AFMC Position on Ada Law

AFMC Position on Ada Law

[Ken Garlington]

[I recently received this memo; thought it might be of interest.]


                                                         16 Jul 96
MEMORANDUM FOR HQ AFMC/ENPP

FROM: HQ AFMC/JAQ

SUBJECT: Ada and Public Law (Your Memo 11 Jul 96)

1. You asked for our advice on "whether the DoD's use of the computer language Ada is
still mandated by law." As set forth below, the law presently mandates that all DoD
software must be written in the programming language Ada _where cost effective_, unless
exempted by an official designated by the Secretary of Defense.

2. Section 9070 of the FY 1993 DoD Appropriations Act (Public Law 102-396) contains
legislation which is "permanent" (i.e., section 9070 remains in effect unless a new law
is enacted to specifically repeal or revise it).  This section states:

    Notwithstanding any other provision of law, after June 1991, where cost
    effective, all Department of Defense software shall be written in the
    programming language Ada, in the absence of special exemption by an
    official designated by the Secretary of Defense.

3. DoD policy requires that a waiver (or special exemption) be obtained when Ada is not
to be used for the programming language. A waiver need not be obtained for those
applications described in paragraph F2 of DoDD 3405.1, Computer Programming Language
Policy.

4. If you need more information, you can contact me at 7-5727.

                                         /signed/
                                         MARILYN CORBIN
                                         Attorney-Advisor
                                         Acquisition Law Directorate
                                         Office of the Staff Judge Advocate

[Attached to this memo was excerpts from the draft DoDD 3405.1 with details on
current policy.]

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