Issue 10: Tech from the Military

The United States Department of Defense, as of 2012, is the largest employer in the world with
a workforce of about 3.2 million. The DOD is the oldest government agency with military roots,
previously named the Department of War, dating to pre-Revolutionary times. The agency rapidly
expanded when war broke out in Europe during the onset of World War II.
President Roosevelt authorized the building of the Pentagon in Arlington County, Virginia.
Over the course of sixteen months, $83 million (or $1.3 billion in today’s US Dollar) brought a
pentagon-shaped building to life. Reinforced concrete and concrete ramps with minimal steel,
covered with a limestone façade, resulted from dredging about 680,000 tons of sand from the
Potomac River. The final building stands five floors above ground and an additional two floors
underground, spanning about 6.5 million square feet. With five sides and five ring corridors per
floor, the design allows any person to walk between any two points in less than seven minutes.
The United States Post Office established six zip codes for the Pentagon: Secretary of Defense,
Joint Chiefs of Staff, Marines, Army, Navy, and Air Force.
Behind the numerous agencies and offices that comprise the DOD, many civilian contractors,
defense manufacturers, and organizations receive competitive and lucrative contracts to support
the tools necessary for defense and war. First coined in the 20th Century, Military Industrial
Complex was made famous by President Eisenhower’s January 17, 1961 farewell address to the
nation. He warned the people to not let military industry dictate actions go unchecked as it
would usurp the freedom of our country. But unpopular wars, terrorism and a recent popularity
of soldiers have not altered the relationships of companies, contracts, and a check and balance.