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News | Nov. 6, 2015

Contingency planner rewarded for role in joint task force

By Christopher Goulait DLA Energy Public Affairs

Andre Hinson’s work in support of Joint Task Force Port Opening’s exercise Turbo Distribution 16-1, earned him a coin from the joint task force commander at Camp Shelby Oct. 29.

As part of his duties as the Europe & Africa contingency planner for the Plans and Operations office, Hinson served as the Defense Logistics Agency Energy subject matter expert to the JTF-PO commander as part of the DLA Assessment Team.

DLA Assessment Team members were able to take part in the exercise as a result of the DLA Rapid Deployment Initiative, which allows rapid logistics capabilities to the combatant commanders during expeditionary contingency, humanitarian assistance and disaster response operations.

The exercise provided a number of opportunities for DLA personnel in the assessment team to discuss DLA capabilities with JTF-PO personnel and vice-versa in an environment conducive to information sharing, Hinson said.

Work involved assisting the JTF-PO fuel planner to ensure continuous and uninterrupted fuel flow in support of the exercise’s fuel requirements, Hinson said.

He also performed a petroleum capabilities assessment to determine the sources of commercial and DLA stocks available in the theater area of operation during planning phase.

“During various phases of the exercise, we developed a fuel support plan for the JTF-PO, identified fuel requirements, assigned tasks and responsibilities and provided logistics planning guidance for bulk fuel supply operations in support of the JTF-PO forces operating mission and subsequent follow-on missions,” Hinson said.

“As we select our forces and plan our operations … we must understand how logistics can impact on our concepts of operations,” Air Force Col. Leslie Maher, JTF-PO commander for the exercise, said while awarding Hinson his coin. “Commanders must base all their concepts of support on what they know they can do logistically.”

Hank Morrow with DLA Information Operations was also awarded a coin by the Mississippi Air National Guard chief of staff.

For more information about the exercise and DLA’s role, see the Army’s coverage of the event.