Civilian transporter runs MTMC--if only for day.

Friday, July 5, was an ordinary day for Frank Galluzzo.

The Military Traffic Management Command veteran woke up promptly at 5 a.m., and was at his MTMC work desk within an hour.

But this quiet day, sandwiched between a national holiday and a summer weekend, was different for Frank Galluzzo--he was in charge of the Military Traffic Management Command.

"I was definitely out of my routine," said Galluzzo, whose normal job role is as director of the Distribution Analysis Center. "It's a different perspective. You identify some things that are not normally on the radar screen."

In the memory of old-timers, this is the first time a civilian department director has run MTMC for a regular workday.

If the Commanding General is away, normally one of the four members of the Command Group is in charge. The group is all military, with the exception of Bill Lucas, Deputy to the Director.

On rare occasions, such as the March 2002 MTMC Training Symposium in Dallas, an Army colonel was put in temporary charge of MTMC.

Selection to run MTMC--if only for a day--is quite a compliment for Galluzzo.

"It's nice to know we have such talent," said Bill Lucas, Deputy to the Commander.

Galluzzo made one important change in his day's routine--even before he left home. He made it a point to listen to CNN news.

"I wanted to know what I might be in for," said Galluzzo. "There might be a news item in regard to an event with impact on a combat commander worldwide, or a federal agency."

Galluzzo conducted one routine unchanged. He had a cup of coffee with an informal group of MTMC directors he meets regularly at 7:30 a.m. in the Hoffman II cafeteria. The post-holiday meeting was smaller than normal, but participants easily made up for missing regulars by their post-July 4th boisterous holiday spirit.

Some things apparently remain the same, even when you are running a worldwide organization ...

"I have to have my coffee," said Galluzzo.