DoD Instruction 4120.24

Citation
Department of Defense, Defense Standardization Program (DoD Instruction 4120.24) (July 13, 2011) (full-text).

Overview
This document states that it is DoD policy to "promote standardization of materiel, facilities, and engineering practices to improve military operational readiness, reduce total ownership costs, and reduce acquisition cycle time."

It also defines one of the objectives of the Defense Standardization Program to "support the development and use of interoperability standards for national and international use." This important objective highlights DoD's shift away from development and use of government standards (better known as Military Specifications [MILSPECs]) toward development and use of commercial and government-wide standards. However, in some cases, commercial standards are not feasible and developmental items are necessary.