Defense Distribution Depot San Joaquin, including the Tracy depot and Sharpe depot in Lathrop, received a competitive military award May 2 during a ceremony at the Pentagon.

The Commander in Chief’s Annual Award for Installation Excellence recognized the local organization’s support of Department of Defense missions.

U.S. Marine Col. Adrian Burke, the commander of the depot, traveled to Washington, D.C., to accept the award, which was one of five given this year.

“DLA Distribution San Joaquin’s sole focus is providing world-class global distribution and materiel management to our nation’s Armed Forces,” Burke said, according to a statement.

Defense Distribution Depot San Joaquin filled more than 3 million Armed Forces requisitions in the first nine months of fiscal year 2011 and also sent emergency aid shipments to Japan following the earthquake and tsunami in the country in March 2011.

Frank Kendall, acting undersecretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics, described the award in a prepared statement as the highest a military installation can receive.

The depot has also recently constructed a hydrogen fueling station for prototype forklifts powered by hydrogen, completed a new electrical substation and reduced costs for its hazardous material disposal while putting money back into the operation through recycling.