8 CONCLUSION

A recurring theme of this narrative has been the need to serve civilian users of navigation, timing, and positioning services while not compromising military priorities. The US Defense Department supports and manages GPS to provide military users with high-integrity, precise, and accurate signals. It also seeks to deny hostile forces or entities the means to use satellite signals for their own targeting or other military purposes. The initial model of civil-military use was anticipated from the start. Although the operation of the system is the responsibility of the Air Force, the current oversight of GPS is in the hands of a joint committee: the National Executive Committee for Space-Based Positioning, Navigation, and Timing. It is co-chaired by representatives from the Department of Defense and Department of Transportation, with members from seven other federal agencies or departments that have an interest in the system.
1
It reports directly to the White House. The executive committee is a descendent of an Interagency GPS Executive Board, which President Clinton established in 1996, shortly after GPS became fully operational.