PHILADELPHIA –
The director of Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support’s Industrial Hardware supply chain retired from the Air Force in a ceremony here June 22.
Col. Glenn Chadwick served more than 27 years and will retire to Dallas.
Air Force Brig. Gen. Martin Chapin, DLA Energy commander, presided over the ceremony.
Chapin, who shared a duty assignment with Chadwick earlier in their careers, said complex missions require leaders to lean upon the smart, junior-ranking members they serve alongside.
“The really smart person that I latched onto really early is sitting right here on stage,” he said, gesturing to Chapin. “There are few finer officers that I’ve encountered in my military service.”
A career logistician, Chadwick served all over the globe, including an assignment as the 732nd Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron commander in Iraq.
“Only the best get selected to serve as warzone commanders,” Chapin said.
As the IH director, Chadwick led an organization of more than 500 employees and oversaw the acquisition and logistics support of more than 900,000 items worth more than $700 million annually.
Chadwick said the IH supply chain has an important role in ensuring the warfighter has what it needs to accomplish its mission.
“I know it’s not glamourous, but keep plugging,” he said.
To underscore the importance of the IH mission, Chadwick gave the example of troops in need of air support because they are pinned down by the enemy. He said that if an aircraft can’t get off the ground to support those troops because it’s missing a piece of hardware that IH supplies, then those troops may remain in a perilous situation.
“Truly lives are in the balance with what you do,” he said. “I say that over and over again, because it’s important to realize that.”