NEW CUMBERLAND, Pa. –
Defense Logistics Agency Distribution Headquarters Acquisitions directorate held its inaugural DLA Distribution Industry Day on Aug. 8 and 9 at the Susquehanna Club in New Cumberland, Pennsylvania.
The purpose of the forum was to provide industry partners an avenue to learn about the mission of DLA Distribution and to encourage an open dialogue and exchange of information and ideas with industry partners.
DLA Distribution’s key staff members spoke to an audience comprised of industry representatives, prospective vendors, large and small businesses and socioeconomic classified businesses whose focus is on service related industries such as storage and distribution, construction, material handling equipment repair and janitorial. The audience learned about Distribution’s mission and how best to do business with the agency.
Additionally, there were opportunities to attend breakout sessions for industry to provide insight into their processes and procedures and feedback to Distribution for consideration in future acquisition strategies or processes.
DLA Distribution Acquisitions director, Gene Surmacz welcomed the attendees, “Our relationship with industry partners is paramount to our mission of supporting the warfighter. Without you, our successes would not be as great as they are today.”
Surmacz introduced DLA Distribution commander Navy Rear. Adm. Kevin M. Jones, who spoke to the group, welcoming them to the inaugural event.
“DLA, as a whole, has a very strong relationship with its supplier community. Our relationship with you is critical to the agency’s ability to successfully support the warfighter downrange,” explained Jones.
Jones went on to quote Secretary of Defense James Mattis, “We must work more closely with industry to maintain our technical and capability overmatch and we must push for more rapid innovation.”
“It isn’t a coincidence that industry is one of the lines of effort in DLA’s strategic plan,” said Jones. “In the plan, it is stated that DLA must work together with our suppliers to ‘ensure a capable defense industrial base, generate innovative and efficient solutions, and maintain a secure and resilient supply chain.’”
Jones touched on the topic of audit readiness, the DLA strategic plan and the support of industry partners.
“Audit readiness is very important to DLA as it is driving processes and our need for compliance to ensure we sustain our progress,” said Jones. “Your support of the DLA strategic plan enables us to be audit ready and always accountable to the taxpayer.”
Furthermore, Jones explained “communication is the key component behind everything thereby enabling us to jointly accomplish the complex DLA global mission for our nation.”
As Jones wrapped up his remarks and prepared to turn the event over to the Distribution Acquisitions directorate, he encouraged the Distribution members and the industry attendees to engage in open dialogue and exchange of information and ideas.
DLA Distribution Acquisitions is already working on the second annual Distribution Industry Day to be held in 2019.