RICHMOND, Va. –
EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT: Randy Morningstar, Sr.
Name: Randy Morningstar Sr.
Organization: Defense Logistics Agency Aviation at Oklahoma City, Planning and Support Division, Planning and Integration Branch.
Years of Service: 9 years.
What is your job title, and what do you do, specifically? I’m an inventory management specialist/collaborative demand planner for DLA Aviation at Oklahoma City’s forward presence team located on the Air Force’s Oklahoma Air Logistics Complex. Specifically, I review and scrutinize the customer’s collaborative forecasts looking for trends of overstating and understating material need. This directly affects the long-term supportability of particular weapons systems across the enterprise. I accomplish this by exception review and specific intelligence given by various levels throughout the supply chain. I work hand-in-hand with the Air Force Planning for DLA-managed consumables flight personnel in a coordinated effort to police suspect forecasts for errors. This effort helps identify problems before procurement actions take place.
I support the customer support managers on different projects, doing forecast analysis for both collaborative and statistical items, to assist them in their individual weapon systems. I am a subject matter expert for our local Deep Look events. These events bring all of the responsible parties for a particular workload or project together to do a national stock number by number review. The review drills down to a root cause for any parts-related constraint. This process has been valuable in both identifying parts issues, but also in educating all involved on how their actions or inaction affect the supply chain’s ability to react to their needs.
My latest endeavor involved conducting demand consensus events with key players of major projects to access how we can better position DLA to support current and upcoming workloads by identifying collaborative candidates, dominate manipulation and forecast adjustments to name a few.
What do you like most about your job? I feel I am being a good steward of DLA’s resources by questioning and correcting over/under procurement of material. I like seeing actions I take have impact across the enterprise so we are better positioned to help the customer. Another great aspect of my job is every day is different; there are new challenges and questions that always need attention. I work with a great team of professionals who share their knowledge, so we can all improve our ability to support our customers.
What kind(s) of training and education helps your work performance in your current role? I feel my 24 years of Air Force service laid the foundation for all that has come since and keeps me grounded on support for the warfighter. My bachelor’s degree in business management/computer information systems has added to that foundation. The variety of professional training I have received over the years while a civilian has helped hone my abilities. Training such as Demand Planning 401 and 402, DLA Aviation Academy, Life Cycle Logistics Level 1 and 2, Employee Enrichment Program and the job shadowing program to name a few.
If you could speak directly to the warfighters you support, what would you tell them? First and foremost, thank you for your sacrifice; next, I would want them to know we are doing everything possible to have a part ready when they need it. There are some things out of our control, but we have a fantastic group of “firefighters” who find a way to support the customer.
If you had a theme song, what would it be and why? “Don’t Stop Believing” by Journey (yes I am a child of the 80s). If you feel you can make a difference, then you really can. Believing in what you do and how you do it sets you on that path.
Who is the most influential person in your life…past or present? My wife, Anita, is by far the most influential person in my life. She has referred to me as “a work in progress” and after 33 years of marriage I can only hope to live up to her expectations. Without her support and sacrifice I would not be where I am today.
What five things could you absolutely not live without? Books, computers, Georgia Bulldogs, friends and most of all, my family.
What type of music do you most enjoy? 80s, country and contemporary Christian.