Bahrain –
Defense Logistics Agency Director Air Force Lt. Gen. Andy Busch visited DLA Energy Middle East facilities in Bahrain May 17.
Busch was hosted by DLA Energy Middle East officials, and the Middle East commander, Army Col. Marc Thoreson, escorted the general during his visit.
"Our goal was to provide the director with as many opportunities to see DLA supported logistical nodes and to meet as many DLA customers as physically possible," Thoreson said. "During his short nine hours in Bahrain, the director executed an aggressive itinerary, including two key leader engagements, five site visits and the opportunity to meet most of the DLA personnel stationed in Bahrain."
The general visited Isa Air Base, where he met with Royal Bahraini Air Force Commander Lt. Gen. Hammad al Khalifa and toured the host nation’s fuel facilities.
Busch thanked the Royal Bahraini Air Force for its support and cooperation.
DLA Energy has a fuel support agreement with the Bahraini Defence Forces, represented by the Royal Bahraini Air Force. The 2nd Fighter Squadron commander and his team oversee the agreement and petroleum support for U.S. forces and civilian agencies at Isa Air Base.
"During his visit, the director took the opportunity to carry his personal message to DLA employees,” Thoreson said. “The general thanked everyone and challenged all to continue to improve the DLA enterprise."
Following the tour of the fuel facilities, Busch visited the Naval Forces Central Command Fuel System Supply Point and fuel bladder “bag farm” on Isa Air Base. The remote bag farm has large portable fuel bladders than can store more than 1.2 million gallons of fuel for trucks to take to the flight line for aircraft refueling.
Busch’s visit to Isa Air Base culminated with lunch with troops deployed to Isa Air Base, where he enjoyed a meal prepared by the DLA-supported dining facility.
Busch headed to the Bahrain Petroleum Company’s vessel loading pier at Sitra Port, where he was briefed by DLA Energy Middle East Quality Manager William Davenport. Busch watched as a DLA Energy Middle East quality assurance representative inspected fuel being loaded onto an oil tanker destined for Defense Fuel Support Point Qatar.
The final event of the director’s visit was a meeting with Vice Adm. John Miller, commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, U.S. 5th Fleet, Combined Maritime Forces, to discuss DLA's support to ongoing U.S. Navy operations in U.S. Central Command area of responsibility.
"This was a great and rare opportunity for the director to receive feedback directly from the warfighter on the support DLA provides [and] gain a better perspective of DLA functions and tasks performed in the Middle East Region,” Thoreson said. “He is now better armed to assess the associated responsiveness and flexibility DLA demonstrates daily in supporting a very dynamic combatant command area of responsibility."
During his visit to the Middle East, Busch also visited DLA Distribution, DLA Troop Support, DLA Disposition Services and DLA Central.