Defense Logistics Agency DLA

Before 1961 each military service bought its own common supplies, often duplicating purchases of the same items. Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara created the Defense Supply Agency in 1961 to consolidate them, and it was renamed the Defense Logistics Agency in 1977. It is a combat support agency headed by a three-star officer and headquartered at Fort Belvoir, Virginia.

DLA manages millions of items and spends tens of billions of dollars a year, making it one of the largest purchasing operations in the government. It supplies nearly all of the military's fuel, food, clothing, and medical supplies and most of its spare parts for aircraft, ships, and vehicles, delivering them to bases and deployed forces worldwide. It also disposes of surplus military property, sometimes transferring equipment to state and local police through a long-debated program.

DLA manages the National Defense Stockpile of strategic and critical materials, a reserve created after the Second World War that has drawn renewed attention as the government tries to reduce dependence on China for rare earths and other critical minerals. Its performance is a frequent subject of audits, since logistics consume a large share of the defense budget and supply shortages can limit how long forces can fight.