DLA Supply Chain Alliance Conference & Exhibition

2024 theme: Adapting Today’s Sustainment Partnerships to Support Tomorrow’s Integrated Deterrence

The DLA Supply Chain Alliance Conference & Exhibition is hosted by the National Defense Industrial Association in partnership with the Defense Logistics Agency’s Land, Maritime and Aviation Class IX supply chains to provide a forum to discuss logistics support strategies and challenges, and to streamline efforts to better support the Warfighter. In odd years, the conference is held in Richmond, Virginia, and in even years it is held in Columbus, Ohio. The 2024 event was held at the Greater Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, Ohio, April 23-24.

The forum draws together government and industry leaders to discuss sustainment aspects of the National Military Strategy and the Defense Department’s first-ever National Defense Industrial Strategy. Dynamic speakers from Industry and Defense with backgrounds in logistics and acquisition, as well as General and Flag Officers from the military services will provide critical perspectives across elements of the end-to-end DOD supply chain along with breakout sessions that will give valuable insight on doing business with DLA.

Images from the 2024 event

DLA Aviation employees talk to attendees at conference

DLA Director calls on agency, suppliers to ‘think, act and operate differently’
Overview of DLA Conference Exhibition

DLA Director calls on agency, suppliers to ‘think, act and operate differently’
Aviation commander speaks at DLA Supply Chain Alliance conference

DLA Director calls on agency, suppliers to ‘think, act and operate differently’
DLA Director speaks at the Supply Chain Alliance conference

DLA Director calls on agency, suppliers to ‘think, act and operate differently’
Woman in black suit and white shirt stands in front of Knowledge Bar sign.

Defense supply chain conference fosters partnerships, integrated deterrence strategy
Four people speak at booth with white table and blue background.

Defense supply chain conference fosters partnerships, integrated deterrence strategy

2025 Event Details

Details will be released closer to the 2025 event. Stay tuned!

About DLA Land and Maritime

DLA Land and Maritime manages the land and maritime supply chains for the Defense Logistics Agency. DLA Land and Maritime manages approximately 2.5 million spare and repair parts and supports 2,000 weapon systems and more than 21,000 customers throughout the military services, civil agencies, and other DOD organizations. Daily operations encompass nearly 2,700 associates at 30 locations worldwide to include DLA Depot Level Reparable detachments, Army and Marine Corps industrial sites and detachments supporting U.S. Navy shipyards. In FY23, DLA Land and Maritime sales topped $4.4 billion.

More: DLA Land and Maritime

About DLA Aviation

DLA Aviation is the aviation demand and supply manager for Defense Logistics Agency. DLA Aviation supports more than 2,341 major weapon systems and is the U.S. military’s integrated material manager for more than 1.8 million national stock number items, industrial retail supply and depot-level reparable acquisitions. DLA Aviation plays a pivotal role in the success of Army, Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy and Space Force missions by providing targeted solutions and full-spectrum logistics support.

More: DLA Aviation Home

About the event


Overview

The DLA Supply Chain Alliance Conference was held April 23-24, 2024 in Columbus, Ohio. It's predecessor, the DLA Land and Maritime Supplier Conference and Exhibition, was held biennially beginning in 2005 to bring together small and large businesses, government acquisition professionals and military leaders for collaborative discussion on industry topics.

Speakers included:

Program Executive Office Panel moderated by Navy Rear Adm. Matthew Ott, Commander, NAVSUP Weapon Systems Support, featuring:

  • Mr. Timothy Goddette, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Sustainment
  • Mr. Steve Zummo, Deputy Director of Supply Chain, PEO SSBN Submarine Industrial Base Team. 
  • Mr. Dennis D’Angelo, Executive Director, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center

Innovation Panel moderated by Mr. David Koch, Chief, DLA Research and Development, featuring:

  • Mr. Charles Ormsby, Chief, Manufacturing and Industrial Technologies Division, Air Force Research Laboratory
  • Mr. Ben Richardson, Chief Commercial Officer at Gambit
  • Navy Capt. Newt McKissick, Military Lead for Energy Portfolio, Defense Innovation Unit

Why attend

The DLA Supply Chain Alliance brings dynamic speakers from across the Defense Department and industry, to include both small and large businesses. Featured presenters include flag officers and industry leaders with expertise in logistics and acquisition, who will provide critical perspective from across the DOD supply chain.

For small business

For small businesses interested in participating in matchmaking sessions with large businesses, DLA Land and Maritime’s Office of Small Business Programs is facilitating sessions between small and large businesses who are working with DLA as a prime contractor. The sessions offer opportunities for large businesses to present requirements to small businesses for negotiation to meet that requirement, potentially making a match. Several sessions are held throughout the two-day conference. Sign up by contacting the DLA Land and Maritime Office of Small Business Programs at SmBizLandCols@dla.mil prior to the conference once the registration window opens.

Small businesses who would like to speak with a DLA representative may visit the DLA Small Business Booth on the exhibition floor throughout the conference. Representatives from DLA’s Office of Small Business Programs, headquartered at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, as well as DLA Aviation, DLA Land and Maritime, and DLA Troop Support, will be on hand to address questions and provide information.

Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime Commander Army Brig. Gen. Gail Atkins welcomes attendees to day one of the DLA Supply Chain Alliance Conference and Exhibition on April 23 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center in downtown Columbus, Ohio.
Defense supply chain conference fosters partnerships, integrated deterrence strategy
By Cindy Pray | April 23, 2024
Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime, in collaboration with DLA Aviation and the National Defense Industrial Association, wrapped up day one of the DLA Supply Chain Alliance Conference and Exhibition at the Greater Columbus Convention Center in downtown Columbus, Ohio, April 23.
Attendees of the Defense Logistics Agency Supply Chain Alliance and Exhibition at the Greater Columbus Convention Center, in Columbus, Ohio, April 23-24, have a variety of dining and entertainment choices in the downtown area and beyond.
What to do in Columbus while attending the DLA Supply Chain Alliance Conference and Exhibition
By Commentary by Stefanie Hauck | April 17, 2024
Columbus is a vibrant city and is worth checking out if time allows for those attending the Defense Logistics Agency Supply Chain Alliance and Exhibition at the Greater Columbus Convention Center, April 23-24.
A panel consisting of small business owners discussed contested logistics issues at the Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime Supplier Conference and Exhibition April 7, 2022 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center. This year, at the DLA Supply Chain Alliance Conference and Exhibition on April 23-24, two dynamic panels consisting of Program Executive Office representatives and defense innovators will discuss modernizing the services to face the conflicts of the future.
Panel discussions to explore aspects of defense industrial strategy at annual supply chain conference
By Stefanie Hauck | April 2, 2024
Shared insights and perspectives on strengthening the defense industrial ecosystem will be on tap during two panel discussions at the annual Defense Logistics Agency Supply Chain Alliance Conference and Exhibition April 23-24, at the Greater Columbus Convention Center.
Attendees of the DLA Supply Chain Alliance Conference and Exhibition, scheduled for April 23-24 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, Ohio, will have an opportunity to learn about an important program – a topic unique to a supply chain conference – the Suicide and Trauma Reduction Initiative for Veterans.
OSU psychologist to speak on veteran suicide, trauma reduction at supply chain conference
By Cindy Pray | April 8, 2024
Attendees of the DLA Supply Chain Alliance Conference and Exhibition, scheduled for April 23-24 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, Ohio, will have an opportunity to learn about an important program – a topic unique to a supply chain conference – the Suicide and Trauma Reduction Initiative for Veterans.
The Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime Office of Small Business Programs staffed a booth at the DLA Land and Maritime Supplier Conference and Exhibition held at the Greater Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, Ohio, April 6-7, 2022. (From left) New Business Opportunity Specialist Dave Loughman and Small Business Specialist Donna Brino-Blackwell assist an attendee at the event.
DLA Land and Maritime Small Business office to offer matchmaking sessions at supply chain conference
By Stefanie Hauck | March 22, 2024
Small businesses who attend the DLA Supply Chain Alliance Conference and Exhibition, April 23-24 in Columbus, Ohio, will have several opportunities to participate in matchmaking sessions with large prime contractors and the Land, Maritime, Aviation and Troop Support supply chains of DLA.  
David Norquist, president and chief executive officer of the National Defense Industrial Association and the former deputy secretary of defense, addresses the crowd May 3, 2023, at the Defense Logistics Agency Supply Chain Alliance Conference and Exhibition in Richmond, Virginia. Attendees of the 2024 DLA Supply Chain Alliance Conference and Exhibition, scheduled for April 23-24 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, Ohio, will have the opportunity to hear from Norquist and other dynamic speakers from across the Defense Department and industry with expertise in logistics and acquisition. (Photo by Chris Lynch)
Distinguished speakers to share strategic insight at supply chain conference
By Cindy Pray | March 6, 2024
Attendees of the DLA Supply Chain Alliance Conference and Exhibition, scheduled for April 23-24 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, Ohio, will have the opportunity to hear from dynamic speakers from across the Defense Department and industry with expertise in logistics and acquisition.
Representatives from Defense Logistics Agency Aviation and DLA Land and Maritime answered questions from suppliers during the DLA Supply Chain Alliance Conference and Exhibition, held May 3-4, 2023 at the Greater Richmond Conference Center in Richmond, Virginia. DLA Land and Maritime will host the 2024 DLA Supply Chain Alliance Conference and Exhibition April 23-24, at the Greater Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Chris Lynch)
DLA Land and Maritime gears up for annual supply chain conference
By Cindy Pray | Feb. 26, 2024
Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime, in partnership with DLA Aviation and the National Defense Industrial Association, is gearing up to host the DLA Supply Chain Alliance Conference and Exhibition in downtown Columbus, Ohio, April 23-24, at the Greater Columbus Convention Center.
Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime Office of Small Business Programs New Business Opportunity Specialist Dave Loughman and Small Business Specialist Donna Brino-Blackwell assist an attendee at the DLA Land and Maritime Supplier Conference and Exhibition held at the Greater Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, Ohio, April 6-7, 2022.
DLA Land and Maritime Office of Small Business Programs exceeds goals with holistic approach
By Stefanie Hauck | Feb. 6, 2024
Navigating the waters of the federal contracting space as a small business is usually daunting at best. But the Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime Office of Small Business Programs provides a compass to steer them in the right direction.
David Norquist, president and chief executive officer of the National Defense Industrial Association and the former deputy secretary of defense, addresses the crowd May 3 at the Defense Logistics Agency Supply Chain Alliance Conference and Exhibition in Richmond, Virginia. He spoke about the importance of shoring up the defense industrial base now ton ensure the strength of the Defense Department in the future. Photo by Chris Lynch
Industrial base strength is necessary for future DOD success, says former deputy defense secretary
By Nancy Benecki | May 8, 2023
The defense industrial base is facing serious challenges, and now is the time to help those businesses before it is too late, a former deputy secretary of defense said May 3 at the Defense Logistics Agency Supply Chain Alliance Conference and Exhibition in Richmond, Virginia.
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