Pacific Disaster Centers

The Pacific Disaster Center (PDC) program, managed by the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) and the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy (OUSD(P)), is a key line item in the Department of Defense (DoD) budget under Research, Development, Test & Evaluation (RDT&E), Defense-Wide. The PDC operates as a public/private partnership with the University of Hawaii, focusing on the development and deployment of advanced science and information technology applications for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HA/DR). The primary objective is to enhance DoD capabilities in real-time disaster monitoring, predictive analysis, and risk reduction through the RAPIDS decision support system and other analytical tools.

The PDC DisasterAWARE: Early Warning and Decision Support Applications initiative is central to the program's goals. DisasterAWARE is an integrated multi-hazard monitoring and early warning system used by Combatant Commands (CCMDs), Joint Task Forces, and deployed units across the DoD. Its objectives include improving operational readiness, situational awareness, and evidence-based decision-making for HA/DR missions and exercises. The system supports strategic planning, risk intelligence, impact modeling, and asset protection. Ongoing enhancements include improvements to its user interface, automation of hazard analysis, and transition to service-based architecture, ensuring accessibility, scalability, and alignment with advancements in big data and artificial intelligence.

The Global Water Security Center (GWSC), managed through the University of Alabama in partnership with the University of Hawaii, supports DoD operational and strategic planning by providing expert analysis on water security issues related to weather and climate events. The GWSC's goals include delivering Environmental Information Briefs (EIBs) to DoD components, improving partner engagement and education, and advancing science insight and data delivery for rapid and consistent access to water-related intelligence. FY 2024 accomplishments included assessments for regions such as Slovenia, West Africa, Iraq, and the Panama Canal. Additional achievements included improvements to the GWSC data portal and participation in DoD-sponsored training exercises.

For FY 2025, the PDC program plans to sustain and enhance disaster management tools such as DisasterAWARE Pro for emergency responders, Disaster Alert for the public, and RAPIDS for DoD-specific needs. Investments will focus on maintaining technological relevance, particularly in the areas of big data and artificial intelligence, to support rapid information assessment and continued operational requirements for OSD, Joint Staff, CCMDs, Services, and other DoD components. The GWSC will continue its three main lines of effort: water and environmental security analysis, partner engagement and education, and science insight and data delivery, updating its products in response to stakeholder feedback.

In FY 2026, the budget includes an increase for the Logistics Support Activity (LSA), a classified requirement reported in accordance with Title 10, United States Code, Section 119(a)(1). The LSA supports special access programs and is intended to bolster classified logistics capabilities within the DoD. Concurrently, there is a reduction in the PDC baseline due to policy guidance to discontinue climate-specific investments and reduce funding for installation energy, storage, and lower-priority operational energy projects.

The PDC's acquisition strategy leverages its cooperative agreement with the University of Hawaii to develop and deploy situational awareness and decision support applications for a broad customer base, including DoD, NGOs, other nations, academia, and industry. The program's overarching goal is to foster disaster-resilient communities by preparing stakeholders to mitigate disaster impacts through technology and scientific risk assessments. PDC's expanded risk assessments, including national fragility profiles, inform strategic decision-making for DoD and national policymakers.