Section J-11

NOT MEASUREMENT

SENSITIVE

MIL-HDBK-61B

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15 August 2025

SUPERSEDING

MIL-HDBK-61B

7 April 2020

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

HANDBOOK

CONFIGURATION MANAGEMENT GUIDANCE

This handbook is for guidance only.
Do not cite this document as a requirement.

AMSC N/A

AREA SESS

DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT A. Approved for public release. Distribution is unlimited. Source: https://assist.dla.mil -- Downloaded: 2026-05-17T19:00Z Check the source to verify that this is the current version before use.

MIL-HDBK-61B

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FOREWORD

1. This handbook is approved for use by all Departments and Agencies of the Department of Defense. 2. Configuration Management (CM) is a technical discipline that ensures requirements, development, and operational information remains consistent throughout the program life cycle. This handbook provides guidance to personnel assigned the responsibility of executing hardware and software configuration management processes in the design, procurement, installation, operation, maintenance, and modification of acquired products. As such, it outlines and discusses the principles of CM: configuration management planning, configuration identification, configuration change control, configuration audits, and configuration status accounting. In addition, this handbook addresses application of these principles in areas such as data management, hardware versus software configuration items, and digital versus non-digital artifacts.
3. Major changes to this document include the removal of duplicative information now contained in GEIA-HB-649A, except where clarity is required.
4. Public Law 104-113, “National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act”, stipulates that Federal Agencies shall use technical standards developed or adopted by voluntary consensus standards bodies unless impractical or inconsistent with law. In accordance with P.L. 104-113, Department of Defense (DoD) standardization for Configuration Management has evolved from the use of military standards to include the use of industry standards many of which are referenced herein. While the use of industry standards on DoD acquisition contracts is not mandatory unless stipulated by statute or policy, program managers should consider whether the use of standards on their program is beneficial in establishing and maintaining an efficient and effective CM process. In order to mitigate program cost, schedule, and technical risk, this revision to MIL-HDBK-61 is being issued to provide up-to-date guidance on applying CM requirements on DoD acquisition contracts. Appendix C provides