Media Center | Defense Logistics & Support

IDGA’s 3rd annual Defense Logistics & Support Summit returned to the D.C. area this past October, and what was the largest iteration of the event to date, 100+ professionals representing the U.S. military, industry, and academia assembled in one room to discuss winning multi-domain battles through the lens of technology-driven defense logistics.

The 2024 summit featured a speaker lineup that represented all corners of DoD, and included presentations that ranged from maritime logistics, to cybersecurity threats in the supply chain, and much more.

The 2025 Defense Logistics & Support Summit is already taking form with continued support from the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) as well as U.S. military branches such as the Army and Marines.

This year’s summit, taking place September 29-30 at the Sheraton Reston Hotel in Reston, Virginia, will bring together defense logistics leaders for another two-days of high level discussions. Before fully turning our attention to the 2025 summit, IDGA is taking another look at last October’s event in this post-show report. In this 8-page report, readers can see the results of on-site surveying, daily summaries from the conference, and a full list of attending organizations. This year’s discussions will encompass the cutting-edge technology shaping the future of defense logistics and procurement to support the warfighter, including the use of AI, data analytics for prediction & maintenance, unmanned delivery, and more.

Interested in seeing who attended the IDGA 2024 Defense Logistics & Support Summit? Take a look at the attendee snapshot, featuring the companies, military leaders, and government officials who joined us in 2024, many of whom are expected to return in 2025!

One of the leading topics will be managing logistics in contested environments, and the top focus area in contested logistics is the Indo-Pacific region. The U.S. DoD defines its Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM) region as stretching from the west coast of the U.S. to India’s western border, and from Antarctica to the North Pole. The region is home to over 50% of the world's population and includes 38 nations, such as Australia, North Korea, Taiwan, and many others that represent both allies and adversaries. The region has become critical for U.S. national security as it has become the focal point for U.S. efforts to deter Chinese military aggression.

This report will provide an overview of defense logistics in the Indo-Pacific region, including topics such as:

• Spending trends
• An analysis of key programs in the region
• Regional challenges to US logistics
• Best practices for building supply chain resiliency in the Indo-Pacific.

In any conflict, the importance of logistics cannot be overstated. As the backbone of any military operation, its mismanagement can lead to disastrous consequences.

In this interview with Major General Allan E. Day and Colonel Kevin Samples, they go through the trends and challenges of today’s logistics. From AI to the great resignation, they share their views based on years of experience and knowledge.

Integrating AI into defense logistics can revolutionize supply chain management, optimize resource allocation and improve decision-making. However, amidst the global race to implement AI solutions in supply chain processes, it’s critical to develop a well-rounded approach that addresses challenges and concerns that come with applying these tools.

Dr. Todd McAllister is Director of Global Supply Chain & Logistics at the National Defense University (NDU) and is playing a critical role in developing the next generation of leaders who will apply AI skills to their work in defense logistics. Dr. McAllister sat down with IDGA to discuss topics such as:

• The current role AI is playing in defense logistics
• The challenges of AI implementation in defense logistics
• The skills required for future defense logistics leaders

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

The US DoD is the federal government’s largest agency employing over 2.8 million active military service members and civilian personnel. In order to keep both military and civilian personnel equipped to complete their duties effectively, the DoD relies on the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) to manage the global defense supply chain.

This article will look at the work the DLA is doing in 2024, including a glimpse at the challenges they face, and the various supply chains the organization is responsible for, but first, it’s important to take a step back and understand how the agency was formed.