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.
The paper, “Fuel Afloat: Increasing Operational Resiliency and Flexibility for the Joint Petroleum Enterprise" (a DLA common access card is required), authored by Keith Sylvia, examines how DLA Energy and mission partners are using commercial capabilities to help mitigate fuel distribution constraints.
The paper describes how secure and resilient logistics networks are essential to readiness in a complex geopolitical landscape.
DLA Energy procures about 80 million barrels — 3.36 billion gallons — of petroleum fuel annually and manages transportation of about 30 million barrels of inventory to defense fuel support points worldwide.
At the center is an expanded operational construct called Fuel Afloat that uses Department of War-contracted commercial tanker vessels. They’re equipped for consolidated replenishment at sea, also known as CONSOL, to solve distribution constraints in other theaters when combatant command needs surge. Commercial tankers originally tasked for integrated material management resupply can be flexed through coordinated planning, adjusted resupply schedules and inventory management to mitigate Navy distribution shortfalls and increase operational resilience.
The results are measurable, Sylvia notes. Since March 2023, DLA Energy has supported approximately 130 Military Sealift Command CONSOL missions transferring 3,262,773 barrels of JP5 and F76 fuels in support of Navy requirements.
Sylvia also highlights recent operational vignettes that demonstrate the concept in action. After the replenishment oiler United States Naval Ship Big Horn (T-AO-198) sustained damage in September 2024, DLA Energy rapidly redirected tanker support, adjusted resupply timelines and identified a CONSOL-ready tanker solution. This helped provide critical fuel support to the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group operating in the Red Sea.
Further examples in the show how commercial partnerships serve as a force multiplier. The paper highlights the first CONSOL operation since Desert Storm between the commercial tanker Motor Vessel Overseas Mykonos and the U.S. Ship Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72). Sylvia describes how M/V Stena Polaris was re-prioritized for 96 days, completing 18 CONSOL missions and delivering about 25 million gallons of JP5 and F76 fuels while inventory and resupply schedules were managed to avoid impacts elsewhere.
Beyond operations, the paper emphasizes the changes required to sustain Fuel Afloat. These include updates to accountability procedures, deliberate collaboration across stakeholders and improved processes that prioritize combatant command requirements while maintaining baseline resupply. Sylvia describes analytics improvements, including tools that strengthen end-to-end decision-making.
The paper concludes that expanding Fuel Afloat provides another lever to mitigate contested logistics and afloat distribution shortfalls. Scaling the approach will require continued collaboration and increased use of CONSOL-capable capacity aligned to demand.