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News | June 22, 2021

DLA Distribution Korea opens new warehouse

By Kylie Young, DLA Distribution Public Affairs

Defense Logistics Agency Distribution, Korea held a soft opening ceremony for their new warehouse with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Far East District, and the Ministry of National Defense - Defense Installations Agency in attendance as honored guests.

The new facility is a state-of-the-art 250,000-square-feet warehouse with 20,000-square-feet of bulk storage space. The warehouse also contains a hazardous materials containment area and a natural tree and flower garden on the second-floor mezzanine.

DLA Distribution Korea opens new warehouse
From left to right: James Miller, Toroyana Caruth, Eddie Kenner, SFC George Toleafoa, Justano Newbold and Melvin Esperon pose on the TCSP floor which was the site of the soft opening ceremony.
DLA Distribution Korea opens new warehouse
DLA Distribution Korea opens new warehouse
From left to right: James Miller, Toroyana Caruth, Eddie Kenner, SFC George Toleafoa, Justano Newbold and Melvin Esperon pose on the TCSP floor which was the site of the soft opening ceremony.
Photo By: DLA Distribution Public Affairs
VIRIN: 210604-D-D0441-0002

The building and interiors were designed to be Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Silver Certifiable. LEED certification is an official recognition that a project complies with the requirements prescribed within the LEED rating systems as created and maintained by the U.S. Green Building Council. To earn the LEED Silver rating, the buildings feature energy-efficient lighting and equipment with motion and occupancy sensors, natural light, rainwater harvesting, recycled and local materials, green roofs, photovoltaic roof panels, maximized solar orientation and increased levels of insulation.

The new warehouse will also have 10 loading dock doors, greatly increasing the volume of content trucks can load and unload at the new facility.

Army Lt. Col. Corinne McClellan, the commander of DLA Distribution Korea, is thankful the new facility is completed.

“For 17 years, our workforce has embraced the challenges of our older facility as we continue the tradition of providing exceptional and world class support our customers on the Peninsula,” she stated. “Our new warehouse is a testament of our solid partnerships with the collaborative efforts and expertise we leveraged with our stakeholders who persevered through a global pandemic, and multiple typhons, which caused months of delays.”

DLA Distribution Korea opens new warehouse
LTC Corinne McClellan and Macy Ooka pose with Chol Kyu Kim, President, of the USFK Waegwan Union Chapter. They are holding up the “tiny heart,” symbol for friendship.
DLA Distribution Korea opens new warehouse
DLA Distribution Korea opens new warehouse
LTC Corinne McClellan and Macy Ooka pose with Chol Kyu Kim, President, of the USFK Waegwan Union Chapter. They are holding up the “tiny heart,” symbol for friendship.
Photo By: DLA Distribution Public Affairs
VIRIN: 210604-D-D0441-0003

Due to these delays, Macy Ooka extended the project a whole year to see the multi-million-dollar project through to completion. Ooka was lauded by the Ministry of National Defense and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Far East District for her selflessness, cooperation and “Eagle Eye.”

The new warehouse is also currently installing state-of-the-art equipment such as conveyor systems, virtual lift modules and voice activated pick systems. Once complete, the warehouse will be at the cutting edge of DLA Distribution’s modernization n and innovation initiatives within the global network of distribution centers. The process is expected to be completed in a few months.

DLA Distribution Korea is planning on having the official ribbon cutting in early 2022 when the GFGI equipment install is complete and after they begin the re-warehousing operations in the new warehouse. Administrative personnel are expected to move into the facility after the furniture is delivered in mid-July.

The modern warehouse is critical for DLA Distribution to continue to fulfill mission requirements to provide faster, more efficient and more economical service in support of U.S. armed forces operations in the Korean peninsula.