Office of Verification Operations (VCI/VO)
Mission Statement
The Office of Verification Operations (VO) provides network and data management support using leading-edge information technology and telecommunications for the three bureaus -- International Security and Nonproliferation (ISN), Political-Military Affairs (PM), and Verification, Compliance, and Implementation (VCI) -- reporting to the Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security. VO is charged with maintaining the congressionally mandated U.S. Government (USG) historical archive of all negotiation records for arms control, nonproliferation, and disarmament treaties and agreements, as well as the on-line database of treaty-specific data exchanges required under those agreements.
VO works closely with a wide-variety of program offices within the three T bureaus fulfilling unique program-specific services and tools, and is a significant leader within the Department for researching and initiating prototype and niche projects, including machine translation, videoconferencing at all classification levels, and development and implementation of collaboration efforts within the Department and with other agencies.
VO provides specialized project management, software development and helpdesk support to PM’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (PM/DDTC) and maintains numerous applications and databases ranging in complexity from managing Diplomatic Overflight Requests, to budget tracking for Science Centers, to tracking Inspection Teams under the Chemical Weapons Convention.
The VO Office ensures all systems are configured and maintained in accordance with Federal and Department guidelines, providing information systems security officers who monitor user activities and provide user security awareness training. All network hardware and software acquisitions for the three bureaus are done through VO as well as all IT asset management.
The VO Office interacts with data experts from relevant USG agencies, particularly the Intelligence Community, and multilateral treaty-specific organizations to achieve its mission in the following representative areas:
- Ensuring timely, comprehensive and accurate access to treaty-specific data in support of verification, compliance, and implementation.
- Providing policy makers and interagency partners with access to state-of-the-art IT tools to facilitate the department’s broader mission.
- Providing expertise to multilateral arms control forums to foster understanding of IT governance and IT security as related to data management.
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