II.

Management and Purpose of GPS

GPS, formally known as the Navstar Global Positioning System, is operated and maintained by the United States Department of Defense. The National Space-Based Position, Navigation, and Timing Executive Committee manages GPS. The deputy secretaries of the Departments of Defense and Transportation lead the committee, which has a permanent staff that is responsible for the development of GPS.

GPS was initiated in 1973 to reduce the proliferation of navigation aids. By overcoming the limitations of many existing navigation systems, GPS became attractive to a broad spectrum of users. It was initially used as a navigational aid by military ground, sea, and air forces. In more recent years, GPS has been used by civilians in many new ways, such as in automobile and boat navigation, hiking, emergency rescue, and precision agriculture and mining.