Federal Gateway to 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 to top

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.

Secretary of Defense

Office of the Secretary of Defense  covers offices, events, organization, etc.


Joint Chiefs of Staff to top

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 to top

Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS)  covers key JCS positions.

JCS Link (Welcome) 

About DefenseLINK

JCS Search

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. to top

Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs

American Forces Information Service   DOD news information service.

News Releases

DOD Libraries  extensive listing of such facilities.

Annual Reports to the President and Congress

DOD Publications Note

Publications  general information, reports, etc.

Government Documents and Information Center  websites for declassified information--Gulf War, FBI Files, etc.

Requests For Military Mailing Addresses

Writing to Our Troops

Magazines of the Armed Forces

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 Enlargement

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


Personnel Service

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.

Education Resources

General Space Available Information  flight availability data for service personnel.

Student Financial Aid  covers all major military services.

Education Benefits

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 Woman Home Page

Gender Integrated Training

Military Records Requests

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 to top

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 to top

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


Technical to top

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.

SDI Information Site

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.

U.S. Government Laboratories

Lab Areas of Interest  list of facilities.

DOD Laboratory Activities

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 Organizational Structure 

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 - DISACenter For Standards - DISA, andInformation 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.

Find Open Solicitations - DOD

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 Electronic Commerce

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.

DOD Quality Management Office

SBA's Minority Enterprise Development Home Page 

Special Note: The Federal Gateway's Navy and Air Force Business Matterslistings compliment the above information. 


Joint Service Schools to top

          Other Federal Education Institutions

Defense Acquisition Universityto top

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 to top

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 to top

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

________________________________________________________________

Industrial College of the Armed Forcesto top

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 to top

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 to top

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 to top

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 to top

Its mission is to educate military and civilian intelligence professionals and conduct and disseminate relevant intelligence research.

Location:Washington, D.C. 20340

________________________________________________________________

Other Federal Educational Institutions

Informational Resources Management Education

National War College

Naval War College

The United States Air Force Air War College

United States Army War College


Other Items of Interest to top

Weapons

U. S. Senate Committees, Etc

U. S. House of Representatives Armed Services Committee

National Guard  the National Guard Web site.

Uniform Code of Military Justice

DOD Other Links

U.S. Merchant Marine Academy

U.S. Coast Guard

American Legion

Veterans of Foreign Wars

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.

Selective Service System

American Red Cross

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.