DLA's 60th Anniversary

Forged by History, Focused on the Future

In 1961, the Defense Logistics Agency was created to build and sustain the logistics system of the future, and this critical work continues today. Over the last six decades, DLA established a strong reputation for service to the warfighter – maintaining and enhancing readiness; and value to the nation – leveraging unique capabilities to support growing whole-of-government mission with efficiencies and cost-effectiveness.

Explore the agency's history page and the resources here to see DLA’s legacy to provide quality, proactive global logistics at the right time, at the right place and at right cost.

Interested in an in-depth look at DLA's history throughout the decades? Follow along with the photos and narrative in "Effectiveness and Efficiency: DLA’s 60-Year Quest to Perfect Supply Chain Management."

Effectiveness and Efficiency (PDF)

Articles

Enterprisewide | Jan. 13, 2022

Documentary showcases DLA’s 60 years as DOD logistics provider

A new 30-minute documentary proves wrong the early skeptics who thought a largely civilian organization could never handle the challenge of consolidating supplies and logistics services for the entire Defense Department.

Information Operations | Nov. 22, 2021

DLA 60th Anniversary: Employee Spotlight, Paula Ritorto

DLA is celebrating 60 years of logistics support since it was created Oct. 1, 1961. The theme is “Forged by History, Focused on the Future.” In this story, we highlight DLA Information Operations employee Paula Ritorto who has been with the agency

Enterprisewide | Nov. 19, 2021

DLA unifies, polishes its reputation in the 2010s

This is the final in a series of seven articles “Celebrating 60 years” and highlighting DLA’s support to America’s military since the agency was created Oct. 1, 1961.

See more 60th Anniversary stories

Learn more about the agency's 60-year story as told by organizations across DLA. Take a look at the latest news here, or browse the full list of 60th anniversary articles. Interested in diving deeper into a particular aspect of DLA's history? See the list below to choose a part of the agency and read more.

Infographics

Click an image to see more in a new window

DLA Disposition Services

DLA Energy

DLA Land and Maritime

DLA Distribution

An infographic shows how information has been stored at DLA throughout the decades, including punchcards, magnetic tape, several disks, and cloud storage

Data storage throughout the years

Videos

View all of DLA's 60th anniversary videos here, or find a playlist from the drop-down list above the main video player to see a specific video series

Video by Nutan Chada

Player Embed Code:

DLA 60th Anniversary Shout Out: Vickie Rodgers, DLA Disposition Services

Defense Logistics Agency
Sept. 3, 2021 | 0:27

Vickie Rodgers, DLA Disposition Services, sends a shout out to DLA for the 60th Anniversary.

Quizzes

Oct. 13, 2021

Current DLA Troop Support Efforts

Have you already aced the quiz about DLA Troop Support's history? But how much do you know about what DLA Troop Support has been up to recently?

Aug. 27, 2021

What Is Demilitarization (DEMIL)

The DEMIL process is required to prevent property from being used for its originally intended purpose and to prevent the release of inherent design information that could be used against the United States.DLA provides direct support to the US warfighter by coordinating long-term management solutions with Defense Department counterparts and ensuring compliant processing of controlled and DEMIL-required property worldwide.

Aug. 10, 2021

DLA Troop Support History

How much do you know about DLA Troop Support? Test your knowledge about the organization's more than 200 years of history.

June 8, 2021

The Elk of Defense Supply Center Richmond

Did you know that DLA Aviation’s headquarters is located on Defense Supply Center Richmond, Virginia? In their 100-plus-year residence at DSCR, the Bellwood elk have garnered worldwide attention. Their first foray into the national spotlight came after The Saturday Evening Post ran a story titled “The Elk That Joined the Army.”

June 16, 2021

DLA Aviation supports more than 1,800 weapon systems – Can you identify these aircraft? Don’t overthink it, just keep it plane and simple.

A major subordinate command of the Defense Logistics Agency, DLA Aviation is the aviation demand and supply chain manager for DLA and much of the Defense Department. Employing more than 4,000 civilian and military personnel in 18 locations across the United States. DLA Aviation supports more than 1,800 weapon systems and is the U.S. military’s integrated materiel manager for more than 1.2 million national stock number items, industrial retail supply and depot-level repairable acquisitions.