The Department of Defense is composed of several parts. Each of the three branches of the Department have their own bureaus. These bureaus have a variety of tasks to perform, from testing and training to procurement. These organizations are active in both domestic and international areas. The Department of Defense is a government-funded entity, which is led by the Secretary of Defense. The Department of Defense has many functions. It is responsible for procuring technology and equipment for defense. The Department of Defense is also responsible for research and development, military training, and personnel management. The Department of Defense is also responsible to coordinate the military's worldwide activities.
The Department of Defense is not the only federal agency. There are also the Office of the Secretary of Defense as well as the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. The Department of Energy and Department of Defense Accountability Office are just a few of the other agencies. The Department of Defense includes the Office of the Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and the Office of the Assist Secretary of Defense for Science and Technology. The Office of the Secretary of Defense, and the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense to Strategic Concepts are two other agencies. A number of organizations are charged with assessing the nation's defenses and determining whether different strategies would be feasible. They also have the responsibility of drafting a single national defense plan. The Department of Defense is also responsible for implementing the National Defense Sustainment and Logistics Review.
A separate Advisory Panel on Weapon System Sustainability is also available to the Department of Defense. This group has been around for a while and advises the Department of Defense in matters pertaining weapon system sustainability. This group is comprised of representatives from academia, defense industry and the armed services. The group has performed a number of studies on the feasibility of various technologies and will recommend the best path forward to meet future needs.
The Department of Defense holds a huge inventory of assets. This includes the total number, number of aircraft and personnel, in Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps, and the number, respectively, of military personnel in various branches of each service. This inventory is complemented by a number of sub-inventory groups, including the Air Force, the Joint Staff, and the force positioning group. Anyone with a Department of Defense userID and password can access this inventory. The force posture, which is the military's level of military readiness, is the most important component in the inventory. This is critical because it influences the overall effectiveness of a force.
The Department of Defense has a remarkable list of accomplishments to its credit. The F-35A fighter plane was one of its most significant achievements. This aircraft can be used to transport fuel tanker aircraft as well as defend airbases against missile threats. The Air Force has also developed a large aircraft procurement program for fiscal 2020. This plan includes operational support and executive lift aircraft.