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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, consisting of about 1.3 million men and women on active duty. They are backed, in case of emergency, by the 825,000 members of the Reserve and National Guard. In addition, there are about 600,000 civilian employees in the Defense Department. Under the President, who is also Commander in Chief, the Secretary of Defense exercises authority, direction, and control over the Department, which includes the separately organized military departments of Army, Navy, and Air Force, the Joint Chiefs of Staff providing military advice, the combatant commands, and defense agencies and field activities established for specific purposes. The National Security Act Amendments of 1949 redesignated the National Military Establishment as the Department of Defense and established it as an executive department (10 U.S.C. 111), headed by the Secretary of Defense.
Sub-agencies
16
Recent Regulations
10
Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement: Assessing Contractor Implementation of Cybersecurity Requirements (DFARS Case 2019-D041)
Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement: Limitation on Certain Institutes of Higher Education (DFARS Case 2024-D023); Correction
Federal Acquisition Regulation; Federal Acquisition Circular 2025-06; Introduction
Federal Acquisition Regulation: Inflation Adjustment of Acquisition-Related Thresholds
Federal Acquisition Regulation; Federal Acquisition Circular 2025-06; Small Entity Compliance Guide
Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement: Inflation Adjustment of Acquisition-Related Thresholds (DFARS Case 2024-D002)
Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement; Technical Amendments
Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement: Preventing Conflicts of Interest for Certain Consulting Services (DFARS Case 2024-D007)
Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement: Disclosure of DoD Funding in Technical Publications (DFARS Case 2024-D003)
Proposal To Reissue and Modify Nationwide Permits
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, consisting of about 1.3 million men and women on active duty. They are backed, in case of emergency, by the 825,000 members of the Reserve and National Guard. In addition, there are about 600,000 civilian employees in the Defense Department. Under the President, who is also Commander in Chief, the Secretary of Defense exercises authority, direction, and control over the Department, which includes the separately organized military departments of Army, Navy, and Air Force, the Joint Chiefs of Staff providing military advice, the combatant commands, and defense agencies and field activities established for specific purposes. The National Security Act Amendments of 1949 redesignated the National Military Establishment as the Department of Defense and established it as an executive department (10 U.S.C. 111), headed by the Secretary of Defense.
USAF — Air Force Department
USA — Army Department
DARS — Defense Acquisition Regulations System
DCAA — Defense Contract Audit Agency
DCIS — Defense Criminal Investigative Service
DISA — Defense Information Systems Agency
DIA — Defense Intelligence Agency
DIS — Defense Investigative Service
DLA — Defense Logistics Agency
DMA — Defense Mapping Agency
DSWA — Defense Special Weapons Agency
COE — Engineers Corps
NGA — National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency
NSA/CSS — National Security Agency/Central Security Service
USN — Navy Department
USUHS — Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences