LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. –
The Defense Contract Management Agency’s transportation team recently coordinated with executive leadership to highlight how workforce readiness, acquisition reform and contract execution affect the secure and timely movement of defense materiel – a mission critical to national security and responsible use of taxpayer dollars.
During discussions with Walt Eady, executive director of the agency’s Technical Directorate, officials outlined how transportation execution supports the Department of War’s priorities to maintain readiness, modernize the force and strengthen accountability across the defense enterprise.
“Efficient transportation is not just a logistics function, but a key enabler of operational capability that ensures equipment reaches service members when and where it is needed,” said Eady.
One focal point of the discussion was DCMA’s Contractor Freight Movement Procedures program, or CFMP, a unique capability that streamlines shipping for qualified defense contractors while maintaining strict oversight. The program allows approved vendors to process select shipments directly through the Global Freight Management system, eliminating the need for standard Shipping Instruction Requests while remaining fully compliant with Defense Transportation Regulations and DCMA policy.
DCMA currently supports 33 approved vendors across 58 locations nationwide through the CFMP program. Two dedicated transportation teams oversee each shipment and provide end-to-end visibility and accountability.
“This program is designed to improve efficiency, reduce administrative delays and help ensure taxpayer-funded materiel moves securely through the defense supply chain,” said Larry Earick, transportation director. “CFMP directly supports mission assurance by improving efficiency and reducing administrative delays in the defense supply chain. This ensures taxpayer-funded materiel moves securely and reaches the warfighter faster.”
Transportation officials also cautioned that limited personnel and resources create execution risks as demand for the program increases. Those challenges reflect broader workforce pressures across DCMA Transportation, where leaders discussed hiring actions planned through fiscal year 2026 and the importance of having recruitment packages ready once funding becomes available.
“DCMA Transportation attracts and retains talent while continuing to balance workforce development,” Eady said. “Workforce readiness directly supports the DOW’s modernization and industrial base rebuilding efforts, especially as production demands continue to rise.”
Training was another key topic as leaders described how funding constraints affect workforce development. Most new transportation employees currently undergo on-the-job training to learn complex regulations and processes. To improve consistency and reduce risk, DCMA Transportation is developing structured courses through the Warfighting Acquisition University tailored specifically to transportation mission requirements.
“This effort supports modernization by standardizing training across the workforce, improving efficiency and strengthening accountability in how transportation services are executed,” said Sean Trigg, a DCMA transportation management supervisor. “The proactive collaboration across acquisition, logistics and contract management helps ensure production increase translates to real operation capability, rather than bottlenecks.”
The discussion also addressed how acquisition reform and increased production requirements are reshaping transportation and contract management workloads across the defense enterprise. Eady outlined new production expectations for several programs, noting that accelerated timelines place additional pressure on transportation, contracting and oversight functions. The Navy’s PMA-280 Tomahawk cruise missile program was cited as one example of how increased output requires tighter coordination across organizations to prevent delays.
Taken together, the discussions reinforced DCMA Transportation’s role in ensuring defense materiel moves safely, securely and efficiently in support of the DOW mission. By aligning workforce planning, training modernization and acquisition reform with strategic priorities, DCMA continues to strengthen readiness while safeguarding public trust in how defense resources are managed.