The nationās combat support agency has unveiled a strategy that zeroes in on fortifying its global supply chain and its security architecture.Ā
Released July 18, the Defense Logistics Agencyās new plan addresses threats such as natural disasters, geopolitical developments, adversarial activities, diminishing manufacturers, and cyberattacks.Ā
As the strategy highlights out, natural and manmade disasters can limit a vendorās ability to supply DLA with critical parts for warfighters. Geopolitical developments could restrict the agencyās access to allied partners, vendors and resources. Mishandling of data could lead to U.S. military technology ending up in the wrong hands. Enemies could steal the identity of suppliers and introduce counterfeit parts into DLAās global supply chain. Sole-source and diminishing manufacturers can ground fleets of aircraft if operations are stopped.Ā
DLA has an āinherent imperativeā to make sure detection and protection measures are baked into agency systems, processes and infrastructure, DLA Director Army Lt. Gen. Darrell K. Williams writes in the document. The strategy provides a path forward for DLA to bolster operational resiliency.
āIt anchors to the fundamental elements of supply-chain risk management and mission assurance,ā he writes. āI need every DLA member to understand this strategy and to support it wherever you may fit in, because supply-chain disruption is not an option for the warfighter.ā