CAMP WALKER, Korea –
Recognizing three decades of fuel support to Warfighters in the Republic of Korea, Defense Logistics Agency Energy Korea celebrated its 30th anniversary at Camp Walker, Daegu, Korea, Dec. 9.
DLA Energy Korea Commander Army Lt. Col. Dennis Han was the keynote speaker at the combined U.S. and Korean event, highlighting the evolution of the organization’s mission set and key accomplishments in 2022. He thanked the past and present members in attendance for their dedication and commitment to DLA Energy over the years.
“Today, DLA Energy Korea covers all aspects of quality assurance for petroleum operations from procurements at refineries, seagoing cargo tanker loadings and discharge operations, pipeline movements throughout the peninsula, as well as Rail and Tank Truck movements, all to maintain required stock levels to support the Warfighter during armistice and in the event of contingency operations,” Han said. “Today’s mission is more diverse than when this office was originally established, but still lives up to the original motto of the Trans Korean Pipeline ‘You gotta be tough to work the Pipeline.’”
The DLA Energy regional command’s history can be traced back to the Korean War. In February 1951, shortly after the Incheon landing, the Incheon petroleum oil terminal was activated under the U.S. Army 2nd Logistical Command. For the next 20-years, fuel operations expanded across the peninsula with the organization undergoing various designations and reporting command structures.
The Trans-Korea Pipeline was constructed in 1970 and ran for 283 miles from Pohang to Uijongbu. The U.S. Army 2nd Quartermaster Group oversaw operations until June of 1992 when responsibility was transferred to Defense Fuels Office Korea. With the transition of all TKP operations to the Korean civilian industry and the deactivation of the 2nd Quartermaster Group in June 1992, DFOK assumed all responsibility for storage and distribution operations throughout Korea. DFOK changed to Defense Energy Supply Center Korea and eventually, to what it is today, DLA Energy Korea.
Today, DLA Energy Korea is responsible for the accountability, quality, and distribution for over 104 million gallons of capitalized aviation fuel stored at 20 Defense Fuel Support Points. It also manages the storage, procurement, and pipeline distribution from five different refineries and through five different pipelines.
Four former members and family of the Trans Korean Pipeline attended the ceremony including one former Commander, Sydney Thomas, who served from July 2006 to July 2009.
DLA Energy Korea Deputy Commander Victor Madaris is a U.S. Army veteran with more than 17 years of combined military and civilian service on the Korean peninsula. He served with the 2nd Quartermaster Group.
“I started as the First Sergeant for 20th Quartermaster Company Southern District in 1988 and later served as the chief of Pipeline Operations until it was transferred to the Korea government in 1992,” he said.
DLA Energy has locations worldwide to support fuel and energy-related missions for the Warfighter, the whole of government and international partners. Korea is part of the Indo-Pacific region, DLA Energy’s largest geographical fuel region, which has offices in Guam, Hawaii, Japan, Korea, Okinawa and Singapore.