NEW CUMBERLAND, Pa. –
DLA Distribution Commanding Officer, Navy Rear Adml. Kevin M. Jones, officiated a ribbon cutting ceremony to signify the beginning of the first Defense Logistics Agency public private partnership between DLA and Thales Defense & Security Incorporated at Naval Base Coronado, San Diego, California, June 6.
Rear Adml. Jones, along with Navy Capt. Jerome M. White, commanding officer of Defense Logistics Agency Distribution San Diego, participated in cutting the ribbon with Rob Sainsbury, vice president, System Solutions, Thales Defense & Security Incorporated; Bryan Scurry, Senior Executive Service, executive director, Commander, Naval Air Forces; and Navy Capt. Anthony Jaramillo, commander, Fleet Readiness Center South West.
The event served to celebrate the partnership between DLA and its strategic partners, and the support that DLA Distribution San Diego, California provides to its customers.
This initiative is a new and completely innovative way to partner in direct support to the warfighter.
This partnership, made possible through section 883 of the 2017 national defense authorization act, will allow DLA to store $10 million in inventory of Marine Corps’ helmet sight and display systems for the AH-1Z Attack Helicopter and UH-1Y Utility Helicopter here at DLA distribution San Diego, California.
According to Jones, there are many benefits to this partnership, “but most importantly, we can help: improve response time from TDSI to the fleet readiness center; streamline maintenance material delivery and increase department of defense and DLA organic network utilization. The end goal of this partnership is to ensure that our customers have the right things...at the right place, at the right time.”
“This partnership between DLA and TDSI will have a very significant impact in the future of support to our marine warfighters worldwide. This is a historic event—the first public, private partnership executed by DLA and DLA Distribution with industry for warehousing services,” said Jones.