Operations Center meets 21st--century challenges.

Translating commanders' intentions into efficient, tailored surface transportation solutions is a critical objective for the MTMC Operations Center.

That is the mandate that Col. Dennis Faver, the Director of Deployment Operations at MTMC's Operations Center, at Fort Eustis, Va., works with every day.

"The combatant commanders need a single-touch button for supporting strategic maneuver from the fort to the fight," said Faver.

"That's the main focus of the Operations Center."

Faver first began assessing organizational designs to support MTMC's new global responsibilities before the Operations Center began work Oct. 7. With a wide breadth of missions, from full-theater war to peacekeeping missions, Faver sought to develop a flexible organization.

In the recent reorganization, he has implemented an operational battle staff focus. The center has teams divided into combatant commander support cells, which work around the clock, with a newly intensified customer focus.

"Our command is changing to meet the challenges of the 21st century," said Faver, during a recent briefing to Operations Center staffers.

"Our main goal is to strengthen our support to the combatant commanders. Each commander-oriented team integrates all our business lines and is redesigned to develop, coordinate and execute support of unit and strategic requirements. We want to ensure seamless, coordinated, end-to-end operations."

The newly configured teams provide one-stop shopping for units deploying to any location around the globe, said Lori Starke, Operations Officer-in-Charge for the combatant commanders. The support includes the global distribution domestic and international arena, as well as a link to terminals. Other aspects include Reserve assets, deliberate planning, intelligence, and force protection expertise.

"The teams have already initiated battlebooks, which include port characteristics, vessel schedules, unit contacts, and past lessons learned," said Starke. "It's all about supporting the customer."

For MTMC to make an impact, said Faver, the Operations Center must work in unison, developing timelines and after-action reviews based on what the team collectively managed--as well as integrating the customer's perspective.

"We cannot be business-line driven," said Doug Anderson, Assistant Director of Deployment Operations. "Our focus has to be customer driven. There are a lot of moving parts, and without all the gears going, we will not be effective. We need to communicate and partner with everyone in the MTMC family."

Faver says teams must support the execution requirements of combatant commanders in a timely and energetic manner.

"Our goal is to get in front of each requirement with a plan," said Faver.

"The Command Operations Center is the glue to hold it all together."

Starke has the same viewpoint.

"The transportation professionals on the combatant commanders' team staffs, paired with our industry partners, represent the foundation of the deployment process," said Starke.

The Center has become the vital, around-the-clock link to all MTMC customers, she said, including warfighters and sustaining agencies, such as the Defense Logistics Agency, the Army and Air Force Exchange Service, and the Defense Commissary Agency.

"We are open for business 24-seven-365" said Starke. "The MTMC Operations Center will continue to coordinate all surface movement requirements for Operation Enduring Freedom, as well as support a myriad of other requirements worldwide. That's our job. It's a process of continuous improvement."