Richmond, Va –
U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-Va., visited Defense Supply Center Richmond on March 22 and met with Air Force Brig. Gen. Linda Hurry, Defense Logistics Agency Aviation and Defense Supply Center Richmond commander, for an overall introduction to the installation and its purpose.
With about 25 DLA staff members and DSCR tenant activities representatives present, Spanberger freely admitted that she was unfamiliar with the installation’s mission “to sustain warfighter readiness and lethality by delivering proactive, global logistics in peace and war.” She was given a brief overview of how DLA fits into the Department of Defense, the benefits of the DLA enterprise and the major tenant communities on center.
“We are basically a micro chasm of any other city,” said Hurry in reference to the center’s infrastructures and self-reliance. DSCR employs over 3,047 civilian, military and contract personnel and is located on a 600-acre installation in Chesterfield County, Va.
Brig. Gen. James Ring, joint staff director, Virginia National Guard, was in attendance and spoke about the Virginia National Guard Sergeant Bob Slaughter Headquarters on center. It provides workspace for the adjutant general of Virginia, the Virginia National Guard joint staff and Air National Guard staff, formerly located at Mullins Readiness Center in Sandston.
“We support nearly 9,000 uniformed personnel in the Virginia Army and Air National Guard from our headquarters here on DSCR,” he said.
Hurry explained the DLA vision which states, “The nation’s combat logistics support agency, global, agile, and innovative, focused on the warfighter first!”
“We provide anything needed to support aviation, it’s a huge responsibility. We support the warfighter by ensuring they have what they need, when they need it,” she said.
Spanberger appeared impressed with the organization’s reach and inquired about the decision-making process during times of emergency.
“We have agreements in place to assist with natural disasters of many types all around the world,” said Hurry. “Open communication is the key to our success.”
Also in attendance were representatives from the U.S. Army Reserve 80th Training Command, U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command, Defense Contract Management Agency and American Federation of Government Employees Local 1992.
After the briefing, Spanberger toured the facility and posed for a photo with the famous Bellwood Elk, located on DSCR, quipping that her social media followers would be upset if she missed out on the opportunity for a photo.
Spanberger was elected as the representative for Virginia’s 7th congressional district in 2017. The lines of that district were redrawn in 2016 and now include parts of Henrico, Chesterfield, in which DSCR resides, and Spotsylvania counties. It also includes all of Amelia, Culpepper, Goochland, Louisa, Nottoway, Orange and Powhatan.