DLA Delivers Produce for Sailors Aboard USS Oak Hill on Hurricane Relief Mission
When acquisition professionals at the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support received an emergency order to restock the galley of a Navy ship performing hurricane-relief operations, they raced against the clock to ensure the sailors had fresh produce to fuel their efforts.
The USS Oak Hill was operating in the Caribbean, ready to help those affected by Hurricane Irma. The ship was running low on fresh fruits and vegetables and would need to be replenished by the USNS Supply, a Military Sealift Command ship docked at Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia.
The USNS Supply was set to depart Sept. 9 on a mission to replenish several ships operating in the Caribbean, including the Oak Hill.
Larry Munoz, a field representative for the DLA Troop Support’s Subsistence supply chain, with the help of fellow Subsistence acquisition professionals, received and executed several emergency orders to stock the Supply.
But the order for the Oak Hill wasn’t submitted due to a communications error. By the time the error was corrected, only four hours remained before the Supply would close its cargo holds in preparation for departure. However, the team found a way to make it in time.
— Shawn J. Jones
DLA Troop Support Public Affairs
More Online: go.usa.gov/xnc7s
New Small Business Contract Yields Multiple Rewards
Whenever a person meets one objective, it can be satisfying, but to achieve four at one time is even better. 
Robert Steed, a contracting officer for DLA Disposition Services, realized such a feeling when he realized the new contract award with Applied Development LLC made the company the first DLA Disposition Services multi-year awardee to qualify in all small-business socioeconomic subcategories.
“It was a welcome surprise,” Steed said. “We work so hard to hit our small-business goals, that when you see something that gives so much bang for your effort, it fills you with a sense of accomplishment.”
Besides providing sign language interpreter services, the Baltimore company helps DLA Disposition Services by qualifying in four small-business subcategories.
These subcategories include being part of the Small Business Administration’s 8(a) Business Development Program, its location in one of SBA’s Historically Underutilized Business Zones, being a service-disabled-veteran–owned small business and an economically disadvantaged, woman-owned small business.
Sheryl Woods, DLA Disposition Services’ special assistant for small business, explained that the federal government as a whole has a goal for small business of 23 percent as well as established subgoals for these subcategories.
— Tim Hoyle,
DLA Disposition Services
More Online: go.usa.gov/xnc76
Information Technology Contingency Team Provides Crucial Communications to Relief Efforts
Preparation was key to the successful deployment of two Defense Logistics Agency Information Operations Contingency Information Technology Support team members from DLA Distribution San Joaquin, California, during DLA’s current humanitarian efforts for hurricane relief.
Robert Garcia and Charles James deployed for approximately one month. Their journey started at Randolph Air Force Base Auxiliary Field in Seguin, Texas, and later moved to Randolph Air Force Base, Texas. While deployed to the Federal Emergency Management Agency Incident Support Base at Randolph, they sustained 24/7 operations. The last week of September, they returned to their home station at the San Joaquin distribution center.
“There was a lot of hard work involved, but I enjoyed that we were a part of the humanitarian effort to support those affected by the recent hurricanes,” Garcia said.
According to Garcia, the DLA Distribution Expeditionary team and the DLA Information Operations Contingency IT teams supported U.S. Northern Command as it leaned forward with state governors and the National Guard to advance understanding, trust, and teamwork in direct support of FEMA through dual-status command arrangements.
He stated that the DDXX and Contingency IT teams have trained and worked with FEMA many times in recent years to set up ISBs, so the team knew what to expect as soon as they arrived.
Reliable communications are crucial in humanitarian efforts. Their mission on-ground was to create a command and control element for the ISB located at Randolph Air Force Base. The Mobile Emergency Response Center, along with Garcia and James, were required to establish communications for the DDXX teams from Red River, Texas; Susquehanna, Pennsylvania; and Tracy, California. The services provided allowed all DLA personnel on site to access data, make phone calls, print and copy required documents and coordinate ISB operations with hand-held radios.
— Annette Silva
DLA Distribution San Joaquin Public Affairs
More Online: go.usa.gov/xnagn
Eye on the Ground
A Look Inside Distribution’s Expeditionary Team’s Hurricane Support
Before the 2017 hurricane season, DLA Distribution had never had all three expeditionary teams deployed simultaneously in support of a natural disaster. They had worked together on deployments in Afghanistan but never for a Federal Emergency Management Agency response. The three teams that make up the DLA Distribution Expeditionary Team are located at Susquehanna, Pennsylvania; Red River, Texas; and San Joaquin, California.
DLA Distribution Expeditionary commander U.S. Army Maj. Jesse B. Holmes worked out of the intermediate staging base located at Joint Base San Antonio Randolph Air Force Base, Texas. He described the daily tasks at the ISB to include multiple daily teleconferences with both FEMA and the DLA Distribution headquarters team to ensure synchronization of effort and information.
“We operated 24 hours a day, so the teams were split into two 12-hour shifts. Approximately 20 employees per shift,” said Holmes. “The yard was broken down into three essential functions: receiving, shipping and yard management.”
Additionally, Holmes explained that efficient parking plans to maximize space in the yard were crucial to successfully handling the given amount of commodities processed during these missions. Tractor trailers were showing up all hours of the day and night and would back up for miles in every direction affecting the local community. Quickly receiving those trucks were key to preventing backlogs.
— Brianne M. Bender
DLA Distribution Public Affairs
More Online: go.usa.gov/xnagF