An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

News | May 4, 2021

Philadelphia-based DoD agency delivers life-saving COVID-19 medical supplies to India

By John Dwyer III DLA Troop Support Public Affairs

A Philadelphia-based government agency is enabling support to India through the acquisition of medical supplies as part of the Defense Logistics Agency’s effort to help meet urgent health needs there.

DLA Troop Support, located in northeast Philadelphia, worked with interagency partners to coordinate  two shipments of supplies from Travis Air Force Base, California, April 28 and 29 that included 702,400 test kits and 84,000 N95 masks so far. A third shipment third with oxygen concentrators, additional test kits and N95 masks left April 30, and a fourth shipment is scheduled to arrive in India today. Planning is ongoing for additional flights to send more supplies.

“Within DLA, we at Troop Support have a vital mission: to support the readiness of our warfighters,” DLA Troop Support Commander Army Brig. Gen. Gavin Lawrence said. “We’re proud to extend that support from here in Philadelphia to the people of India through our partners at [U.S. Agency for International Development].”

DLA was tasked to provide 15 million N95 masks, 1 million test kits and 704 oxygen concentrators in support of the USAID-led effort. The Embassy of India, in Washington D.C., requested assistance from the U.S. Department of State April 24 for medical supplies and equipment.

DLA’s support for medical items like this fall to the DLA Troop Support’s Medical Directorate led by Army Col. Matthew Voyles.

“Our teams of contracting, supply and tailored logistics specialists are always here to make sure our warfighters, as well as other federal and international partners have the medical equipment and supplies needed to care for their people,” Voyles said.

DLA began interagency support coordination to India last week and through the weekend to determine what it could provide, item availability and source locations, additional contracting options and timelines.

DLA Troop Support has provided over 3.5 billion items ranging from ventilators to personal protective equipment and COVID-19 test kits in support of the pandemic relief and is standing by to provide other supplies to India if directed.