Navy CIO 'recognizes the importance of OSS to the warfighter'

John Weathersby, executive director of the Open Source Software Institute, told Linux.com today that, effective immediately, the Department of the Navy has adopted a new policy which requires that open source software must be considered in every software acquisition the Navy makes.

Department of the Navy CIO Robert J. Carey signed a memorandum (pdf download) today entitled "DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE GUIDANCE" which first notes that misconceptions about whether or not open source software qualifies as COTS (commercial off-the-shelf) or GOTS (government off-the-shelf) software has hindered the Navy's ability to fully utilize open source software.

The new guidance memo unequivocally states that the Navy will now "treat OSS as COTS when it meets the definition of a commercial item" in an enclosure to the memorandum. The enclosure offers several definitions, the first of which follows:

(A) Any item, other than real property, which is of a type customarily usedby the general public or by nongovernmental entities for purposes other thangovernmental purposes, and that (i) has been sold, leased, or licensed to the general public; or (ii) has been offered for sale, lease, or license to the general public.

Weathersby notes on the OSSI website that "The 'User Guidance Memorandum' is the first in a series of guidance documents to be developed by the DON (Department of the Navy) to address issues regarding 'Users' of open source software within all Navy IT systems." He added that "Future guidance memorandums will address 'development' and 'distribution' issues regarding open source within Navy IT environments."

The working group included representatives from the Navy, Marine Corps, the IT Industry, vendors, and the open source community. Weathersby was a part of that working group and said, “It was truly a group effort, but as a representative of the Open Source Community and commercial IT industry, I offer the men and women who worked on this project a sincere and heartfelt thanks and a special recognition for their vision, fortitude, and leadership.”

Bravo Zulu, DONCIO!