Eastern Distribution Center
Encyclopedia
The Eastern Distribution Center (EDC), located in New Cumberland, Pennsylvania
, 3 miles (4.8 km) west of Harrisburg
, is home to the largest distribution facility operated by the United States
Department of Defense
. It is managed by the Defense Logistics Agency
(DLA) and is part of the Defense Distribution Depot Susquehanna (DDSP), which includes the operations of the nearby Naval Support Activity (NAVSUP) in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania
.
In April 1990 Secretary of Defense
Dick Cheney
directed that all the distribution depots of the military services and DLA be consolidated into a single, unified materiel distribution system to reduce overhead and costs. The consolidation began in October 1990 and was completed March 16, 1992. The system consisted of 30 depots at 32 sites with 62 storage locations, which stored over 8.7 million spare parts, subsistence, and other consumable items worth $127 billion in 788 million square feet (73 km²) of storage. Until September 1997, two regional offices - Defense Distribution Region East in New Cumberland, Pennsylvania
, and Defense Distribution Region West in Stockton, California
, managed a vast network of distribution depots within their respective geographic boundaries. They later merged into the Defense Distribution Center, New Cumberland. The name of the facility was later changed to the Eastern Distribution Center.
Also under DDC’s auspices is the Defense Distribution Depot, Susquehanna, PA (DDSP), which includes operations of the nearby Naval Support Activity (NAVSUP) in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania
. DDSP is the largest of the 24 depots and supports a customer base that includes Europe
, North Africa
, Central
and South America
, Southwest Asia
and the eastern half of the United States. DDSP is also the site of the Eastern Distribution Center, which is the largest automated warehouse in the Department of Defense. Tenants at DDC’s New Cumberland base include all branches of the Armed Forces
.
New Cumberland, Pennsylvania
New Cumberland is a municipality at the eastern tip of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, United States. New Cumberland was incorporated as a borough on March 21, 1831. The population was 7,349 at the 2000 census...
, 3 miles (4.8 km) west of Harrisburg
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Harrisburg is the capital of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 49,528, making it the ninth largest city in Pennsylvania...
, is home to the largest distribution facility operated by the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Department of Defense
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
. It is managed by the Defense Logistics Agency
Defense Logistics Agency
The Defense Logistics Agency is an agency in the United States Department of Defense, with more than 26,000 civilian and military personnel throughout the world...
(DLA) and is part of the Defense Distribution Depot Susquehanna (DDSP), which includes the operations of the nearby Naval Support Activity (NAVSUP) in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania
Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania
Mechanicsburg is a borough in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, USA, eight miles west of Harrisburg. It is part of the Harrisburg–Carlisle Metropolitan Statistical Area. Mechanicsburg was settled in 1806 and incorporated as a borough on April 12, 1828...
.
History
This military installation was originally built in the latter stages of the First World War under the supervision of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, but currently serves as a consolidated management and logistics center based upon a restructuring pursued in the 1990s.In April 1990 Secretary of Defense
United States Secretary of Defense
The Secretary of Defense is the head and chief executive officer of the Department of Defense of the United States of America. This position corresponds to what is generally known as a Defense Minister in other countries...
Dick Cheney
Dick Cheney
Richard Bruce "Dick" Cheney served as the 46th Vice President of the United States , under George W. Bush....
directed that all the distribution depots of the military services and DLA be consolidated into a single, unified materiel distribution system to reduce overhead and costs. The consolidation began in October 1990 and was completed March 16, 1992. The system consisted of 30 depots at 32 sites with 62 storage locations, which stored over 8.7 million spare parts, subsistence, and other consumable items worth $127 billion in 788 million square feet (73 km²) of storage. Until September 1997, two regional offices - Defense Distribution Region East in New Cumberland, Pennsylvania
New Cumberland, Pennsylvania
New Cumberland is a municipality at the eastern tip of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, United States. New Cumberland was incorporated as a borough on March 21, 1831. The population was 7,349 at the 2000 census...
, and Defense Distribution Region West in Stockton, California
Stockton, California
Stockton, California, the seat of San Joaquin County, is the fourth-largest city in the Central Valley of the U.S. state of California. With a population of 291,707 at the 2010 census, Stockton ranks as this state's 13th largest city...
, managed a vast network of distribution depots within their respective geographic boundaries. They later merged into the Defense Distribution Center, New Cumberland. The name of the facility was later changed to the Eastern Distribution Center.
Also under DDC’s auspices is the Defense Distribution Depot, Susquehanna, PA (DDSP), which includes operations of the nearby Naval Support Activity (NAVSUP) in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania
Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania
Mechanicsburg is a borough in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, USA, eight miles west of Harrisburg. It is part of the Harrisburg–Carlisle Metropolitan Statistical Area. Mechanicsburg was settled in 1806 and incorporated as a borough on April 12, 1828...
. DDSP is the largest of the 24 depots and supports a customer base that includes Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, North Africa
North Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
, Central
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
and South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
, Southwest Asia
Southwest Asia
Western Asia, West Asia, Southwest Asia or Southwestern Asia are terms that describe the westernmost portion of Asia. The terms are partly coterminous with the Middle East, which describes a geographical position in relation to Western Europe rather than its location within Asia...
and the eastern half of the United States. DDSP is also the site of the Eastern Distribution Center, which is the largest automated warehouse in the Department of Defense. Tenants at DDC’s New Cumberland base include all branches of the Armed Forces
United States armed forces
The United States Armed Forces are the military forces of the United States. They consist of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard.The United States has a strong tradition of civilian control of the military...
.