Pennsylvania Lt. Gov.
Mike Stack made his inaugural visit to Defense Logistics Agency Distribution
headquarters in New Cumberland on Jan. 28 to learn more about the organization’s
military supply mission and witness firsthand how it provides to the local
economy throughout the commonwealth.
Stack, a Captain in the
Pennsylvania Army National Guard, serves as the chairman of the Pennsylvania Military
Community Enhancement Commission, which advocates at the federal, state and
local levels for the enhancement of military communities, organizations and
defense-related regions throughout the state.
Kicking off his visit,
Stack met with DLA Distribution commander Army Brig. Gen. Richard Dix to discuss
the future of the organization’s network of 24 distribution centers worldwide
which store and distribute items such as repair parts, construction materiel,
medical items, and clothing to America’s military forces around the
globe. "We are DoD’s premier storage and
distribution provider. My
goal is to harness additional work for our workforce by demonstrating our
ability to be the most effective, efficient, and best value to our customers,"
said Dix.
The visit continued with
a briefing presented by Dix and his staff on DLA Distribution’s operations and
capabilities. Storing more
than 2.4 million items valued at approximately $104 billion, the organization
supports customer requirements worldwide, to include Operation New Dawn and
Operation Enduring Freedom, numerous humanitarian assistance missions, both
national and international, and a multitude of military exercises to ensure
warfighter readiness.
After the briefing, Stack
received a windshield tour of the Defense Distribution Center
Susquehanna installation, formerly known as New Cumberland Army Depot. The
installation is currently undergoing several military construction projects, to
include the removal of several WWI- and WW II-era buildings and the erection of
a new, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design-certified DLA Distribution
headquarters building, slated for completion this summer.
During the windshield
tour, he stopped to view DLA Distribution’s expeditionary capability, which
deploys for contingency operations, humanitarian missions and other military
exercises via movable structures and communications equipment operated by a team
trained to perform storage and distribution in any environment.
Impressed with its dedication and proficiency, Stack
thanked the team for its recent deployment in support of Operation United
Assistance, the U.S. military mission to help combat the Ebola virus epidemic in
West Africa.
He then was given a walking tour of
one of DLA
Distribution’s largest distribution centers, DLA Distribution Susquehanna,
located on base with the headquarters. While touring DoD’s largest
distribution facility, occupying 1.7 million sq. ft. of processing and storage
space, he observed the pick and pack process and a demonstration of DLA
Distribution Susquehanna’s state-of-the-art automated conveyor and sorting
equipment.
During the visit, Stack
spoke of the importance of DLA Distribution’s mission and the installation’s
contributions to the local economy, and how impressed he was with the overall
operation and workforce and contributions of members of the Commonwealth to the
Nation’s security each and every day.
“DLA Distribution
provides significant military value to our Commonwealth and our Nation. We have
some great citizens doing some great work. I’m
looking forward to building a stronger relationship with this command and
staying apprised of its support to the country’s critical military
missions.”