COLUMBUS, Ohio –
A Senior Procurement Executive Review at Defense Supply Center Columbus Dec. 11 provided a critical acquisition pulse check for Defense Logistics Agency Weapons Support as the major subordinate command continues toward its final operational capability target date of Oct. 1, 2026.
The review brought together senior leadership teams, senior acquisition executives and subject matter experts from both the Columbus and Richmond locations for a meaningful and collaborative strategic dialogue with Matthew Beebe, DLA’s director of acquisition.
“I'm glad the two commanders [of Columbus and Richmond] are here to offer insights as they fully understand the business and what we need to strategize about,” Beebe said.
Discussions honed-in on acquisition-related milestones and challenges within the ongoing Class IX integration and its role in DLA’s broader transformation effort.
“This is an incredibly important time in our organization's point of existence in this standup of the new MSC,” said DLA Weapons Support (Columbus) Commander Navy Rear Adm. Julie Treanor. “And more specifically, the partnership with the J7 [Acquisition], which has always been incredibly strong for both our teams, will become ever more important to allow us to move with flexibility, agility, acumen, expertise to improve our support in this space as we move towards final operational capability.”
Building upon a theme of shared purpose and mutual benefit, DLA Weapons Support (Richmond) Commander Air Force Brig. Gen. Launey echoed that sentiment.
“This is a tremendous opportunity to share and learn from the value that you bring to help us make decisions in this shared space,” Launey said.
Treanor said the collective integration between teams at Columbus and Richmond will inform the work needed to make the new MSC more effective and efficient.
“This transformation involves improving warfighter support by looking across portfolios, processes and platforms to find opportunities for further alignment,” she said. “It’s a grassroots effort involving expertise at all levels.”
A deliberate, incremental approach using specialized working groups has guided the organization as it develops integration and alignment plans rooted in best practices and data‑driven insights, the commanders told Beebe.
“It is important to look at the pockets of excellence within the organization and leverage their ideas that they are bringing forward to develop successful outcomes,” Beebe noted.
Launey stressed the importance of not losing sight of the workforce and the vital work they do to support the warfighter throughout the integration.
“There are Soldiers, Marines, Airmen, Guardians and other forces that are operating out there right now,” he said. “And their success on the battlefield depends on how well we integrate.”
Beebe’s visit also focused on topics such as pricing, auditability, portfolio and contract quality reviews, new innovations in the acquisition space, acquisition compliance, workforce development and small business program updates.
At the top of the event, several acquisition professionals were presented with challenge coin awards by Beebe for their accomplishments and innovative solutions in the acquisition space. They are:
- Jeanine Beisner, supervisory procurement analyst, DLA Weapons Support (Columbus) Procurement Process Support Directorate
- Brooke Blankenship, contract specialist, DLA Weapons Support (Columbus) Strategic Acquisitions Process Directorate
- Rachel Fulmer, product specialist, DLA Weapons Support (Columbus) Land Supplier Operations Directorate
- Marley Joyner, contract specialist, DLA Weapons Support (Columbus) Land Aberdeen
- Mason McQuage, sourcing strategy specialist, DLA Weapons Support (Richmond) Strategic Acquisitions
- Anna Phillips, contract specialist, DLA Weapons Support (Richmond) Strategic Acquisitions (Huntsville location)
- Carlos Rivera, lead contract specialist, DLA Weapons Support (Richmond) Supplier Operations
- Michael Williams, procurement analyst, DLA Weapons Support (Columbus) Procurement Process Support Directorate.