Defense Logistics Agency Modernizes Catalog System Off 35-Year-Old COBOL Platform
The Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) has successfully transitioned its catalog system from a 35-year-old COBOL-based platform to a new, modern system. This milestone marks a significant step in DLA's five-year IT modernization journey, which began in 2021 as part of a broader strategy outlined in 2020 to reduce technical debt over a decade. Adarryl Roberts, DLA’s chief information officer, stated that the new system will enable faster data processing and requests, automating many manual processes previously handled by the COBOL system. The modernization effort also enhances the DLA's ability to support NATO and other Department of Defense (DoD) partners by streamlining data entry and integrating commercial enterprise resource planning (ERP) capabilities. The old COBOL system was officially stopped in June, with plans to fully decommission it this summer, after a 60 to 90-day buffer period to ensure a smooth transition. 
