NEW CUMBERLAND, Pennsylvania –
To honor the United States Air Force’s 68th birthday, Defense Logistics Agency Distribution employees gathered to commemorate the service’s rich history on Sept. 18.
Opening the event, DLA Distribution commander Army Brig. Gen. Richard B. Dix talked about the history of the U.S. Air Force and how, although the U.S. Air Force is only 68 years old, its history can be traced as far back as the Civil War with the Union Army Balloon Corps. “They used seven specially built, hydrogen-filled balloons to conduct aerial reconnaissance on the Confederate Army,” said Dix. “This is a far cry from today’s F-35 Lightning IIs and C-17 Globemaster IIIs.”
Dix asked all DLA Distribution employees to recognize the 680,000 active duty, reservists, guardsmen and civilian U.S. Air Force members who support more than 5,600 aircraft, 450 intercontinental ballistic missiles and 63 satellites. And, he thanked DLA Distribution employees for all they do in support of the warfighter.
With three major Air Force customer bases in Hill, Utah; Oklahoma City, Okla., and Warner Robins, Ga., DLA Distribution centers are collocated to fulfill both on-base and off-base requirements for Air Force customers.
DLA Distribution Hill, Utah is located at Hill Air Force Base, Utah. The distribution center supports two on-base fighter wings and maintenance functions performed by the Ogden Air Logistics Center as well as numerous military units throughout the world.
DLA Distribution Oklahoma City, Okla., provides a full range of distribution services in support of the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center, Tinker Air Force Base tenants, and other global customers.
More than half the work completed at the Warner Robins, Ga., distribution center is in support of the Warner Robins Air logistics Center. The organization’s $11 billion inventory includes parts and equipment for F-15, C-130, C-5 and C-17 aircraft, target acquisition systems, and most airborne electronic warfare systems.
To close the ceremony, Air Force Col. Karen Stoff, deputy director, Distribution Process and Planning, led attendees in a toast to “Air Force brothers and sisters, past and present.”
“We toast our hearty comrades who have fallen from the skies, and were gently caught by God's own hand to be with him on high. To dwell among the soaring clouds they've known so well before, from victory roll to tail chase at heavens very door. And as we fly among them there we're sure to hear their plea, ‘Take care my friend, watch your six, and do one more roll for me.’”