Richmond, Va. –
Defense Logistics Agency Aviation Commander Air Force Brig. Gen. Sean Tyler visited DLA Aviation at Cherry Point, North Carolina, on Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point Sept. 19 and 20 for workforce engagement and discussions with senior leadership at Fleet Readiness Center East.
Tyler was accompanied on the trip by Navy Capt. Ronald Hoak, chief of DLA Aviation’s Navy Customer Facing Division, Customer Operations Directorate, and Marine Corps Colonel Michael Kline, chief of DLA Aviation’s USMC Customer Facing Division, Customer Operations Directorate.
Tyler was able to meet and interact with employees who support aircraft, engine, component, and hazardous material workload as he toured the DLA Aviation spaces. Tyler coined five DLA Aviation at Cherry Point employees for their exceptional support to DLA Aviation, FRCE, and the warfighter. At each workspace, employees had an opportunity to share their stories.
Tyler expressed to the workforce that for him, “it’s people first, mission always” and asked every employee to “trust your leadership, respect your peers, and mentor your subordinates.”
During the two-day visit, hosted by Navy Cmdr. David Odom, officer-in-charge, DLA Aviation at Cherry Point, Tyler toured the V-22 Osprey and H-53 heavy lift helicopter lines at FRCE on MCAS Cherry Point. He met with FRCE leadership where DLA and Navy collaboration successes were discussed and received a demonstration of the visual data tools being employed at the site.
Tyler also received several interactive briefings while at FRCE, including a detailed overview and demonstration of the organic and additive manufacturing capabilities on-site in support of the production lines.
During the visit, FRCE leadership expressed how their operations benefit greatly from DLA Aviation’s physical presence and how Commander Odom and the team are integrally involved in the daily production engagements and interactions.
“A big part of our success in reducing critical back orders and improving our turnaround times has been DLA’s integration in our daily tier meetings,” said Acting FRCE Executive Officer Marine Lt. Col. Jason Raper. “We have numerous examples of how our close communication and collaboration, happening all throughout the plant, is moving the readiness needle on the flight line.”
To wrap up the visit, Tyler expressed how DLA is positioned to support service priorities and the national defense strategy.
“In the past, we focused on what was most efficient. We need to also consider now what is best to meet the mission of competing with peer-to-peer competitors.” Tyler said.