The Department of Defense
The Pentagon, Washington, D. C. 20301
Telephone: (703) 545-6700 Email: dpcintrn@osd.pentagon.mil
Introduction:
The Department of Defense is responsible for providing the military forces needed to deter war and protect the security of our country. The major elements of these forces are the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force. These services are backed, in case of emergency, by the l million members of the Reserve components. In addition, there are about 900,000 civilian employees in the Defense Department.
Under the President, who is also the Commander in Chief, the Secretary of Defense exercises authority, direction, and control over the Department, which includes the Chiefs of Staff providing military advice, the unified combatant commands, and various defense agencies established for specific purposes.
The National Security Act Amendments of 1949 redesigned the National Military Establishment as the Department of Defense and established it as an executive department (10 U.S. Code 111), with the Secretary of Defense as its head. Since that time, many legislative and administrative changes have occurred, evolving the Department into the structure under which it currently operates.
The structure of the Department of Defense (DOD) is composed of the Office of the Secretary of Defense; the military department and the military services within those departments; the Chairman of the Joint chiefs of Staff and the Joint Staff; the unified combatant commands; the Defense agencies; DOD field activities; and such other offices, agencies, activities, and commands as may be established or designated by law, or by the President or the Secretary of Defense.
The following material was condensed and edited from the DOD Web sites--with added content to further inform visitors to the Federal Gateway site.
More Detailed Information
Related Pages
Office of the Secretary of
Defense 
The Secretary of Defense is the principal defense policy adviser to the President and is responsible for the formulation of general defense policy and policy related to DOD, and the execution of approved policy. Under the direction of the President, the Secretary exercises authority, direction, and control over the DOD.
Office of the Secretary of Defense covers offices, events, organization, etc.
Joint Chiefs of Staff
The Joint Chiefs of Staff consists of the Chairman; the Vice Chairman; the Chief of Staff of the Army; the Chief of Naval Operations; the Chief of Staff of the Air Force; and the Commandant of the Marine Corps.
DefenseLINK - Official Web Site of DOD
Homepage and
Introductory Information
Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) covers key JCS positions.
DefenseLINK Defense Fact File embodies what the DOD gives to reporters as background data on military hardware, topics, etc.
Web Sites Records DOD organizational index.
"Contact Us" - DefenceLINK FAQs, phone and mail details, search, etc.
Frequently Requested Toll-Free Telephone Numbers
US Government Blue Pages Online Directory federal telephone directory.
News, Public Affairs, History,
etc.
Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs
American Forces Information Service DOD news information service.
DOD Libraries extensive listing of such facilities.
Annual Reports to the President and Congress
Publications general information, reports, etc.
Government Documents and Information Center websites for declassified information--Gulf War, FBI Files, etc.
Requests For Military Mailing Addresses
THE TaLON online newsletter covering Operation Joint Guard, Bosnia-Herzegovina--includes detailed (maps, charts, photos, etc.) coverage of this operation.
Military Affairs - LOC Library of Congress Illustrated Guide.
Defense Review an examination of America's entire defense structure.
NATO Staff Officer Orientation Course includes links to other NATO organizational units.
DOD Dictionary of Military Terms
Freedom of Information Act Specifics
Jane's Homepage reports on military matters.
Smithsonian: Armed Forces History Gerhard Weinberg's work.
Archives Surviving from World War II
Military Information - NARA military dictionaries and encyclopedias, acronyms, etc.
DOD Electronic Forms by Form Number
LIFELines offers quality services--created by the Navy but designed for all of DOD (civilians included). A quality site!
Military Health System - Tricare covers military health programs.
Center for Total Access Home Page digital transformation of health care delivery.
The Pentagon DOD headquarters--tour information is provided.
General Space Available Information flight availability data for service personnel.
Student Financial Aid covers all major military services.
DOD Education Activity Home Page
Information for Non-Profit Organizations
Career Opportunities and Information
U. S. Department of Defense Standards of Conduct Office ethical standards for military and civilian personnel.
Military Mailing Address Requests
Survivor Benefit Plan Pamphlet
American Battle Monuments Commission care and maintenance of military cemeteries.
The Government Information Xchange GSA's customer service search site.
Organization
Organization and Functions Guidebook
Worldwide List of Military Installations
DOD Libraries world-wide listing.
Unified Combatant Commands of the DOD
Defense Fact File overview information covering the DOD.
Important Web Sites AF subject index of organizations and topics--good surfing tool for the DOD site.
Defense Policy on Base Closures
Information Technology
DISA Chief Information Officer
DOD Office of the Under Secretary for Acquisition and Technology
Defense Information Systems Agency has the responsibility for planning, developing, and supporting command, control, communications, and information systems that serve the needs of the National Command Authorities.
DOD Data Administration Home Page
The Year 2000 - Meeting the Challenge
Army High Performance Computing Modernization Program (AHPCMP) is a partnership program including academia and industry with the goal of staying on the cutting edge of computer technology--the universities are leading this project.
National Communications System (NCS)
New research on government IT issues
Scientific and Technical Information Network (STINET)
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency is the central research and development organization for the DOD--it manages and directs selected basic and applied R&D projects.
Nuclear Resources - Federation of American Scientists covers arms control, nuclear forces, high energy weapons, space nuclear technology, etc.
Nuclear Weapons Sustainment Programs coverage of current decision making.
Strategic Defense Initiative - Federation of American Scientists Nuclear Thermal Propulsion.
Defense Technical Information Web links to technical organizations and information.
Joint Interoperability Engineering Organization Center for Standards concerns defense information systems standards.
LabLINK serves as a resource for learning about the DOD Laboratories.
Lab Areas of Interest list of facilities.
U.S. Congressional Science Web sites science policy resource listing of Capital Hill organizations.
DOD Environmental Resources links to Internet sites relating to environmental activities of the DOD.
DENIX on the Web environmental information exchange.
Business Matters
Electronic Posting System the beginnings of a major site that plans to report contract opportunities, awards, etc. for the entire federal government. Currently GSA, DOD, NASA, Transportation, Treasury, and Veterans Affairs are on board.
DISA Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business
DISA Direct an opportunity to register to search through hundreds of products and services offered by the Defense Information Systems Agency.
Contracting Opportunities - DISA business opportunities.
Contracting Opportunities Login - DISA search utility where a userid is necessary to access contracting opportunities.
Ditco NCR Contracting Opportunities and Contracting Opportunities - DITCO
Standards Document Library - DISA, Center For Standards - DISA, and Information Technology Standards - Related Links
DefenseLINK News: Contracts Defense Logistics Agency contracts news.
NIMA's Procurement & Contracts Office National Imagery and Mapping Agency.
Doing Business With The Department of Defense
Federal Acquisition Jumpstation comprehensive NASA document that covers the major buying groups in the federal community.
Defense Industrial Supply Center generally involved in supplies for military personnel---allows you to view the CAGE Information Server that lists various DOD suppliers.
Cage Codes - Defense Logistics Support Command supplier listing program.
Central Contractor Registration a MUST for doing DOD business.
Defense Supply Center, Richmond procurement matters.
Defense Logistics Agency distributes over 4 million items via the Materiel Management group which supplies government organizations worldwide--this is a Customer, Vendor, and General Information document.
Office of Economic Conversion Information Technology Transfer oriented site that informs as to the availability of government programs and other information. Collaborative effort by the DOD and DOC---contains databases that are designed to assist businesses, communities, etc. when DOD budget cutbacks take place.
TechTransit Internet voice of the DOD Office of Technology Transition which promotes spin-offs, defense conversions, etc.---technology transfer programs.
DOD Continuous Acquisition and Life-Cycle Support Data
DOD Index of Specifications & Standards (DODISS)
DOD Contracting Regulations supplies you with Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS), the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), and related information.
DOD Environmental Restoration Bulletin Board service of the Environmental Cleanup Office which provides business opportunities for small and minority businesses who are interested in supporting the DOD cleanup mission.
EC/EDI The DOD Electronic Commerce Office notes such programs, projects, and resources within the DOD community.
DOD National Addresses of Procurement Centers procurement assistance listing.
CBDNet provides approaches to viewing this key publication of Federal contract activities.
National Technology Transfer Center covers many Federal agencies' Technology Transfer activities.
Military Surplus Property Sales keeps you updated as to the sale of surplus property throughout the DOD.
SBA's Minority Enterprise Development Home Page
Special Note: The Federal Gateway's Navy and Air Force Business Matters listings compliment the above information.
Joint Service Schools
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Other Federal Education Institutions |
Defense Acquisition University
The University’s mission is to educate and train military and civilian professionals for effective service in defense acquisition, to centrally manage resources for course development delivery, research, and publications.
Location: 2001 North Beauregard Street, Alexandria, VA 22311
Defense Systems
Management College
The mission of the College is to promote and support the adoption and practice of sound systems management principles by the acquisition workforce through education, research, consulting, and information dissemination.
Location: Ft. Belvoir, VA 22060
National Defense
University
The mission of this University is to ensure excellence in professional military education and research in the essential elements of national security.
Location: Fort McNair, Washington, D.C. 20319
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Industrial
College of the Armed Forces
The Industrial College is the Nation’s leading educational institution for the study of the resources component of national power and its integration into national security strategy.
Location: Fort McNair, Washington, D.C. 20319
Armed Forces
Staff College
The college accomplishes its mission through three schools: the Joint and Combined Warfighting School, the Joint and Combined Staff Officer School, and the Joint Command, Control, and Electronic Warfare School.
Location: Norfolk, VA 23511
Information
Resources Management College
Provides graduate-level courses in information resources management senior Defense professionals.
Location: Fort McNair, Washington, D.C. 20319
Uniformed Services
University of the Health Sciences
The University was established to educate career-oriented medical officers for the Military Departments and the Public Health Service--graduates are required to serve a period of obligation of not less than 7 years, excluding graduate medical education.
Location: National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, MD 20814
Joint Military Intelligence College
Its mission is to educate military and civilian intelligence professionals and conduct and disseminate relevant intelligence research.
Location: Washington, D.C. 20340
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Other Federal Educational Institutions
Informational Resources Management Education
The United States Air Force Air War College
United States Army War College
Other Items of Interest
U. S. House of Representatives Armed Services Committee
National Guard the National Guard Web site.
Uniform Code of Military Justice
Vietnam Era Prisoner Of War/MIAs Database
A Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial Wall allows a search of names on the Wall.
American Forces Information Service discusses the media resources of the DOD.
NATO North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
NATIBO the North America Technology and Industrial Base Organization.
The Retired Officers Association
Reserve Officers Association Of The United State
Military Bands on the Web a U.S. Navy item that gives links to band organizations--most list schedules, openings, volunteer opportunities, etc.
Military Station - The Washington Post
United States of America - USIA patriotic presentation.
Missile Threats & Responses - CDISS extensive information concerning many aspects including the Chinese missile threat.
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