DCMA strengthens oversight at War Department symposium

DCMA strengthens oversight at War Department symposium

By Elizabeth Szoke DCMA Public Affairs

The Defense Contract Management Agency sharpened its oversight of the nation's munitions enterprise during the Department of War Maintenance Symposium, where leaders pressed for faster production without sacrificing safety.

Eighteen DCMA Safety Center professionals attended the International Explosives Safety Summit and Exposition, held Jan. 19-23 at the Phoenix Convention Center in Phoenix, Arizona, as part of the broader DOW Maintenance Symposium. More than 2,300 maintainers and logisticians from across the military, government, industry and academia gathered under the theme Advancing Readiness to Exploit the Logistics Deterrent Effect.

War Department leaders called for increased lethality delivered with speed, strict safety standards and reduced life cycle costs. Speakers emphasized that adversaries target not only warfighters but also the domestic logistics and industrial base that sustains them.

"DCMA's participation during the symposium focused on explosives safety, a core mission area that directly supports the Defense Industrial Base and ensures contractors meet federal safety requirements while accelerating production," said Walt Eady, executive director of DCMA's Technical Directorate.

Eady served as a board member for DCMA, addressing regulatory reform, risk management and the need to embed explosives safety into strategic decision-making during an Explosives Safety Board panel with representatives from the military departments. Discussions centered on how to reduce administrative burdens without weakening safeguards.

"The Contract Safety team is doing everything possible to ensure explosives contractors are building safety into every production process," said Mike Tluchowski, director of Contract Safety. "We help streamline acquisition regulations to reduce compliance burden while improving explosives safety."

Summit briefers highlighted a new DOW Explosives Safety Board-approved portable storage solution - the ARMAG 3-Bar Earth Covered Magazine - designed to safely store up to 50,000 pounds net explosives weight of Hazard Division 1.1, which classifies materials as explosives that would instantaneously detonate if handled incorrectly.

"The prefabricated structure allows reduced separation distances and rapid installation, giving contractors a compliant option and expanded munitions capacity," said Mark West, Special Programs safety manager. "For DCMA specialists, the approval provides a vetted solution they can reference during contractor oversight to ensure safe production."

Another high-interest session covered the updated Explosives Testing Users Group standard for in-process hazard classification, ETUG-GS01-25, or situation-specific explosives. The revised methodology introduces more precise, situation-specific explosives classification tools that apply across research, manufacturing, assembly and demilitarization activities.

"Improved in-process hazard classification provides the contractor more options through production and shipping ultimately providing the government and the warfighter an improved product at a better price," said Richard Rexin, Contract Safety's Ammunition and Explosives program manager.

Attendees also examined emerging challenges, including lithium battery-powered munitions and their storage and transport considerations. Presenters reviewed compatibility group assignments, regulatory implications and risk management strategies tied to evolving technologies.

Melissa Seitz, Contract Safety Northeast's division chief said, "battery safety is one of the biggest challenges facing the explosives DIB."

Beyond technical updates, participants repeatedly emphasized the importance of speed. Multiple speakers stressed that the department must shorten the timeline from identifying military need to delivering full-rate production, while adversaries develop capabilities aimed at disrupting U.S. logistics infrastructure.

"Innovation within the Defense Industrial Base increasingly outpaces government processes, particularly in artificial intelligence and advanced manufacturing," said Steve Eades, Contract Safety West Division chief.

Artificial intelligence emerged as a cross-cutting theme throughout the symposium. Leaders underscored the department's intent to integrate AI into decision support, data management and logistics operations. At the same time, some attendees raised concerns about the need for structured training to ensure responsible and effective implementation.

"It's important that we keep up this pace with contractors who might be moving faster through AI and other advanced production methods and ensure we do it safely," said Aaron Brouse, Contract Safety, West Division specialist.

Participants described the opportunity to exchange lessons learned, discuss protective construction methodologies and review blast modeling tools as critical to maintaining technical proficiency.

"This networking and face-to-face engagement proved valuable," Maryann Horwhat, Contract Safety, Northeast Division lead. "Our team met with contractors, service representatives and industry subject matter experts, strengthening relationships that support contract oversight and compliance efforts nationwide."

Throughout the week, leaders reinforced a central message: explosives safety must serve as a strategic enabler, not a bureaucratic obstacle. As the department pushes to increase munitions production at speed and scale, DCMA's contract safety workforce plays a pivotal role in preserving the industrial base, reducing risk and ensuring contractors meet the standards that protect both people and mission.

"By aligning updated technical guidance, approved storage innovations and strengthened partnerships, our team returned from the summit better positioned to oversee a safer, more agile munitions enterprise that supports national defense priorities," said Eady. "The Safety Center's goal is proactive safety. Therefore, it is our responsibility to proactively promote safety regardless of location. A moment of inattention can impact the rest of our lives, so it's imperative we never take safety for granted."