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News | May 3, 2016

Distribution leadership hosts Gen Darren McDew, USAF, USTRANSCOM Commander

By Dawn Bonsell DLA Distribution Public Affairs

Air Force Gen. Darren W. McDew, commander, U.S. Transportation Command and members of his team including Brig. Gen.  Kyle Kremer and DLA-USTRANCOM staff visited DLA Distribution April 27 for an overview of DLA Distribution, and a tour of the DLA Distribution’s Expeditionary Operations and Foreign Military Sales areas. The discussion also focused on how the two agencies, who both provide support to U.S. combatant commands, the military services, defense agencies and other government organizations, can improve processes to provide better customer service.

Starting with an office call with Distribution commander Army Brig. Gen. Richard B. Dix, they met with key Distribution staff to receive an organizational overview highlighting DLA Distribution’s 24 distribution centers worldwide, with particular focus on the Transportation Division’s process improvements, the benefits of customers utilizing the vendor shipment module and the Business Development team efforts to increase Distribution’s storage and distribution customer base (PBLs /FMS).  McDew was impressed with the innovative efforts of the Distribution team and commented that it is always a good practice to, “anticipate the customer’s needs before they know they need it.” For example, McDew referenced how Federal Express anticipated the need for overnight delivery before it became a customer requirement.     

As a means to continue to provide the best customer service, McDew stressed the importance of aligning processes. “It is natural that we should be partners. We should be even tighter partners than we are today. There is no way USTRANSCOM can be as successful as we are without your team,” said McDew. Citing the importance of both agencies remaining relevance going forward, McDew talked about working together to build new business for DLA Distribution, encouraging Distribution’s leadership to reach out to him to help influence key leaders within the Department of Defense. McDew concluded that, “This was more powerful than I even thought. I have even more confidence in this organization than I had when I walked in the room, and I had a lot of confidence walking in.”

Welcoming McDew’s offer to “influence and help,” Dix stated that, “The partnership with DLA and USTRANSCOM has enabled us to provide effective, efficient and best value service to our customers. The mission is driving us to work together.”

Following the briefing, the group toured DLA Distribution’s Expeditionary Operations Communication and Command Control Center display and FMS area.