Other Department of Defense Agencies DoD is the largest government agency in the United States. It spends a major portion of the national budget and employs nearly 4 million people (military and civilian) to serve and protect the interest of the American people. The business of this department affects every soldier, sailor, marine and airman in all facets  of  life.  Civilians  and  industries  benefit economically and technologically because of the need by the military for more sophisticated weapons, electronics, communications, and computers. The Internet was largely financed and developed by the military.  The  following  are  some  of  other  DoD agencies of interest to military personnel. BALLISTIC MISSILE DEFENSE ORGANIZATION.—The Ballistic Missile Defense Organization (BMDO), formerly the Strategic Defense Initiative Organization, was established as a separate agency of the DoD. BMDO is Presidentially chartered and mandated by Congress to develop ballistic and cruise missile defense systems that are capable of providing a limited defense of the United States and a flexible,  interoperable  family  of  theater  missile defense systems that may be forward deployed to protect elements of the U.S. Armed Forces and allies of the United States. The agency’s mission is to manage and direct DoD’s ballistic missile defense acquisition programs, which include theater missile defense, and to develop and deploy, if directed, a national missile defense program designed to protect the United States from a long-range missile threat posed by rogue nations. The agency also is responsible for the continuing research and development of follow-on technologies that are relevant for long-term ballistic missile defense. These programs  will  build  a  technical  foundation  for evolutionary  growth  in  future  ballistic  missile defenses. In developing these programs, the agency utilizes the services of the military departments, the Department of Energy, the National Aeronautics and Space  Administration,  private  industries,  and educational and research institutions. DEFENSE ADVANCED RESEARCH PROJECTS  AGENCY.—The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency is a separately organized agency within the DoD under a director appointed by the  SECDEF.  The  agency,  under  the  authority, direction, and control of the Director of Defense Research and Engineering (DDR&E), engages in advanced  and  applied  research  and  development projects essential to the DoD. The agency conducts prototype projects that embody technology that may be incorporated into joint programs, programs in support of deployed U.S. forces, selected military department programs, or dual-use programs and, on request, assists the military departments in their research and development efforts. DEFENSE  COMMISSARY  AGENCY.—The Defense Commissary Agency was established by direction of the SECDEF on November 9, 1990, and operates under DoD Directive 5105.55. The Defense Commissary Agency is a defense agency subject to the authority, direction, and control of the Under SECDEF for Personnel and Readiness and the operational supervision of the Commissary Operating Board. The agency is responsible for providing an efficient and effective  worldwide  system  of  commissaries  for reselling groceries and household supplies at low, practical prices (consistent with quality) to members of the military services, their families, and other authorized patrons, while maintaining high standards of  quality,  facilities,  products,  and  service. Commissary savings are a valued part of military pay and benefits. They also are important in recruitment and  reenlistment  of  the  all-volunteer  force.  The publication,  How  To  Do  Business  with  DeCA (Defense Commissary Agency) is available free of charge from the Director, Small and Disadvantaged Business  Utilization,  Headquarters,  Defense Commissary Agency, 1300 “E” Avenue, Fort Lee, VA 23801-1800. DEFENSE  CONTRACT  AUDIT  AGENCY.— The Defense Contract Audit Agency was established in 1965 and operates under DoD Directive 5105.36 under the authority, direction, and control of the Under SECDEF (Comptroller). The agency performs all necessary contract audit functions for the DoD and provides accounting and financial advisory services to all defense components responsible for procurement and  contract  administration.  These  services  are provided  in  connection  with  the  negotiation, administration,  and  settlement  of  contracts  and subcontracts.  Services  include  evaluating  the acceptability  of  costs  claimed  or  proposed  by contractors and reviewing the efficiency and economy of contractor operations. Other government agencies may request the agency’s services under appropriate arrangements. DEFENSE  FINANCE  AND  ACCOUNTING SERVICE.—Defense  Finance  and  Accounting Service (DFAS) was established by direction of the 5-6