https://crsreports.congress.gov
Updated December 3, 2021
Defense Primer: Military Installations Management
The Department of Defense (DOD) and the Military
Departments (MILDEPs) maintain distinctive
organizational structures (Figure 1), policies, and programs
for managing their installations. Title 10 United States
Code (U.S.C.) §2801 defines a military installation as “a
base, camp, post, station, yard, center, or other activity
under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of a [MILDEP] or, in
the case of an activity in a foreign country, under the
operational control of the Secretary of a [MILDEP] or the
Secretary of Defense.” Title 16 U.S.C. §670 further defines
the term with respect to conservation programs as “any
land, or interest in land, owned by the United States and
administered by the Secretary of Defense or the Secretary
of a [MILDEP], except land under the jurisdiction of the
Assistant Secretary of the Army having responsibility for
civil works.” In general, these definitions include all types
of real property—buildings, training ranges, and supporting
infrastructure—that reside on a military installation.
Installations management includes overseeing, planning,
programming, and implementing major activities at military
installations, such as installation master planning; facility
planning and design; military construction (MILCON);
facilities sustainment, restoration, and modernization
(FSRM); military housing; and the reutilization or disposal
of real property. These activities can include several sub-
activities such as maintaining real property inventories and
performing condition assessments, reviewing real estate
agreements, maintaining installation force protection, or
contracting for utility services.
Examples of DOD programs that fall under the umbrella of
military installations management include the
Military Housing Privatization Initiative (MHPI);
Energy Resilience and Conservation Investment
Program; and
Defense Environmental Restoration Program.
Current defense-wide issuances that address real property
and associated installation management activities include
DOD Directive 4165.06 Real Property and the 4165 series
of DOD Instructions. Additional installation management
policies are set by each MILDEP, or the Office of the
Secretary of Defense (OSD) for real property they manage.
OSD-Managed Installations
DOD manages its installations (those not under jurisdiction
or operational control of a MILDEP) through the Office of
the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Sustainment, or
OASD(S). The Assistant Secretary of Defense for
Sustainment has overall responsibility for “logistics,
materiel readiness, product support, military construction,
military housing, energy, environment, and real property.”
Within OASD(S), the Office of the Deputy Assistant
Secretary of Defense for Construction (ODASD (Con)) is
the program manager and central policy advocate for OSD-
managed installations. ODASD (Con) principal programs
include:
MILCON
FSRM
Department of Defense Explosives Safety Board
Unified Facilities Criteria
Sustainment Managements Systems
Installation support services for OSD-managed facilities are
generally provided by an associated DOD component (i.e.,
a defense agency, field activity, or combatant command).
However, if the facility resides on a MILDEP-owned
installation, then the host MILDEP may also provide
certain installation services.
Army Installations
Within Headquarters, Department of the Army, the Office
of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations,
Energy, and Environment, OASA (IE&E), “establishes
policy, provides strategic direction, and supervises all
matters pertaining to infrastructure, Army installations and
contingency bases, energy, and environmental programs”
for the Army. The Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-9
(Installations), led by the Deputy Chief of Staff (DCS), G-9,
serves as the link between the Army Secretariat and the
Army’s Land Holding Commands (LHCs). The DCS, G-9
administers the Installation Program Evaluation Group,
leads the Army’s Quality of Life effort, and synchronizes
Army programs, processes, and regulatory guidance to
ensure LHCs that retain the Army’s real property have the
resources needed for infrastructure and installation services.
With the exception of Army National Guard facilities,
which are typically managed by states, the Army manages
installations through its Installation Management Command
(IMCOM). IMCOM handles the day-to-day operations of
Army installations, providing services such as fire safety,
policing, housing, and child care. IMCOM also oversees the
Army Safety program. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
supports Army installations, and, as applicable, the other
military services and DOD components’ installations, by
providing technical expertise and contracting capabilities.
Individual installation management, planning, and
leadership is provided by the local installation commander,
known as a Garrison Commander in the Army.
Navy Installations
Within the Department of the Navy, the Office of the
Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Energy, Installations
and Environment, OASN (EI&E), is responsible for policy
related to the Navy’s “energy security; the acquisition and
disposal of real property; construction and maintenance of
installations; protecting the safety and occupational health
of the military and civilian personnel; environmental
protection, planning and restoration ashore and afloat; and
