Our Mission & History
The Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation is a Field Activity within the Department of Defense and provides technical and financial assistance to states, territories and communities that are invested in the defense mission. Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation assistance supports the readiness and resiliency of both defense installations and defense communities, a priority for the country’s National Defense Strategy.
Mission
The Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation, in coordination with the other Federal Agencies, delivers a program of technical and financial assistance to enable states, territories and communities to plan and carry out civilian responses to workforce, business, and community needs arising from Defense actions and policies; cooperate with their military installations and leverage public and private capabilities to deliver public infrastructure and services to enhance the military mission, achieve facility and infrastructure savings as well as reduced operating costs; and, increase military, civilian, and industrial readiness and resiliency, and support military families.
History
Founded in 1961, the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation, formerly the Office of Economic Adjustment (OEA), continues to assist communities across all 50 states and the U.S. territories. These communities have different economic profiles and demographic make-ups but share the goal of supporting the military mission.
With headquarters in Arlington, Virginia and the Western Regional Office in Sacramento, California, the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation employs an interdisciplinary staff that helps states, territories and communities support the National Security Strategy by achieving economic resiliency and agility in the face of shifting Department of Defense priorities. This is done by engaging with state, territorial and community leaders, the Military Services, and other Federal agencies to develop strategies around positive economic growth; support nearby civilian use adjustments; and ensure the balance of community growth in order to enhance the readiness, resiliency and sustainability of installations and in support of the military mission.
Organizational Structure
The Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation is a Field Activity within the Office of the Secretary of Defense, under the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment (A&S). The Office is under the purview of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Energy, Installations and Environment).
Unique Operating Authority
OLDCC executes assistance on behalf of the Department of Defense under statutory authority [Title 10, Section 2391] to make grants, conclude cooperative agreements, and supplement other Federal programs to work with states and communities.
Executive Order 12788, as amended, establishes the Defense Economic Adjustment Program and Economic Adjustment Committee: “The head of the Department of Defense's Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation shall provide all necessary policy and administrative support for the Committee and shall be responsible for coordinating the application of the Defense Economic Adjustment Program to Department of Defense activities.”
Contact Us
For more information about the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation, please contact us.