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41 

 Appendix IV.B. 



Title: MEDEA: Scientific Utility of Naval Oceanographic Data 



Issue: What is the quality of Navy held classified /unclassified data sets and modeled data, ' 

 and what is its civil utility? 



Relevance: By increasing access to Navy's vast global ocean data, it is possible to gain new 

 knowledge about ocean processes with utility for the Navy and civilian concerns. The review 

 resulting from this partnership could also serve to verify or modify the Navy's ocean data 

 collection and management skill. 



Background and Approach: Building on the bi-partisan Environmental Task Force (ETF) 

 experience of 1992, the Commaiider Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command asked 

 the ETF successor group, MEDEA, to review Navy data and model holdings for quality and 

 civilian utility. A report of their findings was published in July 1995. The approach used was 

 modeled on ETF s review of reconnaissance satellite imagery. Twelve scientists from academia 

 and industry were cleared to see Navy classified data. They reviewed the data at Navy's three 

 oceanographic production/archival centers together with Naval officers and civilians. The 

 final report, the product of the MEDEA panel, made judgments on data and data management 

 quality, recommendations on data declassification and recommendations for subsequent Navy- 

 civilian partnerships. 



Partners: Navy, academia, industry. Central Intelligence Agency 



Motivating Factors: To potentially increase oceanographic knowledge for Navy and civilian 

 purposes by making vast new data sources available to the nation's scientists, assuming some 

 part of the classified data could be declassified. The motivating philosophy of the study was: 

 "security through achievement, not concealment". 



Products: An in-depth review which validated the quality of Navy data; a report which lays 

 out a list of data sets with civilian utility; re-established long dormant ties between Navy's 

 operational oceanographers and the nation's top civilian research oceanographers. 



Impact: The real impact on scientific knowledge is yet to be seen and will in part be based on 

 Navy declassification actions over the next year or two. However, closer ties and great 

 understanding between the Navy and civilian oceanographers has already accrued. 



Lessons Learned: Such experiences carmot be so successfully completed without strong 

 commitment of both sides. Top quality people, compensated for their time, guarantees a good 

 product. 



