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News | Aug. 23, 2019

Commander visits Navy customers and DLA Aviation-Cherry Point employees

By Cathy Hopkins DLA Aviation Public Affairs

Defense Logistics Agency Aviation Commander Air Force Brig. Gen. David Sanford traveled south Aug. 13-14 to visit with Navy customers on Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina, and with DLA Aviation-Cherry Point employees.  It was his first visit since assuming command of DLA Aviation in July.

Navy Cmdr. Keith Klemm, DLA Aviation-Cherry Point industrial support activity commander, was pleased to be one of the first ISAs to host a visit with the new commander.

Sanford first met with Navy Capt. Mark Nieto, commanding officer, Fleet Readiness Center East and James Ogburn, senior civilian for FRC East, Aug. 13. The next morning, he toured FRC’s depot production lines and DLA Aviation facilities.

Upon completion of the tours, aviation employees welcomed the commander and proceeded to immerse him in briefings outlining their mission supporting retail-level supply for FRC East, the Navy aviation maintenance and repair depot at Cherry Point.

Klemm shared that the general said he walked away with a greater understanding of how the Navy executes depot-level component and aircraft workload, from induction to sale. 

That afternoon, Sanford hosted a town hall recognizing employees and sharing his values and vision.

Sanford told employees he has a zero tolerance policy for sexual assault and harassment in the workplace, and stressed the importance of work/life balance and supporting each other. 

Supporting each other also translates to supporting the warfighter, he said. The agency’s first line of effort-warfighter first-isn’t possible without everyone working together. 

Sanford put emphasis on the importance of collaboration with customers and suppliers, and delivering on promises.

“It is important that we expose and close any vulnerabilities in our supply chains,” he said.