In an era marked by rapidly evolving technology and contested logistics, Defense Logistics Agency Distribution Expeditionary capabilities enable warfighter readiness, multinational exercise support and humanitarian assistance.
More than 450 active-duty service members, joint reserve forces and civilian personnel compose the DLA Distribution Expeditionary capability. Over the past 12 months, they’ve provided adaptable logistics support from the Indo-Pacific and Europe to the homeland. Whether establishing forward-operating distribution hubs or augmenting established supply chains, the expeditionary capability has demonstrated its commitment to rapid deployment and sustainment.
By using scalable infrastructure, real-time visibility tools and integrated partnerships with allied forces, DLA Distribution Expeditionary ensures critical material meets the demands of a rapidly changing world under even the most challenging conditions.
"The modern battlespace demands a logistics capability that is not only efficient but also incredibly agile and adaptable," said Army Brig. Gen. Kevin Cotman, commanding general, DLA Distribution. "The Expeditionary team embodies this principle, constantly innovating and adapting to meet the evolving needs of our warfighters and the nation as a whole. Their dedication ensures our forces have the right supplies, in the right place, at the right time, no matter the challenge."
A distributed team with a global reach: Composition and mission
While managed at DLA Distribution headquarters and in coordination with U.S. Transportation Command, DLA Distribution Expeditionary maintains a presence in New Cumberland, Pennsylvania, and Tracy, California. This strategic placement enables rapid deployment across both the Eastern and Western hemispheres, ensuring timely response to global events.
Beyond moving supplies, the team is a multifaceted force equipped to establish forward distribution nodes. They integrate with existing logistics networks and test alternative transportation methods, maintaining accurate material visibility through logistics information technology systems.
The team's mission is to deliver a tailorable solution for worldwide emergent requirements. The Expeditionary Distribution capability provides support to the military services and combatant commands, as well as humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations. The team accomplishes this through four core functions:
- Theater consolidation and shipping point: A central hub for consolidating and cross-docking multi-consignee freight into conveyance in accordance with theater distribution and TRANSCOM air and surface route plans.
- Forward-deployed warehousing: A warehouse capability for providing forward positioning and distribution operations of essential material.
- Material processing center: A facility for receiving, sorting, preparing and consolidating materials for distribution based on customized requirements.
- Incident support base: A location established in support of a Federal Emergency Management Agency mission assignment to receive and consolidate humanitarian assistance and disaster relief material, typically performing trailer transfer operations.
The DLA Distribution Expeditionary team supports established defense plans and responds to contingencies and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations. The team surges support to other DLA distribution centers as required. When requested, the team also deploys capabilities to establish a scalable, end-to-end distribution process that adapts to customer requirements and ensures the ability to project combat power.
Building readiness through rigorous training and joint exercises
Continuous training and participation in joint military exercises are central to the team’s success. Along with enhancing skills, training improves integration among active-duty service members, joint reservists and civilian personnel. These exercises are designed to foster a joint military environment enabling the teams to build trust, communication and coordination essential for effective performance in real-world operations.
"Participation in these exercises goes beyond fulfilling training requirements,” said Army Lt. Col. Kimberly Ellenburg, commander, DLA Distribution Expeditionary. “It sharpens our skills, strengthens partner collaboration and tests our capabilities in realistic scenarios. The lessons learned are invaluable and directly enhance our performance in real-world operations."
Over the past 12 months, the team has participated in several exercises, each designed to test and refine their capabilities:
- Elite Constellation/Pacific Sentry 25: This bi-annual command post exercise, conducted by U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, focuses on training INDO-PACOM headquarters staff. DLA Distribution reservists provided logistical support.
- Freedom Shield 25: Held in the Republic of Korea, this exercise is designed to ensure unified, combined and joint warfighting readiness. DLA Distribution joint reserve forces provided embedded support to warfighting components as well as to U.S. Forces Korea and logistics enterprise counterparts.
- Ulchi Freedom Shield 25: Another exercise in the Republic of Korea, UFS25 enhances the combined, joint, all-domain and interagency partners operating in a contested logistics environment.
- Talisman Sabre 25: As the United States’ largest military exercise with Australia, TS25 demonstrated the U.S.-Australia alliance and provided a platform for strengthening relationships and interoperability among allies and partners. DLA Distribution deployed personnel to Guam to establish and operate an expeditionary material processing center at Andersen Air Force Base. They supported logistics for 7th Fleet operations, delivering supplies to the USS America Amphibious Ready Group and the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, ensuring uninterrupted operational readiness. In parallel, the team processed pallets for surface transport aboard the USNS Rappahannock, enabling replenishment at sea operations. DLA Distribution also deployed a team to Australia for TS25 to support DLA Indo-Pacific’s effort to demonstrate logistics command and control capabilities during a crisis event in the INDO-PACOM theater.
- Following Talisman Sabre 25, the expeditionary team shipped an air theater consolidation and shipping point equipment package to Saipan in the Northern Mariana Islands for pre-positioning in one of two U.S. Air Force Pacific Air Forces-leased warehouses. This secured dedicated storage space for forward-deployed equipment, directly supporting INDO-PACOM’s posture-planning objectives.
Humanitarian response: Supporting disaster relief efforts
The DLA Distribution Expeditionary team’s capability extends beyond military support to also include humanitarian response missions. When Hurricane Helene struck the southern United States as a Category 4 storm in late 2024, the team joined whole-of-government efforts to supply relief to affected communities.
On receiving FEMA’s request for 21 million meals, ready to eat, DLA Distribution partnered with DLA Troop Support to transport MREs from Albany, Georgia, and Marengo, Indiana, to FEMA distribution sites in Conley, Georgia, and Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama.
“It’s a testament to the expertise and reliability of the teams at DLA Distribution and DLA Troop Support that we were called upon to assist with this important mission,” Cotman said. “This demonstrates not only our vital role in supporting the warfighter but also our contribution to whole-of-government operations.”
Working alongside FEMA and contract partners, the DLA Distribution Expeditionary team moved up to 45 trailers daily from the Indiana facility, delivering more than 1.75 million cases of MREs to aid recovery. These efforts ran concurrently with ongoing support at the FEMA Incident Support Base at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, underscoring the team’s ability to respond simultaneously to multiple crises with speed and precision.
"Our commitment extends beyond the battlefield,” Ellenburg said. "In disaster response, we leverage our logistics expertise and resources to rapidly deploy and ensure critical aid reaches those communities in need."
Looking ahead: Embracing change and adapting to future challenges
As the global landscape continues to evolve, the team’s continuous training, strategic pre-positioning, technological innovation and humanitarian support sustain U.S. military readiness, operational effectiveness and rapid crisis response at home and abroad.
"The future of logistics must be proactive, not reactive," Ellenburg said. "We must anticipate the needs of our warfighters and citizens, developing innovative solutions to meet those needs."