The overall mission of the Maritime Administration (MARAD) is to promote the development and maintenance of an adequate, well-balanced, United States merchant marine, sufficient to carry the Nation's domestic waterborne commerce and a substantial portion of its waterborne foreign commerce, and capable of serving as a naval and military auxiliary in time of war or national emergency. 

MARAD also seeks to ensure that the United States enjoys adequate shipbuilding and repair service, efficient ports, effective intermodal water and land transportation systems, and reserve shipping capacity in time of national emergency.

In connection with this mission MARAD is also responsible for the Reserve Fleets of decommissioned military vessels. One of these fleets is at James River, VA. Vandenberg was transferred to MARAD in 1983, and is now a part of this fleet.