FORT BELVOIR, Va. –
Defense Logistics Agency and U.S. Navy senior logisticians are working together to provide seamless logistical support by prioritizing requirements, overcoming supply chain challenges, and driving transformational change.
The nation’s adversaries are faster, more adaptive, and increasingly unpredictable, DLA Director Army Lt. Gen. Mark Simerly said. This requires DLA and the Navy to embark on transformational journeys.
“Just as the Navy is reshaping its force design for distributed maritime operations, DLA is reimagining how global logistics can be anticipatory, integrated and ready on demand,” he said.
Simerly noted DLA is laser-focused on understanding the Navy’s requirements and renewing strategies to “set the globe, set the supply chains, and set the agency.”
Together, DLA and the Navy are challenging legacy assumptions and rethinking how to sustain the fight from seabed to cyberspace, he added.
At the semi-annual Navy/DLA Service Integration Day at the McNamara Headquarters Complex July 2, the agency’s senior logisticians shared ideas with Navy counterparts and set priorities for DLA’s support and ongoing efforts around the globe. Such events are an opportunity to listen to the service’s challenges and concerns and identify areas for future collaboration.
DLA Director of Logistics Operations Air Force Maj. Gen. David Sanford emphasized the importance of setting the theatre for the joint force and the need for robust planning in the Indo-Pacific region while sustaining the homeland.
“With the goal of being ready for 2027, we must focus on getting requirements right, especially in a constrained environment. DLA is looking at its global posture and footprint for warehousing to ensure agility and that the ‘right stuff’ is forward in the right locations,” he said. “This commodity support must be done collaboratively and with a financial investment from the services to reduce risk.”
Navy leaders provided an overview of the “Combat Surge Ready” initiative with their DLA counterparts. The initiative highlights the Navy’s efforts to prioritize key weapon systems, drive supply demands, improve demand planning and better forecast requirements for repair parts for critical weapon systems. Each focus area is important for DLA’s efforts to assist the Navy reach its 80 percent combat surge readiness goal by 2027.
These regular discussions between DLA and the Navy are an open exchange of shared insights, leading to real-time solutions, chances for future collaboration, continued cost reduction, and increased efficiency in supply chain operations.
“Great partnerships don't just happen – it takes a strong commitment on both sides to establish an atmosphere of collaboration and cooperation necessary for a productive engagement,” Simerly said.
As global challengers rise to threaten U.S. interests, America must maintain maritime dominance, he added.
“DLA is committed to contributing to the logistics solutions that will keep our Navy in the fight and winning against our adversaries,” Simerly said.