Use of Contingency Contracting in a Deployed Environment at the Tactical Level

This thesis studied the use of contingency contracting, specifically the use of theater support contractors at the tactical level in a deployed environment and how this capability can be better used to provide logistical support for the tactical commander. It focused on current operations in Iraq and Afghanistan and units experiences with contracted support from local vendors. This thesis showed ways in which units could better prepare to conduct contracting operations as well as lessons learned from past deployments. It also recommended programs and control measures units could use as well as what staff sections to include when developing a contracting program. In the end, it theorized as to how contracting operations could be used as part of counterinsurgency operations.