In the forty-five years since the last major study of defense logistics was published, a revolutionary change in information technology and defense strategy has swept the field and mandated a new understanding of the objectives and principles of military logistics. This comprehensive work addresses all aspects of the subject. Written by a renowned defense logistics expert, it covers force projection, force sustainment, and minimizing the logistics `footprint' in battle spaces. Gen. William Tuttle examines five principles that are employed to assess the effectiveness of the processes and identifies shortfalls and remedies. He also illuminates the major influences of culture and politics on defense logistics and proposes ways to minimize their adverse impact on combat readiness. This timely volume is certain to become a hallmark in the field of defense logistics for those currently coping with the challenges and for logisticians aspiring to lead, as well as for those involved in the complexities of planning and strategy. This book is published in cooperation with the Association of the United States Army. As the army's senior logistician, GENERAL WILLIAM G. T. TUTTLE, Jr., USA, (Ret.) led 100,000 soldiers and civilians of the U.S. army materiel command from 1989 until his retirement early in 1992, a period encompassing Operation Just Cause in Panama and Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. He now consults and lectures on logistics matters.