In a press release on 21 December 2018, the U.S. Department of Defense announced that blockchain technology may be adopted by the department in the future in hopes of improving disaster relief operations.

The Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) recently had its Troop Support division hold a meeting earlier this month at its Philadelphia Continuous Process Improvement (CPI) office. The aim of the meeting was to review how the technology could provide more support and help during emergency disasters. Support operations during the devastating Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico was used as a case study during the meeting.

Blockchain was supposedly expected to improve mainly aspects related to information tracking and updating. As of now, the DLA utilises centralized managing systems to track logistics processes, where it is difficult to ensure all data are synchronized and all involved parties are tracking uniform and updated information. With the implementation of blockchain, it would become easier for all these to be achieved.

Additionally, Marko Graham, deputy director of the DLA Construction and Equipment unit, also commented that the innovation could help in disaster relief operations where tracking of shipments and material specifications data is required. The technology could also help when purchasing of materials in bulks are involved to process large transactions.

CPI management analyst Elijah Londo has high hopes for the technology, commenting that the tech has “enormous” potential. Londo believes that blockchain could be revolutionary like how multiple experts see it to be the Internet of trust and transactions instead of communication.

Londo further added that the department is keeping up with the technology and researching it. They are also speculating how the technology would impact the future and what are other industries using the technology for.

Blockchain has been researched and experimented by multiple departments and industries in the United States. For example, the Department of Homeland Security offered grants to acquire blockchain-based assistance in preventing the usage of fake documentation. The U.S. Navy also planned to add security to its manufacturing systems with the implementation of blockchain.