About the Office

Mission and Functions

The mission of the Oversight and Compliance Directorate (O&CD) is to enable the DoW mission through privacy and civil liberties protection, transparency, and independent, objective oversight.

The Privacy and Civil Liberties Division, (PCLD) is one of four directorates within O&CD.  The Privacy and Civil Liberties Division is responsible for the DoW Privacy and Civil Liberties Programs.

The mission of PCLD is to deliver the Department of War’s (DoW) guidance and direction to strengthen privacy and civil liberties protections throughout the DoW.

Per the statutory requirements under Section 803 of Public Law 110-53, "Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007", the DoW Privacy and Civil Liberties Programs have five operational objectives:

  • Provide policy advice to assist the Secretary and other DoW officials in appropriately considering privacy and civil liberties concerns when proposing, developing, or implementing laws, regulations, policies, procedures, or guidelines related to DoW's missions.
  • Facilitate the Department's periodic assessment of its regulations, policies, procedures, and guidelines to ensure that privacy and civil liberties concerns are adequately considered.
  • Ensure that DoW has adequate procedures to receive, investigate, respond to, and redress complaints from individuals who allege DoW has violated their privacy or civil liberties.
  • Raise the Department's awareness of privacy and civil liberties concerns by developing privacy and civil liberties training modules and facilitating appropriate training throughout DoW.
  • Maintain a transparent relationship with the public to communicate the role that privacy and civil liberties play in DoW's missions.