DLA News Archive

March 30, 2026

DLA's whole of government support bolsters national security, reduces costs

The Defense Logistics Agency’s support extends beyond the traditional warfighter, says Jake Swantkowski, chief of DLA’s Whole of Government Support Division. DLA provides a strategic advantage to the nation by supporting a wide array of federal agencies.

March 24, 2026

DLA focuses on reclaiming critical, strategic materials for national security

The Defense Logistics Agency is increasing its efforts to recover critical and strategic materials from military assets, transforming potential waste into valuable resources that bolster national security and warfighter readiness, say two DLA employees on a recent episode of the “DLA Dialogues: Factory to Foxhole” podcast.

March 19, 2026

Beyond factory to foxhole: DLA transforms for a contested future

For decades, the U.S. military’s logistics system prioritized global efficiency, cost savings, and reliable throughput, fostering a culture of centralized stockpiling at large, fixed supply depots. As a result, this system is dangerously inadequate for confronting emerging global threats, particularly from the People Republic of China (PRC) in the Indo-Pacific theater. Today, logistics functions are no longer relegated to rear area support; logistics has become the "central front" in great power competition.

March 19, 2026

Internet of behavior and digital dust: Implications for supply chain security and mission assurance

Moving can be a stressful event. Whether you have moved once or several times, it is an event that upends the lives of the entire family. SSG Alex Kallus, an Army logistics NCO, had just received orders to PCS (Permanent Change of Station) from Fort Novosel, AL, to his new joint assignment in DLA at Fort Belvoir, VA. His spouse, Kay, and their two kids were ready for the move and were busily making plans for the new location. As any military family knows, PCS moves meant chaos, checklists, and lots of internet searches.

March 19, 2026

REFORPAC 2025 and the friction of distribution: Stress-testing agile combat employment logistics

The United States’ strategic engagement in the Indo-Pacific was forged in the crucible of the World War II. In that campaign, General Douglas MacArthur operationalized “island hopping”—the sequential seizure and development of forward operating bases to project combat power across vast maritime distances.1 This approach proved decisive in the Pacific theater and established a foundational insight that endures today: in the Indo-Pacific, geography rewards dispersion, and logistics determines whether operational concepts succeed or fail. That logic underpins contemporary concepts such as Agile Combat Employment (ACE).

March 19, 2026

Transforming defense logistics planning: Leveraging machine learning for enhanced warfighter readiness

The recent war in Ukraine has underscored the importance of logistical planning. In a 2023 study, RAND noted that “Russia’s failures in the war with Ukraine were due to poor planning”. Seeing these missteps and recognizing the critical importance of logistics, US Army Pacific named it as one of its four core “Interior Lines” that must be met to achieve its 2025 posture plan. The Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), the Department of Defense’s (DOD) combat support supply chain organization, will be a key piece in achieving these plans. Because of this importance, DLA’s way of material planning needs to evolve.

March 3, 2026

DLA Dialogues: From Factory to Foxhole Episode 5 with Joe Brooks and Colin Williams

FORT BELVOIR, Va. — The most recent episode of the Defense Logistics Agency podcast series spotlights the Regional Sustainment Framework and how forward-positioned logistics and maintenance can strengthen readiness in contested environments.

Feb. 18, 2026

Fuel Afloat Concept Expands Operational Resiliency for Joint Petroleum Distribution

FORT BELVOIR, Va. — In today’s contested logistics environment, the Defense Logistics Agency is focused on improving the resilience and flexibility of the fuel enterprise supporting joint operations. As global demands increase, DLA Energy is demonstrating new ways to deliver fuel where and when it’s needed most.

Feb. 13, 2026

Agency podcast highlights DLA’s cyber resilience mindset for contested logistics

FORT BELVOIR, Va. — The latest episode of DLA's podcast series explores cybersecurity’s role in protecting supply chains, and why cyber resilience is essential when threats inevitably get through. Linus Baker discussed how adversaries target DLA systems, what the agency is doing to strengthen readiness, and how every employee plays a role in mission assurance.

Jan. 21, 2026

Former logistics officer warns against readiness atrophy during ‘off-season’

FORT BELVOIR, Va. — A former Air Force logistics officer warned Defense Logistics Agency employees that sustainment capabilities can quietly erode during periods of relative peace, stressing that leaders must remain vigilant to prevent an unprepared force when a crisis emerges.