Fort Belvoir, Virginia –
Top Defense Logistics Agency and U.S. Transportation Command leaders discussed how to partner on efforts to provide synchronized support to warfighters Aug. 5 at the McNamara Headquarters Complex.
The meeting was co-chaired by DLA Director Air Force Lt. Gen Andy Busch and Navy Vice Adm. Andy Brown, U.S. Transportation Command deputy commander. Attendees included senior officials from the Department of Defense, DLA and TRANSCOM, as well as representatives from DLA’s field activities, both in person and over video teleconference.
“I think that the relationship between DLA and TRANSCOM is probably the singular most important and undervalued relationship of two enterprises across DoD, and very rarely recognized in terms of the capability it provides to the combat arms and the warfighters,” said David Berteau, assistant secretary of defense for logistics and materiel readiness.
When it comes to contingencies and the warfighter, synchronization and cooperation across every directorate is important, Brown said, especially since warfighters often view TRANSCOM and DLA as a package.
“I think that package has been evolving over time to where we’re in a very strong spot right now to ensure that we can deliver in a synchronized manner and support each other in doing that,” he said. “It’s very important for both of our futures and our ability to support the other [combatant commands] and the services on a day-to-day basis.”
Part of the reason DLA’s relationship with TRANSCOM is special is because it’s based upon mutual success, Busch said.
“There’s no way that I can foresee us declaring success on anything we do without TRANSCOM also being successful and I think TRANSCOM would see it the same way,” he said.
During the four-hour roundtable discussion, attendees heard from TRANSCOM representatives as well as DLA Logistics Operations, DLA Information Operations and DLA Distribution. Topics included an overview on cyber security issues and opportunities, workload opportunities involving both TRANSCOM and DLA and strategies for shaping the TRANSCOM/DLA partnership.