DoD ManTech Program was originally created in 1956 under Section 2521 of Title 10, United States Code (USC) to further national security objectives through the development and application of advanced manufacturing technologies and processes.
 
The mission of the program is to anticipate and close gaps in manufacturing capabilities for affordable, timely, and low-risk development, production, and sustainment of defense systems through technology development and adoption and training.
 
DoD ManTech is composed of the Military Service and DoD Agency (or "Component") investment programs operated out of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), and Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD). 
 
The OSD ManTech Office is responsible for administering the DoD ManTech Program by providing central guidance and direction to the Component ManTech Programs.  Along with providing oversight to DoD ManTech, the OSD ManTech Office also manages three investment portfolios: the Manufacturing Science & Technology Program (OSD MSTP), the DoD Manufacturing Innovation Institutes (DoD MIIs), and the Manufacturing Education and Workforce Development (M-EWD) Program.

The vision of the program is a responsive, world-class manufacturing capability to affordability and rapidly meet warfighter needs throughout the defense system life cycle, within the Defense Industrial and Organic Base.
 
Although DoD ManTech has a singular mission and shared strategic vision, all of the projects and initiatives are selected and executed through the Military Services and DoD Agencies.  Each Component has its own ManTech program, with organization-specific processes, mandates, and procedures for executing their projects:
 

• Army ManTech facilitates a partnership among the Science and Technology (S&T) community, industry, the Army’s organic industrial base (OIB), the Program Executive Offices and Product Managers to ensure viable and realistic transition of technology to a program of record. The Army uses a broad spectrum of applications with a focus on initiatives for ground, air, network, Soldier, and weapon systems and platforms.
• Navy ManTech concentrates resources on reducing both the acquisition and life-cycle costs of key Navy acquisition programs. Navy ManTech transitions manufacturing technology which, when implemented, results in a cost reduction or cost avoidance. Navy ManTech develops an integrated investment strategy that is approved annually by the Office of Naval Research (ONR) leadership. 
• Air Force ManTech invests in five technology pillars: Advanced Concepts; Hypersonic Strike; Attritable and Low Cost Systems; Networked Command, Control, and Communication Systems; and Emerging Technology. 
• DLA ManTech (R&D) employs two major lines of effort: Industrial Base and Aging Weapon System Support and Three-Dimensional (3D) Technical Data Modernization/Model Based Enterprise. Focus areas include: Advanced Microcircuit Emulation, Batteries, Digital Twin/Digital Thread, Additive Manufacturing, Castings and Forgings, Subsistence, and Clothing and Textiles. 
• OSD ManTech focuses on a diverse set of identified joint, defense-critical, and sometimes high-risk manufacturing technology areas. The portfolio works on cross-cutting national security manufacturing needs to stimulate the early development of manufacturing processes concurrent with technology development and workforce training.

The directors and senior managers of these programs coordinate through the auspices of the Joint Defense Manufacturing Technology Panel (JDMTP).  The JDMTP is chartered to identify and integrate requirements, conduct joint program planning, and develop joint strategies.  DoD oversight of the ManTech Programs is provided by the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering.


NOTE: The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) is a research and development organization with a challenging acquisition function for missile defense.  As the MDA works to meet the ever-evolving threat, the MDA is moving to an ex-officio membership that better aligns the Agency to DoD activities.  The MDA will continue participation in the JDMTP and the manufacturing technology community.

The 2022 DoD ManTech Program Strategic Plan focuses on four thrust areas for the next five years.  It provides the basis for the coordination of DoD Service and Agency ManTech efforts and provides plans to our stakeholders, other government entities, industry, and academia. 
 
Guided by nine goals under the four thrust areas, the DoD ManTech enterprise focuses on delivering high-priority solutions across the portfolio of manufacturing technology investments to meet defense manufacturing needs: 
 
Thrust Area 1:  Advance Manufacturing Technology

• Goal 1.1:  Identify and prioritize manufacturing technology or capability gaps to meet Service and Agency missions
• Goal 1.2:  Advance the state of manufacturing maturity and enhance production and sustainment

Thrust Area 2:  Strengthen Joint Planning and Coordination

• Goal 2.1:  Define national needs and technology imperatives
• Goal 2.2:  Identify and prioritize multi-Service or -Agency DoD manufacturing gaps via Joint Manufacturing Planning Initiatives
• Goal 2.3:  Develop tailored management and investment approaches

Thrust Area 3:  Expand Outreach and Communication

• Goal 3.1:  Foster alignment with external stakeholders to address manufacturing gaps and bolster supply chain resiliency
• Goal 3.2:  Disseminate program results throughout the industrial base to enable transition

Thrust Area 4:  Educate and Develop Manufacturing Workforce

• Goal 4.1:  Identify current and future education and workforce requirements for the DoD organic and industrial base
• Goal 4.2:  Strengthen the educational pipeline and develop a next-generation manufacturing workforce

DoD ManTech employs an array of management tools, measures, and metrics to guide the program and ensure results.  In short, this strategic plan explains how the DoD ManTech Program enables swift technology transition from concept to successful fielding.