COLUMBUS, Ohio –
A major transformative milestone was met Oct. 27 when Defense Logistics Agency Weapons Support hosted a joint supervisors’ call across two locations.
The event, hosted at the DLA Weapons Support (Columbus) Operations Center Auditorium on Defense Supply Center Columbus and livestreamed at the Lotts Conference Center on Defense Supply Center Richmond, signaled greater collaboration and shared purpose as the organization moves forward.
“This is our first dual commander supervisors meeting, and I'm excited that we have reached this milestone,” said DLA Weapons Support (Columbus) Commander Navy Rear Adm. Julie Treanor.
Treanor and DLA Weapons Support (Richmond) Commander Air Force Brig. Gen. Patrick Launey were on hand to discuss the rollout of the Defense Employee Organizational Climate Survey and provide updates on integration actions towards achieving final operational capability in fiscal 2027.
DLA Weapons Support (Richmond) Deputy Commander Steven Kinskie, who is also acting deputy commander for Columbus, and DLA Weapons Support Acquisition Executive Cathy Contreras provided key updates during the event, elaborating on operational process changes accomplished to date.
Treanor noted that the DEOCS survey is key to successfully creating a new culture at the major subordinate command’s existing locations into a cohesive and high performing team.
“Your voice in this space at this time is critically important,” Treanor told the group of supervisors. “We don't want to break anything in the process, which is why we are doing this deliberately, thoughtfully, and in a way that allows you to understand the way in which we're going to walk through this with you while giving you an opportunity along the way to provide feedback.”
Launey agreed that this organizational shift is a collaborative endeavor.
“As a unified command team, we have a commitment to give you the tools you need to lead others through this transformation,” Launey told the group. “And we will continue to encourage open and transparent two-way communication to ensure that, as we navigate this journey together.”
The establishment of DLA Weapons Support is a long-term investment in the future of DLA. The new MSC will be designed to be a more efficient, effective and resilient organization capable of meeting the challenges of the future.
“This is a purpose-driven transformation, and the purpose is to optimize the talents, the expertise, the culture and the processes that we already have in place to improve warfighter support,” Treanor said.
The new MSC achieved initial operating capability in October and has a goal to mark final operating capability in early fiscal 2027.
“When we are successful as a cohesive and high performing team, the warfighter is going to be successful, and that’s what matters,” Launey said.
Other topics discussed were recent mission successes, policy and process alignment to capture best practices, upcoming software and system changes, the geographical scope of operations, supervisor recognitions and acknowledgement of employees who are in the deployment pipeline.