FORT BELVOIR, Va. –
The latest episode of the Defense Logistics Agency’s podcast series explores how wargaming and strategic planning efforts are positioning the agency to tackle future logistics challenges and advance its modernization agenda.
Air Force Col. Ryan LeBlanc, director of Strategic Plans and Futures for DLA Logistics Operations, joined DLA Dialogues: From Factory to Foxhole to explain how his office anticipates shifts in national defense priorities, emerging trends, and global threats to map out DLA's long-term strategy.
LeBlanc emphasized DLA’s expanding use of wargaming. He explained that by simulating crisis scenarios and testing potential responses, wargaming enables DLA to identify gaps, assess new risks, and validate solutions before making real-world investments. This forward-looking method fosters a risk-aware culture and equips DLA leaders to make informed decisions in a fast-evolving landscape.
“Wargaming is something that the services have used for a long time, and in truth, military has used since the days of Sun Tzu,” LeBlanc said. “The business world … has started to use wargaming over the last few decades. What you’re seeing now is just a maturation of bringing that process for decision-making into the agency in a way that will help our leaders make decisions.”
The episode highlighted that wargaming isn’t just about predicting adversaries’ actions; it’s about uncovering hidden operational challenges, integrating expert perspectives across DLA and its partners, and providing a low-risk environment to challenge assumptions.
“What you’re seeking is to understand it better; come to some solutions or some recommendations that senior leaders wouldn’t be able to come to without those new inputs, and then package them in a way that leaders can make resource decisions with less risk,” LeBlanc said.
By employing wargaming, LeBlanc said DLA can better anticipate supply chain disruptions. It also allows the agency to stress-test modernization strategies and align its operations with future joint force needs. This stance helps ensure the agency remains adaptable, resilient and ready to support national defense priorities.
Looking ahead, DLA is preparing to launch the Defense Futures Campaign of Learning. This will be a series of wargames designed to shape a future operating concept and keep the agency ahead of evolving threats.
The podcast series will continue with episode 4, featuring Linus Baker. He will discuss the increasingly complex landscape of cybersecurity threats in today’s contested logistics environments.
Episodes of “DLA Dialogues: From Factory to Foxhole” are available on the employee Campaign of Learning portal (a DLA common access card is required), the Campaign of Learning website, DVIDS and YouTube.