How should the Department of Defense define and operationalize civil support to defense activities (CSDA) to leverage interagency capabilities and resources effectively during homeland defense operations within the continental United States? This question explores the doctrinal, organizational, and procedural shifts required to implement a CSDA framework. Research should propose a formal definition for CSDA, contrasting it with the established defense support of civil authorities (DSCA) model.
It should also develop a standardized request mechanism, akin to a reverse request for assistance, to enable the Department of Defense to solicit specific capabilities from civil agencies. Key considerations include navigating disparate authorities, ensuring rapid resource allocation, and establishing unified Command and Control (C2) structures in a time-constrained environment in which interagency interoperability is paramount for a successful defense of the homeland.
To achieve this unified C2 architecture with civil agencies, what does Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2) mean for coalition and interagency partners? Furthermore, how can the Joint Force successfully address the classification and communication challenges of operations across domains with these interagency and coalition partners to ensure a successful defense of the homeland?
- Air Force Lessons Learned, "Dolittle Series 18: Multi-Domain Operations Wargame, 2018" Published as an AU Press LeMay Paper, 2019, 88 pgs.
- Babbitt, Major Kyle, "Joint All Domain Command and Control Will Fail If It Is Not Joint," Air Force Fellows Paper, 2022, 3 pgs.
- Church, Lt. Col. Marc L., "Congruent FMS and 10 USC 33 Strategy for USINDOPACOM," Regional Studies Paper, 2024, 6 pgs.
- DeStefano, Anthony M., "Unconventional Relationship: Preparing a Military Force to Work with Department of Justice Prosecutors to Fight Terrorism and Other National Security Issues," eSchool ACSC thesis, 2019, 61 pgs.
- Dorans, Maj. Larissa A., "Identifying Barriers to Empower Allies and Partners: What Are the Primary Barriers to Empowerment, Cooperation, and Interoperability for US Partners and Allies," AFGC thesis, 2025.
- The paper addresses the classification and integration challenges outlined in JADC2—Coalition and Interagency Partners (CSAF) by examining data access and information security as critical barriers to multinational command and control. Dorans highlights that the Department of Defense's strict security classification system, including need-to-know restrictions and Special Access Programs (SAPs), frequently delays or denies partner nations access to real-time operational data. The research answers how the Joint Force must address these challenges by pointing to the unprecedented success of rapid intelligence sharing during the Ukraine conflict, which bypassed traditional security limitations to enable predictive targeting and strategic narrative cohesion. Dorans concludes that adopting a more permissive, synchronized information-sharing model and developing standardized cyber doctrines are essential steps for the U.S. to empower coalition partners in digitally reliant, multidomain operational environments.
- Rachel, Lt. Col. Derek A., USAF "Make JFCC-ISR Great Again" AWC PSP, 2020, 17 pgs.
- Santostefano, Maj. Luke A., "C2ISR Doctrine: Modern Problems Require Modern Solutions," GCPME thesis, 2025, 42 pgs.