NEW CUMBERLAND, Pa. –
Army Brig. Gen. Gail Atkins, commander of Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime and Army Command Sgt. Maj. Tomeka O’Neal, DLA senior enlisted leader, visited DLA Distribution Europe Jan. 22.
DDDE leadership provided a tour of the Logistics Distribution Center Europe building where DDDE Deputy Commander, Neil Flanagan, outlined the capabilities, missions and successes of the DDDE team. Following the tour, DLA Europe & Africa Commander, Army Col. Faith Chamberlain discussed the region’s efforts to get to a “one DLA” standard for DLA customers. Regional Security Operations Center Chief, Marine Corps Lt. Col. George Steinfels, followed with a discussion of the duties of his team including the expeditionary team on the Eastern Flank.
DDDE Commander, Army Lt. Col. Kimberly Rembert, gave a presentation on the organizational structure and culture that allows DDDE to complete its mission. The culmination of the DDDE mission is usually on DDDE’s dedicated truck network, which currently has 30 routes to 61 locations across 18 international borders. Since military repair parts are a focal point for DLA Land and Maritime, Rembert outlined the phenomenal record of success achieved by A8M, the DDDE run Army supply support activity. The support activity is a readiness driver of critical parts for the Army in Europe.
“To put A8M’s workload in perspective, with just 13 full time employees, the team processed almost 64,000 material release orders in fiscal year 2022. That is astounding,” Rembert said.
DLA Energy Europe & Africa Commander, Army Lt. Col. Benverren Fortune, outlined the challenges of getting different types of fuels to disparate customers in the region. DLA Troop Support Europe & Africa Commander, Army Lt. Col. Fermin Gonzales, outlined the classes of supply handled locally and commented on the success of the material release order program and how it allows customers to rapidly source materials.
Atkins led a discussion on how material moves across the theater, in particular from DLA to customers, and what role the Army has in that process. At DDDE, that is mostly done via the A8M warehouse, and Atkins had the opportunity to see the tires and repairable parts her team manages. Atkins expressed to the team that lessons learned in the European Command now, could help re-define Army logistics doctrine in the future.