The Defense Logistics Agency has partnered with III Marine Expeditionary Force engineers to accelerate the development of next-generation airfield damage repair materials in a strategic effort to enhance operational readiness.

This collaboration is an example of "prototype warfare," a method for rapidly testing new technologies in realistic environments to generate critical data and close the gap between research and deployment. The initiative, spearheaded by DLA’s Research and Development office and the Troop Support Construction and Equipment directorate, places early-stage prototypes directly into the hands of the Warfighters who will ultimately use them.

"We field prototypes in operationally realistic environments to enable rapid adaptation," stated Mr. David Koch, Director of DLA Research and Development. "This generates immediate value through operational use and allows us to refine capabilities based on direct feedback from those who will deploy them in dynamic combat environments."

Embedding innovation with forward-deployed units creates a powerful feedback loop, said Dr. Imes Chiu, the program manager for Supply Chain Management and Sustainability. She noted that this approach supplements, not replaces, existing research methods.

"Our partnership with DLA R&D has been invaluable in proactively sustaining the Warfighter," said Mr. Marko Graham, Director of Customer Operations for the Troop Support C&E Directorate. "We integrate as solution partners within the operational plans of the Combatant Commands, not just as a support element from the rear." Troop Support C&E holds annual summits in every Combatant Commands bringing together combat engineers across the Services for Class 4 readiness and resiliency.

For the III MEF, which is at the forefront of the Marine Corps' strategic shift towards a more agile and technologically advanced posture, the partnership is a force multiplier. During Base Recovery After Attack exercises, Marines are testing innovative materials like heat-tolerant, long shelf-life, and self-healing rapid-setting cement. This work directly supports the United States Indo-Pacific Command's strategy for contested logistics.

"The ability to have outside experts in continuous contact to test and integrate new technologies is an unmatched opportunity for engineers across the Marine Air-Ground Task Force and the joint force on Okinawa," explained MGySgt Charles Anderson, Aviation Ground Support Engineer Chief for the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing-G4. "This collaboration elevates our standard base recovery exercises into a dynamic environment for innovation."

The learning is mutual. While Marines and Airmen gain exposure to cutting-edge material science, DLA and the defense industry receive unfiltered, real-world data that is impossible to replicate in a lab. We are hopeful that our partnership will impart a depth of knowledge regarding material properties to our service members, increasing their flexibility and problem-solving skills,” added Maj. Adam Klemm, G4 Logistics Plans Officer with III MEF. “This win-win cycle ensures that the technology being developed is not just innovative, but operationally relevant and ready for the fight.”

The adoption of prototype warfare at DLA R&D began with the annual 2025 Industry Collider Day, led by DLA R&D Deputy Director Ms. Martina Johnson, funded by the Small Business Innovation Research under Dr. Vaibhav Jain, DLA R&D SBIR and Strategic Materials program manager. For more details, please contact Logistics.Research@dla.mil.