About the Office

Mission and Functions

The mission of the Privacy, Civil Liberties, and Freedom of Information Directorate (PCLFD) is to implement the Department of Defense's Privacy and Civil Liberties programs through advice, monitoring, official reporting, and training. The DPCLD is responsible for implementation of the Department of Defense (DoD) Privacy Program.

The Program is based on the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended (5 U.S.C. 552a), as implemented by Office of Management and Budget (OMB) (OMB Circular A-130) and DoD regulatory authority (DoD Directive 5400.11 and DoD 5400.11-R), and is intended to provide a comprehensive framework regulating how and when the Department collects, maintains, uses, or disseminates personal information on individuals. The purpose of the Program is to balance the information requirements and needs of the Department with the privacy interests and concerns of the individual.

In discharging this assigned responsibility, PCLFD performs multiple functions, to include:

  1. Developing policy, providing program oversight, and serving as the DoD focal point for Defense Privacy matters.
  2. Providing day-to-day policy guidance and assistance to the DoD Components in their implementation and execution of their Privacy Programs.
  3. Reviewing new and existing DoD policies which impact on the personal privacy of the individual.
  4. Reviewing, coordinating, and submitting for publication in the Federal Register Privacy Act system of records notices and Privacy Act rulemaking by the DoD Components.
  5. Developing and coordinating Privacy Act computer matching programs within the DoD Components and between the DoD Components and other Federal and State agencies.
  6. Providing administrative and operational support to the Defense Privacy Board, the Defense Data Integrity Board, and the Defense Privacy Board Legal Committee.