About The Defense Threat Reduction Agency

DTRA serves two distinct, yet highly integrated and complementary roles as both a Defense Agency and Combat Support Agency.

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DTRA employs approximately 2,000 civilians and uniformed service members at more than a dozen permanent locations around the world. The majority of personnel are at DTRA headquarters at Fort Belvoir. Approximately 15% of the workforce is split between Kirtland Air Force Base and the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, and the Nevada National Security Site (formerly called the Nevada Test Site), where they do testing and support the U.S. military’s nuclear mission. The remaining 15% of the workforce is stationed at locations in Germany, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Georgia, Ukraine, Armenia, Kenya, South Korea, Japan, and Singapore. DTRA also has liaisons with all of the U.S. military’s Combatant Commands, the National Guard Bureau, the FBI and other U.S. government interagency partners.

 

DTRA was established to provide:

  • technical, operational, & intellectual underpinnings of the Department’s WMD expertise
  • the institutional means for a more focused response to new security challenges

DTRA serves two distinct, yet highly integrated and complementary roles as both a Defense Agency and Combat Support Agency.

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Combat Support Agency

In this more operational role, DTRA works to identify, develop, and field solutions to counter WMD and emerging threats, leveraging our unique capabilities and expertise in direct support of Joint Staff and Combatant Command (CCMD) requirements.

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Defense Agency

In this more strategic role, we work to reduce global WMD and emerging threats by deterring would-be adversaries' acquisition and use of such materials. We support key DoD policy and priorities through cross-Service, Department-wide programs such as nuclear assurance, treaty support, and building partner capacity.

Worldwide Footprint

DTRA’s forward footprint enables us to better understand the operational environment, requirements, and capabilities to prevent, reduce and counter WMD and emerging threats.

locations DTRA serves around the world