ACQUISITION

AND SUSTAINMENT

THE UNDER SECRETARY OF DEFENSE

3010 DEFENSE PENTAGON

WASHINGTON, DC 20301-3010

March 21, 2019 

MEMORANDUM FOR: CHIEF MANAGEMENT OFFICER OF THE DEPARTMENT OF 

DEFENSE

SECRETARIES OF THE MILITARY DEPARTMENTS

CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF

UNDER SECRETARIES OF DEFENSE

CHIEF OF THE NATIONAL GUARD BUREAU

GENERAL COUNSEL OF THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

DIRECTOR, COST ASSESSMENT AND PROGRAM 

EVALUATION

INSPECTOR GENERAL OF THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

DIRECTOR, OPERATIONAL TEST AND EVALUATION

CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER OF THE DEPARTMENT OF 

DEFENSE

ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE FOR LEGISLATIVE 

AFFAIRS

ASSISTANT TO THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE FOR PUBLIC 

AFFAIRS

DIRECTOR, NET ASSESSMENT 

DIRECTORS OF THE DEFENSE AGENCIES

DIRECTORS OF THE DOD FIELD ACTIVITIES 

SUBJECT: Directive-type Memorandum (DTM)-19-006 – “Interim Policy and Guidance for 

the Use of Additive Manufacturing (AM) in Support of Materiel Sustainment” 

References: Code of Federal Regulations, Title 48, Chapter 2, Subpart C, Part 217.75, 

Section 217.7504 

Deputy Secretary of Defense Memorandum, “Establishment of the Office of the 

Under Secretary of Defense for Research Engineering and the Office of the 

Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment,” July 13, 2018 

DoD Directive 5134.01, “Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, 

and Logistics (USD(AT&L)),” December 9, 2005, as amended 

Under Secretary of Defense Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics Memorandum, 

“Establishment of the Joint Additive Manufacturing Steering Group and the 

Joint Additive Manufacturing Working Group,” July 6, 2017 

Purpose: In accordance with the authority in DoD Directive 5134.01 and the July 13, 

2018 Deputy Secretary of Defense Memorandum, this DTM: 

• Provides interim policy guidance and assigns responsibilities necessary to 

ensure safe and effective use of AM in DoD’s sustainment enterprise. 
DTM-19-006, March 21, 2019 

2

• Is effective March 21, 2019; it will be converted to a new DoD instruction. 

This DTM will expire effective March 21, 2020. 

Applicability. This DTM applies to OSD, the Military Departments, the Office of the 

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Joint Staff, the Combatant Commands, the Office 

of the Inspector General of the Department of Defense, the Defense Agencies, the DoD Field 

Activities, and all other organizational entities within the DoD. 

Definitions. See Glossary.

Policy. It is policy that DoD will use AM to enable the transformation of maintenance 

operations and supply chains, increase logistics resiliency, and improve self-sustainment and 

readiness for DoD forces.

Responsibilities. See Attachment 1.

Procedures. See Attachment 2.

Releasability. Cleared for public release. This DTM is available on the Directives 

Division Website at https://www.esd.whs.mil/DD/. 

Ellen M. Lord 

Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and

Sustainment 

Attachments:

As stated
DTM-19-006, March 21, 2019 

3 Attachment 1

ATTACHMENT 1

RESPONSIBILITIES

1. UNDER SECRETARY OF DEFENSE FOR ACQUISITION AND SUSTAINMENT 

(USD(A&S)). The USD(A&S):

a. Reviews current policy and develops AM policy pertaining to acquisition, including 

intellectual property policy, as appropriate. 

b. Ensures that the digital and cyber infrastructure supports AM for sustainment 

operations in appropriate policy and guidance. 

c. Assesses domestic industrial AM equipment manufacturing capability and develops 

industrial policy and guidance needed to ensure adequate and uninterrupted AM capacity in 

support of military operations. 

d. Incorporates AM considerations into the guidance and training for applicable 

acquisition workforce under the purview of the USD(A&S) responsible for acquisition and 

sustainment. 

2. ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE FOR SUSTAINMENT. Under the authority, 

direction, and control of the USD(A&S), the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Sustainment: 

a. Reviews current policy and develops policy and guidance that supports the use of AM 

for sustainment. 

b. Monitors and reviews the implementation of AM policy across the sustainment 

enterprise.

c. Leads collaboration across the sustainment enterprise, including commercial industry, 

and shares best practices through established sustainment focused AM forums such as the 

Additive Manufacturing for Maintenance Operations Working Group. 

d. Engages with the acquisition and the research, development, test, and evaluation 

communities to ensure AM capabilities and processes are adequately considered and resourced 

and AM-designed parts are adequately documented to support sustainment. 

e. Leads efforts to ensure that sustainment business processes adequately address AM 

related issues and challenges in sustainment policy and guidance. 

3. DIRECTOR, DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY. Under the authority, direction, and control 

of the USD(A&S), the Director, Defense Logistics Agency:
DTM-19-006, March 21, 2019 

4 Attachment 1

a. Establishes processes and procedures for integrating AM into the supply chain, 

including safe handling and distribution of AM feedstock. 

b. Provides an interoperable capability enabling DoD entities to procure, securely access, 

and share AM technical data in alignment with Military Service requirements. 

c. Participates in joint-DoD AM collaborative activities.

4. UNDER SECRETARY DEFENSE FOR RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING. The Under 

Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering:

a. Reviews current policy and develops AM policy and guidance pertaining to research 

and engineering, as appropriate. 

b. Incorporates AM sustainment operations in the development of digital engineering 

policy and guidance. 

c. Integrates AM considerations into guidance and training for applicable acquisition 

workforce under the purview of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering. 

d. Aligns the focus of DoD investments in organizations such as America Makes (under 

the National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining) with DoD’s priorities. 

e. Leads the Joint Additive Manufacturing Steering and Working Groups to collaborate 

on implementing AM at OSD, the Defense Logistics Agency, and the Military Services.

5. SECRETARIES OF THE MILITARY DEPARTMENTS. The Secretaries of the Military 

Departments: 

a. Ensure Service-level AM policy, guidance and implementation strategies incorporate 

needs for sustainment operations, including use of AM to produce parts in a contingency or 

combat environment. 

b. Ensure Service-level use of AM complies with all laws, regulations, and policies 

relating to rights in technical data and computer software.

c. Provide oversight to ensure AM critical items and repair parts comply with Servicelevel standards and qualification and certification processes and procedures. 

d. Integrate AM into appropriate supply chain processes and ensure that technical data 

and demand feedback is systematically provided to appropriate DoD supply organizations. 

e. Maintain records of all AM-produced end-items put into operational use per 

established inventory and configuration management policy and procedures. 
DTM-19-006, March 21, 2019 

5 Attachment 1

f. Incorporate approved AM parts and technology into specifications, standards, and 

technical data packages.

g. Develop AM implementation metrics and methods to track implementation progress. 

h. Certify that the workforce (all Military Services and DoD entities) engaged in the 

acquisition and/or manufacturing of AM materials is adequately trained on AM processes and 

documentation. 

i. Designate a Service lead and focal point for AM efforts in support of Service 

sustainment operations. 

j. Ensure that the digital and cyber infrastructure supports AM for sustainment 

operations. 

k. Enable integration of AM capabilities into enterprise architecture and supporting 

business systems and processes.

l. Ensure AM requirements are properly considered and resourced. 

m. Participate in joint-DoD AM collaborative activities.
DTM-19-006, March 21, 2019

6 Attachment 2 

ATTACHMENT 2

PROCEDURES

1. Maintenance activities utilize AM as a timely and cost effective alternative to sustain 

equipment availability in the areas of tooling, molds, and fixtures needed for traditional 

manufacturing and direct manufacture of components. 

2. AM produced or acquired parts must comply with established configuration, change control, 

and parts management procedures, as appropriate. 

3. Acquisition of AM parts when the requisite technical data is not available must comply with 

Title 48, Chapter 2, Subpart C, Part 217.75, Section 217.7504 of the Code of Federal 

Regulations. 

4. AM parts or AM repair processes can be used in both critical and non-critical applications. 

For all applications, the appropriate level of qualification, certification, and risk/safety evaluation 

must be completed by the appropriate engineering support activity. 

5. Local manufacture of AM parts in the sustainment enterprise will augment normal supply 

chain processes and procedures in support of materiel readiness requirements. The Military 

Services will strictly adhere to procedures regarding capturing item demand to the appropriate 

supply organization and providing the requisite technical data. 

6. Activities using AM must abide by all laws, regulations, policies, and relevant contract 

clauses pertaining to rights in technical data and intellectual property. 

7. Training and certification will be provided to personnel responsible for all facets of AM parts 

processing and acquisition. 

8. In accordance with the July 6, 2017 Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, 

and Logistics Memorandum, the sustainment community will actively collaborate and share 

additive manufacturing best practices through the Joint Additive Manufacturing Steering and 

Working Groups. 
DTM-19-006, March 21, 2019

7 Glossary

GLOSSARY

ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS

AM additive manufacturing

DTM Directive-type Memorandum

USD(A&S) Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment