NEW CUMBERLAND, Pa. –
The Office of the Secretary of Defense Sustainment Fellows visited DLA Distribution Susquehanna, Pennsylvania, Oct. 11, to learn about DLA Distribution’s mission and function.
During their visit, the Fellows received the DLA Distribution Command Overview highlighting Distribution’s worldwide network detailing special functions the command provides such as kitting and hazardous material handling, and detailed transportation coordination that Distribution provides for all of DLA. Additionally, the group participated in a walking tour of DLA Distribution Susquehanna’s Eastern Distribution Center, the largest warehouse in the Department of Defense.
While at the EDC, they learned of the receiving, processing, storage, retrieval, and out loading operations, and saw the full distribution supply chain in action. They also passed by the warehouse’s key locations, including the Consolidation and Containerization Point, the high-rise storage and retrieval system, and the air line of communication pallet build area.
Army Maj. Henry Trudell, an Army Active Guard Reserve Fellow, took notes and listened intently during the EDC tour.
“The purpose of our visit today was to learn of Distribution’s logistics operation – the scope and mission – and get an idea of how defense logistics distribution flows on a global scale.”
The OSD Sustainment Fellowship Program is a year-long, on-site, hands-on leadership and management development program designed to enhance career development of mid-level logistics, sustainment, and engineering professionals (military 0-4/0-5 and civilian GS-13/GS- l4), who have demonstrated significant potential for advancement and greater responsibility in their career field.
Throughout the Fellowship, DoD Sustainment Fellows are integrated into one of the Deputy Assistant Secretaries of Defense offices with diverse sets of responsibilities that include life cycle logistics and sustainment, maintenance policy and programs, materiel readiness, software sustainment engineering, supply chain integration, transportation policy, operational contract support, vendor vetting, and acquisition program management.