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News | June 20, 2019

DLA Distribution commander lauded for establishing forward-deployed teams

By DLA Public Affairs DLA Public Affairs

As commander of Defense Logistics Agency Distribution in New Cumberland, Pennsylvania, retired Army Maj. Gen. Michael J. Lally III spearheaded initiatives that literally moved mountains of material and supplies. For that and numerous other accomplishments from August 2004 to August 2006, Lally will be inducted into the DLA Hall of Fame June 26.

In just nine months, Lally established four distribution centers to support forward-deployed warfighters:  DLA Distribution Kuwait, Southwest Asia; DLA Distribution Korea; DLA Distribution Guam, Marianas; and DLA Distribution Sigonella, Italy. Throughout the years, the sites’ operations have saved millions of dollars in transportation costs and have substantially improved customer wait times. 

“It was a very challenging time with workload doubling because of the war on terror,” said former DLA Director Navy Vice Adm. Keith Lippert in the inductee’s nomination package. “Gen. Lally focused on delivering requested material on time and with accountability.”

In January 2006, after Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, Lippert tasked Lally with building a deployable distribution center to provide disaster response. Within five months, Lally stood up an expeditionary team of 75 people and necessary equipment. More than a decade later, DLA’s expeditionary teams partner with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and U.S. Northern Command, deploying as part of real world missions to deliver hurricane relief in the Continental United States.

“Mike’s leadership style, ability to get along with everyone and deliver results in a high-pressure environment impressed me immensely,” Lippert said. 

Read more about the DLA Hall of Fame and previous inductees on the DLA Hall of Fame website.