Defense Logistics. Efforts to Improve Distribution and Supply Support for Joint Military Operations Could Benefit from a Coordinated Management Approach

Abstract : DOD has not developed a coordinated and comprehensive management approach to guide and oversee implementation of joint theater logistics across the department. Efforts to develop and implement joint theater logistics initiatives have been fragmented among various DOD components due largely to a lack of specific goals and strategies, accountability for achieving results, and outcome-oriented performance measures key principles of sound management. While DOD has broadly defined joint theater logistics as an adaptive ability to anticipate and respond to emerging theater logistics and support requirements, it has not developed specific goals and strategies linked to this vision. In addition, DOD has not assigned accountability for achieving results under joint Results in Brief theater logistics and has not developed outcome-oriented performance measures that would enable the department to know whether its efforts are fully and effectively achieving a joint theater logistics capability. Furthermore, the diffused organization of DOD s logistics operations, including separate funding and management of resources and systems, complicates DOD s ability to adopt a coordinated and comprehensive management approach to developing and implementing joint theater logistics capabilities. A number of studies that have assessed DOD s logistics operations have recommended changes to DOD s organizational structure and control of resources for providing joint logistics support to military operations. Moreover, changes in DOD s overall logistics transformation strategy have hampered its ability to adopt a coordinated and comprehensive management approach to joint theater logistics. Over the years, DOD has made a number of attempts to articulate a long-term strategy to guide logistics transformation, including joint theater logistics, but progress on these efforts has been hindered by differing visions within the department.