Organizing Defense Logistics

This thesis focused on the fundamental changes to logistics mandated by Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld through his designations of Defense Logistics Executive and Distribution Process Owner. The primary research question of this study was: What strategic organizational structures should exist within the Department of Defense to facilitate further integration of the defense supply chain? To answer this question, this thesis analyzed successful strategies from three supply chain paradigms: Academic, Military, and Corporate. A research model was developed to evaluate and compare the three paradigms according to six criteria. Each criterion represented a strategic structural requirement for an organization integrating its supply chain. Based on qualitative analysis, it concluded that there were four fundamental requirements for designing a strategic governance structure to facilitate supply chain integration in an organization. Finally, this thesis applied the research conclusions to the existing state of the Department of Defense supply chain and recommended a strategic structure to facilitate further integration.