Strategic Defense Initiative Glossary of Terms
About 2 min read
(updated 31 May 2023)
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 and references
Websites
History of the Missile Defense Organization – U.S. Department of Defense
The Strategic Defense Initiative – political risks – From Air University Review 1985