DLA’s Role in Defense Supply Chain Resilience, Partnerships, and Technological Advancements

As global supply chains faced shortages and logistical challenges due to the pandemic, the Department of Defense had to think creatively to maintain operational success in its hundreds of bases worldwide. The Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) manages the DoD global supply chain and was responsible for keeping five military services, 11 combatant commands, and several federal, state, and local agencies equipped throughout the pandemic.

Kenneth Watson, Deputy Commander of Land and Maritime at the DLA, is one of the individuals who experienced the challenges COVID presented to the defense supply chain first-hand. Ken's extensive career has taken him through various critical roles. In 2019, Ken began his current role as Deputy Commander of Land and Maritime at the DLA. In this interview with IDGA, Ken shares his thoughts on the following defense logistics topics:

• Lessons learned from the Covid pandemic
• Managing supply chains in contested regions
• How the DLA is embracing AI