Appendix A
Defense Agencies and DoD Field Activities
Title 10 U.S.C. provides that: "Whenever the Secretary of Defense determines such action would be more effective, economical, or efficient, the Secretary may provide for the performance of a supply or service activity that is common to more than one military department by a single agency of the Department of Defense." Although Defense Agencies and DoD Field Activities perform similar support functions, in general, DoD Field Activities are smaller and serve a more limited portion of the Department than Defense Agencies. The ability to combine common services and supplies has proven beneficial in reducing redundancy among the military departments and conserving scarce resources through centralized management.
There are currently 15 Defense Agencies and 9 DoD Field Activities as described below:
Ballistic Missile Defense Organization (BMDO)
BMDO is responsible for managing and directing the DoD Ballistic Missile Defense acquisition programs, which include theater missile defense and national missile defense for the United States. In addition, it is responsible for the continuing research and development of follow-on technologies for long-term ballistic missile defense.
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)
DARPA is the central research and development organization of DoD with a primary responsibility to maintain US technological superiority over potential adversaries by pursuing innovative research and development projects.
Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA)
DeCA is responsible for providing a world-wide system of commissaries for the sale of groceries and household supplies to members of the Military Services, their families, and other authorized patrons.
Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA)
DCAA is responsible for performing all contract audits for the Department of Defense. It also provides accounting and financial advisory services regarding contracts and subcontracts to all DoD Components that are responsible for procurement and contract administration.
Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS)
DFAS is responsible for finance and accounting and for directing the consolidation, standardization, and integration of finance and accounting requirements, functions, procedures, operations, and systems within DoD.
Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA)
DISA is responsible for planning, developing and supporting command, control, communications, and information systems that serve the needs of the National Command Authority under all conditions of peace and war. It supports the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Combatant Commanders, and the Defense Agencies.
Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA)
DIA is responsible for satisfying military and military-related intelligence requirements for the Secretary of Defense, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, other Defense components, and, as appropriate, non-Defense agencies.
Defense Investigative Service (DIS)
DIS conducts all Personnel Security Investigations for the DoD components and, when appropriate, for other US Government activities and manages the major industrial security programs.
Defense Legal Services Agency (DLSA)
DLSA is responsible for providing legal advice and services for the Defense Agencies, DoD Field Activities, and other assigned organizations.
Defense Logistics Agency (DLA)
DLA is responsible for world wide logistics support for the missions of the Military Departments, Combatant Commands, other DoD components, and certain authorized Federal agencies, foreign governments, and international organizations.
Defense Security Assistance Agency (DSAA)
DSAA is the DoD focal point and clearinghouse for the development and implementation of security assistance plans and programs, and develops and manages the security assistance program to promote the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States.
Defense Special Weapons Agency (DSWA)
DSWA supports DoD and other Federal agencies on matters concerning nuclear weapons and other special weapons matters.
National Imagery and Mapping Agency (NIMA)
NIMA's mission is to provide imagery, imagery intelligence, and geospatial information in support of the national security objectives of the United States.
National Security Agency/ Central Security Service (NSA/CSS)
NSA/CSS executes signals intelligence (SIGINT) and information systems security activities and conducts related activities, as assigned by the Secretary of Defense, including managing and providing operational control of the US SIGINT System.
On-Site Inspection Agency (OSIA)
OSIA is responsible for managing and coordinating on-site inspections to monitor various arms control treaties.
*Denotes a "Combat Support Agency." Combat Support Agencies provide direct support to the Combatant Commands during wartime or emergency situations and are subject to evaluation by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
American Forces Information Service (AFIS)
AFIS manages DoD internal information programs, visual information activities, and the Armed Forces Radio and Television Service.
Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA)
DoDEA is responsible for providing education to eligible DoD military and civilian dependents from preschool through grade 12 at sites both in the United States and overseas.
Defense Medical Programs Activity (DMPA)
DMPA is responsible for programming and budgeting for the Defense Unified Medical Program and the Military Health Services System.
Defense Prisoner of War/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO)
DPMO provides centralized management of prisoner of war/missing personnel affairs within the Department of Defense.
Defense Technology Security Administration (DTSA)
DTSA is responsible for reviewing the international transfer of defense-related technology, goods, and services consistent with US foreign policy and national security objectives.
DoD Human Resources Activity (DHRA)
DHRA is responsible for providing program support, information management, and administrative services to the DoD components on human resources matters.
Office of Economic Adjustment (OEA)
OEA is responsible for managing DoD economic adjustment programs for communities adversely affected by DoD realignment actions.
TRICARE Support Office (TSO)
TSO is responsible for providing operational support for the Military Services in the management and administration of the TRICARE program and administering CHAMPUS.
Washington Headquarters Services (WHS)
WHS is responsible for providing administrative support to specified DoD activities in the National Capital Region. This support includes personnel management, financial management, personnel and information security, information technology support, and facilities management.
DSAs perform technical and/or analytic support functions for specific organizations within OSD. These functions are distinct from the normal OSD functions of developing policy, managing resources, and evaluating and overseeing programs. There are currently two DSAs.
C4I Integration Support Activity (CISA)
CISA supports the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Command, Control, Communications, and Intelligence.
Plans and Program Analysis Support Center (PPASC)
PPASC supports the Director of Program Analysis and Evaluation.
Defense Airborne Reconnaissance Office (DARO)
DARO is responsible for managing and directing the development and acquisition of all joint Service and DoD-wide airborne reconnaissance capabilities. DARO currently is under the direction of the USD (A&T).
Defense Acquisition University (DAU)
DAU is responsible for the professional education and training of DoD personnel in the defense acquisition system. It operates as an educational consortium that includes appropriate DoD component education and training institutions. The DAU currently is under the direction of the USD (A&T).
Director of Military Support (DOMS)
DOMS supports the Secretary of the Army's role as Executive Agent for managing DoD responses to requests from civil authorities for military assistance in domestic emergencies. It operates under the direction of the Army's Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations.
Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC)
DTIC is responsible for collecting, storing, and providing information on defense-related research to DoD officials, US Government agencies, and their contractors. DTIC currently operates under the direction of the Director, Defense Research and Engineering.
National Defense University (NDU)
NDU is responsible for educating selected military officers and civilian officials in national strategy and national security policy, force generation, joint and combined operations, and resource management. It also performs research and policy analysis for the Secretary of Defense and Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS). NDU operates under the direction of the CJCS and is administratively supported by the Department of the Army.
Further information on these and other DoD organizations and activities may be found by accessing the World Wide Web at http://www.defenselink.mil.
Appendix B
Selected Acronyms Found in this Report
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