Office of the Secretary of Defense Organizations
DoD Legacy Resource Management Program
In 1990, Congress passed legislation establishing the Legacy Resource Management Program to provide financial assistance to the Department of Defense (DoD) for installation-specific efforts to preserve our natural and cultural heritage. In 1996, the Legacy Resource Management Program was significantly amended by the National Defense Authorization Act to focus on DoD-wide national and regional projects. The program assists DoD in protecting and enhancing resources while enabling military readiness. A Legacy project may involve regional ecosystem management initiatives, habitat preservation efforts, archaeological investigations, invasive species control, Native American consultations, and/or monitoring and predicting migratory patterns of birds and animals.
DoD Native American Affairs Program
DoD’s Native American Affairs Program is managed by the Senior Advisor and Liaison for Native American Affairs (SALNAA). The SALNAA is responsible for developing and implementing DoD’s American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian consultant policies; managing the DoD Native American Lands Environmental Mitigation Program (NALEMP); advising DoD on matters relating to Native Americans and Native Hawaiian organizations; managing DoD outreach activities to Tribal governments on behalf of the Office of the Secretary of Defense; and facilitating Tribal nations’ contact with DoD offices on matters of concern.
Native American Lands Environmental Mitigation Program (NALEMP)
DoD’s NALEMP program addresses environmental impacts on Indian lands and Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act-conveyed properties from former DoD activities with maximum Tribal participation, through government-to-government consultation.
Secretary of Defense Environmental Awards Program
The Secretary of Defense Environmental Awards celebrate Military Service members and civilians for their exceptional commitment to protecting human health and the environment while advancing the military mission. The Awards honor installations, teams, and individuals for outstanding conservation achievements, innovative environmental practices, and partnerships that improve quality of life and promote efficiencies without compromising mission success.
Office of the Secretary of Defense Historical Office
The mission of the historical office is to collect, preserve, and present the history of the Office of the Secretary of Defense, to support Department of Defense (DoD) leadership and inform the American public. Key responsibilities include preparing and publishing the series, History of the Office of the Secretary of Defense; provide expertise in support of the historical activities of DoD; represent DoD before other government agencies on matters related to history, including serving on advisory panels and commissions on behalf of DoD; coordinate joint historical efforts among the military service and Defense Agency history offices; and prepare special historical studies and perform special assignments.
DoD Component Cultural Resources Programs
Army Environmental Command Cultural Resources Program
The Army is a leader in federal cultural resources management. It administers more than 100,000 cultural resources on some 15 million acres of land. The Cultural Resources Management Program at the U.S. Army Environmental Command (USAEC) assists installations in meeting their compliance needs with respect to these resources by developing programmatic compliance solutions and technical documents and providing technical support to installations. The Cultural Resources Program seeks to support the mission by improving sustainability within the Army and developing cost-effective tools to improve compliance practices.
NAVFAC Cultural Resources Program
Protection of the nation’s heritage is an essential part of the Department of the Navy (DON) mission – defense of the people, territory, institutions, and heritage of the United States. DON owns historic buildings, structures, districts, archeological sites and artifacts, historic ships and aircraft, and other cultural resources. Protection of these components of the nation’s heritage is an essential part of the defense mission; DON is committed to responsible cultural resources stewardship.
Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps (HQMC) consists of the Commandant of the Marine Corps and those staff agencies that advise and assist him in discharging his responsibilities prescribed by law and higher authority. The Commandant is directly responsible to the Secretary of the Navy for the total performance of the Marine Corps. This includes the administration, discipline, internal organization, training, requirements, efficiency, and readiness of the service. Also, as the Commandant is a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, HQMC supports this position in its interaction with the Joint Staff. The Commandant is also responsible for the operation of the Marine Corps material support system.
U.S. Air Force Cultural Resources Program
The AFCEC cultural resources staff oversees and manages the Air Force’s cultural resource management program. The staff provides programming, planning, execution, and budgeting, as well as consulting and contracting services to the secretary of the Air Force, headquarters Air Force, major commands and installations.
Defense Logistics Agency, Disposition Services
The Defense Logistics Agency manages the end-to-end global defense supply chain — from raw materials to end user disposition — for the five military services, 11 combatant commands, other federal, state, and local agencies partner and allied nations. DLA offerings include Equipment Disposition, Document Services, Products and Materials, Services, and Programs.
Washington Headquarters Services, Facilities Services Directorate
Facilities Services Directorate (FSD) provides comprehensive lifecycle facility management supporting the day-to-day working environment of nearly 64,000 employees of the Department in approximately 15 million square feet of facilities across the National Capital Region (NCR). FSD supports a customer base of about 60,000 civilian and military personnel, including the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Defense Agencies, and the military departments in the National Capital Region. FSD provides administrative and operational support to specified DoD activities, including space management, maintenance, repair and alteration of assigned buildings, parking, custodial services, transportation, landscape maintenance, trash and debris removal, building operations, construction management, property management, and other support services. Within this Directorate are a host of programs designed to support all who are working in the managed and leased building overseen by Washington Headquarters Services.
Military Museums
National Museum of the Marine Corps
Federal Agency Partners
Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP)
The ACHP is an independent Federal agency that promotes the preservation, enhancement, and productive use of the Nation’s historic resources, and advises the President and Congress on national historic preservation policy. The ACHP offers a variety of free and affordable on-demand, web-based courses, including What is Section 106?; Successfully Navigating Section 106 Review: An Orientation for Applicants; Coordinating National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and Section 106; Basics of NEPA and Section 106 Integration; and Early Coordination with Indian Tribes in Infrastructure Projects.
National Park Service: Cultural Resources, Partnerships and Science Directorate
The National Park Service’s (NPS) Cultural Resources Stewardship, Partnerships, and Science Directorate provides leadership for the protection and interpretation of the nation’s heritage, guides a national historic preservation program that embraces national parks and heritage resources, engages all American peoples with the places and stories that make up their national identity, and serves as a model for the stewardship of cultural resources throughout the world.
National Park Service: Archeology Program
Paralleling the NPS Mission, the Archeology Program aims to preserve and protect the nation’s archeological heritage for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations. It provides national leadership, coordination, and technical guidance to assist parks, regions, and partners with the preservation and protection of archeological resources. The Archeology Program is situated in the Cultural Resources Stewardship, Partnerships, and Science Directorate at the Washington Support Office. It is part of the Federal Archeology Program, and staff assists the Departmental Consulting Archeologist with carrying out functions delegated by the Secretary of the Interior.
National Park Service: Historic Preservation Program
Within the National Park Service, many people work in historic preservation: archeologists, architects, curators, historians, landscape architects, and other cultural resource professionals. The National Park Service carries out historic preservation both within and outside the National Park System.
National Center for Preservation Training and Technology (NCPTT)
The NCPTT helps preservationists find better tools, materials, and approaches to conserving buildings, landscapes, sites, and collections.
Arlington National Cemetery represents the American people for past, present, and future generations by laying to rest those few who have served our nation with dignity and honor, while immersing guests in the cemetery’s living history.
National Cemetery Administration
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs operates 155 national cemeteries and 34 soldiers’ lots and monument sites in 42 states and Puerto Rico. More than 4 million Americans, including Veterans of every war and conflict, are buried in VA’s national cemeteries. VA also provides funding to establish, expand, improve, and maintain 121 Veterans cemeteries in 48 states and territories including tribal trust lands, Guam, and Saipan. For Veterans not buried in a VA national cemetery, VA provides headstones, markers, or medallions to commemorate their service. In 2017, VA honored more than 361,892 Veterans and their loved ones with memorial benefits in national, state, tribal and private cemeteries.
Stakeholders and Partner Organizations
National Conference of State Historic Preservation Officers (NCSHPO)
The NCSHPO is a nonprofit organization whose members are SHPOs. The NCSHPO supports communication among SHPOs, Federal agencies, and other organizations. It also educates the public and elected officials about the national historic preservation program, legislation, policies, and regulations.
The Digital Archaeological Record (tDAR)
tDAR is an international digital repository for the digital records of archaeological investigations. tDAR’s use, development, and maintenance are governed by Digital Antiquity, an organization dedicated to ensuring the long-term preservation of irreplaceable archaeological data and to broadening the access to these data.
National Association of Tribal Historic Preservation Officers (NATHPO)
NATHPO is a national, nonprofit corporation composed of THPOs and associate member Tribes. NATHPO’s overarching purpose is to support the preservation, maintenance, and revitalization of the culture and traditions of Native peoples of the United States.
Please visit the NATHPO directory for more information on participating Tribes.