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News | Dec. 31, 2015

DLA Distribution Current Operations chief retires after 38 years

By Emily Tsambiras DLA Distribution Public Affairs

DLA’s chief of current operations retired in December, following a 38-year career with the Federal government in which he began as a warehouse worker.

Pat McCormick on Dec. 18 was honored the DLA Exceptional Civilian Service Award, the Quartermaster Corps Order of Saint Martin, and other accolades.

McCormick’s career encompassed all facets of DLA’s support around the world. His leadership was invaluable to DLA Distribution’s support to Operation United Assistance in 2014, in which his directorate helped set up life-saving Ebola treatment facilities in West Africa. He enabled DLA to move critical supplies to this austere environment and helped deploy 28 DLA Distribution employees to serve there. Within 90 days, the team had set up distribution operations in warehouses in Liberia and Senegal; created an accountable, manual system to receive, store and issue items; and executed over 1,300 truck transportation missions to help build 15 Ebola-treatment units.

Stateside as well, McCormick’s leadership made a difference. In 2012, the president of the United States and the DLA director recognized DLA Distribution for its work providing humanitarian relief to Hurricane Sandy.  Nearly 150,000 blankets, 5,000 cots, 5,200 cases of Meals-Ready-To-Eat, and other items—many of which were for the same or next day—were processed and shipped on time.  

His efforts significantly benefited combat operations as well. The same year DLA assisted with Hurricane Sandy relief, McCormick led DLA Distribution Kandahar to begin receiving, storing and distributing of Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles (MRAPs). He also spearheaded the use of Army Serviceable Excess materiel in support of U.S. Forces Afghanistan, in which DLA-owned materiel was replaced with excess equipment the Army owned, already in Afghanistan—a move that saved taxpayers over $180 million and made the Army’s supply support there more reliable.

McCormick’s leadership achieved long-term changes to benefit the warfighter. He was instrumental in ensuring effective stock positioning and improving overseas customer support by establishing new overseas distribution centers in Sigonella, Italy; Guam; and Kuwait; South Korea; Afghanistan; and Bahrain—as well as a distribution capability in Djibouti.  These sites dramatically shortened wait times and reduced transportation costs.

“It was my great fortune to have had the opportunity to be part of this outstanding organization,” McCormick said to his gathered colleagues. “We truly did, without a doubt, change the face of logistics in the Department and set in motion the mechanism to do even more. The warfighter is better served for what we do.”