Defense Production Administration
Encyclopedia
The Defense Production Administration (DPA) was an independent agency of the United States
government whose function was to oversee and control defense production programs of the United States during wartime mobilization
.
The Office of Defense Mobilization
(ODM) had been established by Executive Order 10193 (issued December 16, 1950) under the authority of the Defense Production Act
of 1950. ODM's charge was to regulate the economy so that defense production needs could be met, even if this meant restricting the flow of goods and services to the civilian sector of the economy.
The Defense Production Administration was established by Executive Order 10200 on January 3, 1951. Its mandate was to oversee the federal government's defense production program, which included materials production, manufacturing conversion, setting of production quota
s, and establishing the mix of defense and civilian production. It was placed under the Office of Defense Mobilization along with the Wage Stabilization Board
, the Office of Price Administration
and other wartime agencies. The National Production Authority
(NPA) was placed under the control of the Defense Production Administration. Although most of the NPA's functions were transferred to the Defense Production Administration, the agency re-delegated them right back to NPA. Indeed, most of the agencies which fell under the DPA's authority remained, organizationally, within their respective Cabinet departments.
William Henry Harrison
, former president of International Telephone & Telegraph
and administrator of the National Production Authority, was named the DPA's first director.
Harrison resigned after only a short time on the job, however. Manly Fleischmann
was named the agency's second administrator in late 1951. But Fleischmann resigned in May 1952.
Henry H. Fowler
was named the agency's last director. He led the DPA from 1952 to 1953, serving concurrently as the administrator of the NPA.
The Defense Production Administration was abolished by Executive Order 10433 on February 4, 1953. Its functions were transferred to its parent agency, the Office of Defense Mobilization.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
government whose function was to oversee and control defense production programs of the United States during wartime mobilization
Mobilization
Mobilization is the act of assembling and making both troops and supplies ready for war. The word mobilization was first used, in a military context, in order to describe the preparation of the Prussian army during the 1850s and 1860s. Mobilization theories and techniques have continuously changed...
.
The Office of Defense Mobilization
Office of Defense Mobilization
The Office of Defense Mobilization was an independent agency of the United States government whose function was to plan, coordinate, direct and control all wartime mobilization activities of the federal government, including manpower, economic stabilization, and transport operations...
(ODM) had been established by Executive Order 10193 (issued December 16, 1950) under the authority of the Defense Production Act
Defense Production Act
The Defense Production Act is a United States law enacted on September 8, 1950, in response to the start of the Korean War. It was part of a broad civil defense and war mobilization effort in the context of the Cold War. Its implementing regulations, the Defense Priorities and Allocation System ,...
of 1950. ODM's charge was to regulate the economy so that defense production needs could be met, even if this meant restricting the flow of goods and services to the civilian sector of the economy.
The Defense Production Administration was established by Executive Order 10200 on January 3, 1951. Its mandate was to oversee the federal government's defense production program, which included materials production, manufacturing conversion, setting of production quota
Production quota
A production quota is a goal for the production of a good. It is typically set by a government or an organization, and can be applied to an individual worker, firm, industry or country. Quotas can be set high to encourage production, or can be used to limit production to control the supply of goods...
s, and establishing the mix of defense and civilian production. It was placed under the Office of Defense Mobilization along with the Wage Stabilization Board
Wage Stabilization Board
The Wage Stabilization Board was set up by President Harry Truman within the United States Department of Labor, in December 1945, to take over the work of the National War Labor Board...
, the Office of Price Administration
Office of Price Administration
The Office of Price Administration was established within the Office for Emergency Management of the United States government by Executive Order 8875 on August 28, 1941. The functions of the OPA was originally to control money and rents after the outbreak of World War II.President Franklin D...
and other wartime agencies. The National Production Authority
National Production Authority
The National Production Authority was an agency of the United States government which developed and promoted the production and supply of materials and facilities necessary for defense mobilization...
(NPA) was placed under the control of the Defense Production Administration. Although most of the NPA's functions were transferred to the Defense Production Administration, the agency re-delegated them right back to NPA. Indeed, most of the agencies which fell under the DPA's authority remained, organizationally, within their respective Cabinet departments.
William Henry Harrison
William Henry Harrison (businessman)
William Henry Harrison was an American general and businessman. He was president of IT&T from 1948 until his death in 1956.-External links:*...
, former president of International Telephone & Telegraph
ITT Corporation
ITT Corporation is a global diversified manufacturing company based in the United States. ITT participates in global markets including water and fluids management, defense and security, and motion and flow control...
and administrator of the National Production Authority, was named the DPA's first director.
Harrison resigned after only a short time on the job, however. Manly Fleischmann
Manly Fleischmann
Manly Fleischmann was a renowned attorney whose record of public service included high-level positions in the Harry S Truman Administration and in the administration of New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller. He served his nation as President Truman's Defense Production Administrator for the Korean...
was named the agency's second administrator in late 1951. But Fleischmann resigned in May 1952.
Henry H. Fowler
Henry H. Fowler
Henry Hammill Fowler was an American lawyer and politician.Born in Roanoke, Virginia, he graduated from Roanoke College in 1929 and received his law degree from Yale Law School in 1932....
was named the agency's last director. He led the DPA from 1952 to 1953, serving concurrently as the administrator of the NPA.
The Defense Production Administration was abolished by Executive Order 10433 on February 4, 1953. Its functions were transferred to its parent agency, the Office of Defense Mobilization.
External links
- Records of the Office of Emergency Preparedness, 1951-73. Record Group 396. Guide to Federal Records. National Archives and Records Administration, 1995. Records of the successor agency to the OMD and the DPA. Accessed May 13, 2007.
- Papers of Edward K. Moss, Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum Information Officer of the Defense Production Administration. Accessed January 5, 2008