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Updated November 24, 2020
Defense Primer: Military Installations Management
The Department of Defense (DOD) and the Military
environmental restoration and compliance, installation and
Departments (MILDEPs) maintain distinctive
operational energy resilience, and occupational safety
organizational structures (Figure 1), policies, and programs
programs.” Within OASD(S), the Office of Facilities
for managing their installations. Title 10 United States
Management is the program manager and policy advocate
Code (U.S.C.) §2801 defines a military installation as “a
for DOD-managed installations.
base, camp, post, station, yard, center, or other activity
under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of a [MILDEP] or, in
Installation support services for DOD-managed facilities
the case of an activity in a foreign country, under the
are generally provided by an associated DOD component
operational control of the Secretary of a [MILDEP] or the
(i.e., a defense agency, field activity, or U.S. Special
Secretary of Defense.” Title 16 U.S.C. §670 further defines
Operations Command). However, if the DOD facility
the term with respect to conservation programs as “any
resides on a MILDEP-owned installation, then the host
land, or interest in land, owned by the United States and
military service may also provide certain upkeep services.
administered by the Secretary of Defense or the Secretary
Army Installations
of a [MILDEP], except land under the jurisdiction of the
Assistant Secretary of the Army having responsibility for
Within Headquarters, Department of the Army, the Office
civil works.” In general, these definitions include all types
of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations,
of real property—buildings, training ranges, and supporting
Energy, and Environment, OASA (IE&E), “establishes
infrastructure—that reside on a military installation.
policy, provides strategic direction, and supervises all
matters pertaining to infrastructure, Army installations and
Installations management includes overseeing, planning,
contingency bases, energy, and environmental programs”
programming, and implementing major activities at military
for the Army. The Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-9
installations, such as installation master planning; facility
(Installations), led by the Deputy Chief of Staff (DCS), G-9,
planning and design; military construction (MILCON);
serves as the link between the Army Secretariat and the
facilities sustainment, restoration, and modernization
Army’s Land Holding Commands (LHCs). The DCS, G-9
(FSRM); military housing; and the reutilization or disposal
administers the Installation Program Evaluation Group,
of real property. These activities can include several sub-
leads the Army's Quality of Life effort, and synchronizes
activities such as maintaining real property inventories and
Army programs, processes, and regulatory guidance to
performing condition assessments, reviewing real estate
ensure LHCs that retain the Army’s real property have the
agreements, maintaining installation force protection, or
resources needed for infrastructure and installation services.
contracting for utility services.
With the exception of Army National Guard facilities,
Examples of DOD programs that fall under the umbrella of
which are typically managed by states, the Army manages
military installations management include the
installations through its Installation Management Command
(IMCOM). IMCOM handles the day-to-day operations of
Military Housing Privatization Initiative;
Army installations, providing services such as fire safety,
Energy Resilience and Conservation Investment
policing, housing, and child care. IMCOM also oversees the
Program;
Army Safety program. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Defense Environmental Restoration Program; and
(USACE) supports Army installations, and, as applicable,
other military services and DOD components’ installations,
Child Development Programs.
by providing technical expertise and capabilities. Individual
Current defense-wide issuances that address real property
installation management, planning, and leadership is
and associated installation management activities include
provided by the local installation commander, known as a
DOD Directive 4165.06 Real Property and the 4165 series
Garrison Commander in the Army.
of DOD Instructions. Additional installation management
Navy Installations
policies are set by each MILDEP, or the Office of the
Secretary of Defense (OSD) for real property they manage.
Within the Department of the Navy, the Office of the
OSD-Managed Installations
Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Energy, Installations
and Environment, OASN (EI&E), is responsible for policy
DOD manages its installations (those not under jurisdiction
related to the Navy’s “energy security; acquisition and
or operational control of a MILDEP) through the Office of
disposal of real property; construction and maintenance of
the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Sustainment, or
installations; protecting the safety and occupational health
OASD(S). The Assistant Secretary of Defense for
of the military and civilian personnel; environmental
Sustainment has overall responsibility for DOD’s
protection, planning and restoration ashore and afloat; and
“planning, programs, and capacity to provide mission
conservation of natural and cultural resources.” The Deputy
assurance through facilities investment, MILCON,
Chief of Naval Operations for Fleet Readiness and
https://crsreports.congress.gov
Defense Primer: Military Installations Management
Logistics (OPNAV N4) is responsible for the resourcing of
(HAF) sets policy, manages programs, and prepares
shore installations to maintain Navy readiness.
budgets for installations, largely through HAF Logistics,
Engineering, and Force Protection (HAF/A4).
The Commander, Navy Installations Command (CNIC) is
The Air Force’s major commands (MAJCOMs) conduct
responsible for worldwide Navy shore installation
day-to-day management of Air Force installations through
management, which includes operations, maintenance,
their installation commanders (generally the Wing
housing and safety, and Quality of Life programs. The
Commander at an air base). These commanders rely upon
Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command
the Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center
(NAVFAC) delivers engineering and acquisition support to
(AFIMSC), a subordinate unit to the Air Force Materiel
installations, and is “the technical authority for all matters
Command (AFMC), to execute installation programs and
relating to facilities engineering policies and practices.”
projects. AFIMSC is a “single intermediate-level
NAVFAC plans, builds, and maintains sustainable
headquarters responsible for providing installation and
facilities, and delivers environmental, utilities, and other
mission support capabilities to Air Force installations, the
installation services to both the Navy and Marine Corps.
MAJCOMs, and two direct reporting units.” AFIMSC
Marine Corps Installations
houses the Air Force Civil Engineer Center (AFCEC), a
OASN (EI&E) is also responsible for Marine Corps
unit that provides installation engineering services.
installations. Within the Department of the Navy and
Types of Funding
Headquarters Marine Corps (HQMC), the Deputy
Base budget funding for most installation personnel and
Commandant for Installations and Logistics (DC I&L) is
infrastructure support services is contained within defense
responsible for providing ready and resilient bases, leading
operations and maintenance (O&M) accounts. However,
modernization efforts, and developing infrastructure. The
defense working capital funds can also be used to provide
Marine Corps manages its installations through its Marine
funding for utilities, maintenance and repair services, and
Corps Installations Command (MCICOM). MCICOM
other installation-related work performed (See CRS In
“exercises command and control of Marine Corps
Focus IF11233, Defense Primer: Defense Working Capital
Installations via regional commanders in order to provide
Funds, by G. James Herrera). MILCON funds are used at
oversight, direction, and coordination of installation
military installations typically for facility recapitalization
services.” Like CNIC, MCICOM works with NAVFAC to
through new construction.
execute installation projects and services.
Air Force Installations
Role of Congress
Installations management includes ensuring military
The Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for
facilities and training ranges, housing, and other supporting
Installations, Environment, and Energy (SAF/IE) is
infrastructure are safe, environmentally responsible and
responsible for “installations strategy and strategic basing
resilient to manmade and natural threats, are cost-effective,
processes; built and natural infrastructure; facility, process,
yet still able to meet mission requirements. Congress
and operational energy; environment, safety and
appropriates funds and conducts oversight of installation
occupational health; and [ensuring] the sustainability and
management policies, programs, and associated activities to
operational readiness” of the Air Force. SAF/IE provides
ensure the military and its support contractors carry them
oversight for all plans, policies, and programs related to Air
out in a responsible manner.
Force installations. The Air Staff of Headquarters Air Force
Figure 1. Military Installations Management Structures
Source: CRS Graphics.
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Defense Primer: Military Installations Management
IF11263
G. James Herrera, Analyst in U.S. Defense Readiness and
Infrastructure
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