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Updated January 23, 2023
Defense Primer: Military Installations Management
The Department of Defense (DOD) and the three military
The DASD for Environment & Energy Resilience
departments—the Army, Navy, and Air Force —maintain
(E&ER) oversees efforts to ensure resilience and cyber-
distinctive organizational structures, policies, and programs
secure energy for weapon systems and installations.
for managing their installations. Section §2801 of Title 10,
This includes oversight of programs related to climate
United States Code (U.S.C.) defines a military installation
change, compliance with environmental laws and the
as “a base, camp, post, station, yard, center, or other activity
Energy Resilience and Conservation Investment
under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of a military
Program (ERCIP).
department or, in the case of an activity in a foreign
Current defense-wide issuances that address real property
country, under the operational control of the Secretary of a
and associated installation management activities include
military department or the Secretary of Defense, without
DOD Instructions in the 4165 series, which implement
regard to the duration of operational control.” In general,
related DOD policy.
this includes all types of real property—such as buildings,
training ranges, and supporting infrastructure—that are
Installation-Specific Policy and Governance
found on a military installation.
The military departments manage installations under their
Installation management involves overseeing a range of
jurisdiction (Figure 1Figure 1). Management includes
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activities, such as installation master planning; facility
development of service-wide MILCON plans, as well as
planning and design; military construction (MILCON);
prioritizing FSRM funding for repairs and modernization of
facilities sustainment, restoration, and modernization
infrastructure.
(FSRM); military housing; and the reutilization or disposal
Installation commanders provide oversight for base-level
of real property. It may also include activities such as
planning and operations. DOD maintains unique oversight
maintaining installation force protection, contracting for
for the Pentagon, which is managed by the Washington
utility services, managing support contractors, performing
Headquarters Services, a component of the OSD. For
condition assessments, or reviewing real estate agreements.
DOD’s twelve joint bases, each joint base has a military
Management Structures
department designated as a “lead component” that manages
the installation in coordination with supported components
DOD-Wide Policy and Governance
and tenant commands.
DOD’s Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and
DOD’s design and construction agents—the U.S. Army
Sustainment (USD(A&S)) has overall responsibility for the
Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the Naval Facilities
acquisition, management, and disposal of DOD real
Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) —are not part
property. Under the USD(A&S), the Assistant Secretary of
of DOD’s installation management governance, but do
Defense for Sustainment (ASD(Sustainment)) has overall
provide technical expertise and contracting support for the
responsibility for a portfolio that includes military
planning and execution of military construction projects.
construction, military housing, and real property. Several
Army Installations
Deputy Secretaries of Defense (DASDs) report to the
ASD(Sustainment), and oversee policy and budgetary
Within the Army, the Assistant Secretary of the Army for
matters related to installation management.
Installations, Energy, and Environment (ASA (IE&E))
oversees all matters pertaining to Army infrastructure and
The DASD for Construction oversees and coordinates
installations. The Deputy Chief of Staff, G-9 (Installations)
the MILCON budgeting process on behalf of the Office
serves as the link between the Army Secretariat and the
of the Secretary of Defense (OSD). The DASD has
Army commands that manage installations, a role that
responsibility for the Unified Facilities Criteria (UFC),
includes setting policy, managing programs, and preparing
which determines technical specifications and building
budgets for installations.
codes for military facilities. The office also oversees
With the exception of National Guard facilities, which are
DOD installations and facilities that do not fall under the
typically managed by states, the Army manages
jurisdiction of a military department.
installations through its Installation Management Command
The DASD for Real Property’s duties include managing
(IMCOM). IMCOM supports each installation’s
policy related to land acquisition and leases; overseeing
commander, known in the Army as a Garrison Commander,
the joint basing program; and policies related to
to provide for the day-to-day operations of Army
temporary contingency bases overseas. This office also
installations, including services such as fire safety, policing,
oversees some Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC)
housing, and childcare. Garrison commanders typically
issues.
report up the chain of command through IMCOM. The
The DASD for Housing serves as the statutorily defined
USACE supports Army installations, and, as applicable, the
Chief Housing Officer, and oversees programs that
other military services and DOD components’ installations,
include the Military Housing Privatization Initiative
by providing technical expertise and contracting
(MHPI) and the Homeowners Assistance Program.
capabilities.
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Defense Primer: Military Installations Management
Navy Installations
(HAF) sets policy, manages programs, and prepares
Within the Department of the Navy, the Assistant Secretary
budgets for installations, largely through HAF Logistics,
of the Navy for Energy, Installations and Environment
Engineering, and Force Protection (HAF/A4).
(ASN (EI&E)) is responsible for overseeing the Navy’s
The Air Force’s major commands (MAJCOMs) conduct
shore installations, construction programs and energy
day-to-day management of Air Force installations through
policies. The Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Fleet
their installation commanders (either operational wing
Readiness and Logistics (OPNAV N4) sets policy, manages
commanders who are ‘dual-hatted’ to manage an
programs, and prepares budgets for the shore installations.
installation as well as operational units, or “base wing
The Commander, Navy Installations Command (CNIC) is
commanders” whose primary role is installation
responsible for worldwide Navy shore installation
management. These commanders rely on the Air Force
management, which includes operations, maintenance,
Installation and Mission Support Center (AFIMSC) to
housing and safety, and quality of life programs. Navy
provide installation and mission support capabilities to Air
installation commanders report up the chain of command
Force installations. AFIMSC also houses the Air Force
through CNIC. NAVFAC supports Navy and Marine Corps
Civil Engineer Center (AFCEC), a unit that provides
commanders by providing technical expertise and
engineering and contracting services.
contracting capabilities.
Space Force Installations
Marine Corps Installations
Since establishment of the U.S. Space Force under the
As the Marine Corps falls under the Department of the
Department of the Air Force in 2019, six Air Force bases
Navy, the ASN (EI&E) is also responsible for overseeing
have been re-designated as Space Force bases (Patrick (FL);
Marine Corps installations. Within Headquarters Marine
Buckley (CO); Peterson (CO); Schriever (CO); Los
Corps (HQMC), the Deputy Commandant for Installations
Angeles (CA); and Vandenberg (CA)). Their installation
and Logistics (DC I&L) sets policy, manages programs, and
management structure remains unchanged. The Space Force
prepares budgets for Marine Corps installations. The
bases receive support from AFIMSC and the Air Force
Marine Corps manages its installations through Marine
leadership for policies and budgeting within the Department
Corps Installations Command (MCICOM). MCICOM
of the Air Force.
exercises command and control of Marine Corps
OSD-Managed Installations
installations via regional commanders and on-site
The ASD(S) provides oversight for installations not under
installation commanders. Like CNIC, MCICOM works
the jurisdiction or operational control of a military
with NAVFAC to execute installation projects and services.
department. That can, which include installations
Air Force Installations
supporting DOD components—for example, sites under
The Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Installations,
jurisdiction of combat support agencies such as the Defense
Environment, and Energy (SAF/IE) provides oversight for
Health Agency or the Defense Logistics Agency. The
all plans, policies, and programs related to Air Force
DASD for Construction is the program manager for OSD-
installations. The Air Staff of Headquarters U.S. Air Force
managed installations.
Figure 1. Military Installations Management Structures
Source: CRS graphic.
Andrew Tilghman, , Analyst in U.S. Defense
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Infrastructure Policyatilghman@crs.loc.gov, 7-0304
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