquisition |
SA/BM |
Systems Analysis and Battle Management |
SATKA |
Surveillance, Acquisition, Tracking, Kill Assessment |
SD |
Space Division (AFSC) |
SDI |
Strategic Defense Initiative |
SDIO |
SDI Organization (DOD) |
SLKT |
Survivability, Lethality and Key Technologies |
TPP |
Technical Program Plan |
USAF |
United States Air Force |
WPD |
Work Package Directive |
Summary
From this list of acronyms, you can get a good idea of the projects and areas of interest for the AFSC on SDI. Anyone doing business in or with the military on such a program is wise to learn these acronyms. It is "speaking the same language."
Questions you may consider:
- Do people involved lose the meaning of the items when they are using such acronyms?
- What does using so many acronyms do for effective communication?
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Resources
The following are some resources on this topic.
Websites
History of the Missile Defense Organization - U.S. Department of Defense
The Strategic Defense Initiative - political risks - From Air University Review 1985
Books
2001 Ballistic Missile Defense and SDI: Today's U.S. Military "Star Wars" Program - Interceptors, Space Systems, Missile Threats, SDI History, Cox China Report by World Spaceflight News; Progressive Management (2001) $20.95 (CD-ROM)
Dictionary of SDI by Harry Waldman; Scholarly Resources (1988) $65.00
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SDI Glossary of Terms