Risk to Readiness: DLA leaders discuss the future of contested logistics at the 2026 Defense Logistics & Energy ...

FORT BELVOIR, Va. -

The Defense Logistics Agency director and DLA Energy leaders joined industry representatives and military leaders from around the globe at the 2026 Defense Logistics & Energy Summit Sept. 9-10 at the Marriott in Falls Church, Virginia, to discuss how innovation, modernization and strategic partnerships are strengthening military readiness in an increasingly contested logistics environment.

The two-day summit combined the Operational Energy Summit and Defense Logistics & Support Summit into one event. On the eve of the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, DLA Director Army Lt. Gen. Mark T. Simerly emphasized that the era is defined by contested logistics and accelerating threats, where strength is measured by the nation's ability to sustain the fight.

"The days of secure and predictable logistics environments are over," Simerly said. "Our supply chains now face growing risks - cyber threats, geopolitical instability and physical disruptions across contested regions."

Simerly spoke about the "Risk-to-Readiness Arc," outlining how the agency identifies emerging threats and implements solutions that deliver the readiness the joint force requires.

He highlighted how the agency is modernizing business systems, leveraging artificial intelligence and strengthening global fuel infrastructure to identify emerging threats before they become operational risks. He pointed to capabilities such as DLA's transition to the High-Performance Analytics Appliance, or S/4 HANA, a modern business system that enables DLA to gain live insights into its operations; the Petroleum Logistics Utilization Tool and Optimization, or PLUTO, an artificial intelligence-enabled logistics tool for real-time situational awareness across the joint petroleum enterprise; and the new Defense Fuel Support Points in the Pacific.

"Energy and fuel will be high-value targets and decisive factors in operational success," Simerly said. "Delivering on time, in the right quantity and under threat will demand unprecedented coordination, resilience and innovation across government and industry."

The summit centered on the vital role logistics plays in the nation's global military operations, requiring closer collaboration between government and industry. Several sessions featured DLA leaders.

Lindsey Hicks, the strategic energy program manager in DLA Energy's Quality Research and Development Division, led a discussion on how research and development is shaping future energy capabilities to address supply chain challenges and advancing energy innovation while balancing operational cost and risk. Doug Smith, DLA Energy's director of Aerospace Energy, highlighted the agency's support for the historic Artemis II mission, emphasizing the importance of resilient aerospace energy supply chains and data-driven modernization efforts. Adarryl Roberts, DLA's chief information officer, shared updates on the agency's digital transformation strategy, highlighting how artificial intelligence, machine learning, predictive analytics and automation are used to enhance supply chain management and agency decision-making.

Additional summit session topics included right-to-repair initiatives for munitions electronics, nuclear microreactor projects, NATO logistics and sustainment, and the role of logistics in enabling military lethality.

"Our value is not simply delivering a product. It is ensuring assured access, quality, safety, storage, distribution and technical expertise across the full supply chain. In a contested logistics environment, those capabilities become a strategic advantage," Smith said. "The force cannot wait for a disrupted commercial market, a delayed shipment or a single point of failure to be resolved. Readiness depends on having reliable supply networks, resilient infrastructure, and trusted partnerships in place before a crisis."

While resilient supply chains remain fundamental to military readiness, Roberts said the next advantage lies in how DLA leverages data to support decision-making. Through the agency's digital transformation efforts, artificial intelligence is being used as a decision-support tool that enables employees to spend less time gathering information and more time applying critical thinking to support the mission.

"We really need to look at this as a digital employee. This digital employee isn't competition for our workforce. It enables our workforce to be even better than they are today," Roberts said. "Everything that we do today and what we're planning for in the future in terms of our IT and our digital footprint has enhanced DLA's mission effectiveness in support of the warfighter."