Transportation policy chief: new DoD supply chain focuses on warfighters.

The Department of Defense will reshape and form its supply chain management system to one that more closely resembles its commercial counterparts.

That is the promise of Earl Boyanton Jr., Assistant Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Transportation Policy).

"The Department of Defense supply chain will be simple, responsible, reliable and visible," said Boyanton, in a Sept. 19 address to the Washington Chapter, of the National Defense Transportation Association.

"We're past the point where we say we're different," he said.

The key goal is support to the warfighters, said Boyanton.

"We're focused on them (the warfighters). That is exactly who the customer is."

Many commercial processes, such as time-definite delivery, will be used to "maximize" warfighter support, he said.

Other topics addressed in his speech included the Military Traffic Management Command's development of the Future Personal Property Program.

"The folks at MTMC are leading the charge, with the services," said Boyanton.

"The new program will embody many of the elements of the (personal property) pilots. They're going to fix the claims process and find ways so service members experience less pain when there's a loss. The member is left a long way from full replacement (value)."

The program will include more control in shipments and in-transit visibility, added Boyanton. More organized moves will lead to reducing the costs and damage associated with temporary storage.

The biggest factor in the new program will be increased costs of 10 to 15 percent, he said. Military budget planners will have to find these added funds in the fiscal year 2004 budget if MTMC is to stay on schedule.

A member of the audience asked Boyanton about a recent general officer review meeting on the program.

"I would characterize it as unanimous support for the program," said Boyanton.

Prior to this appointment, Boyanton was the Midwest operations manager for Stanley Associates, Inc., near Scott Air Force Base, Ill.

Boyanton is a 28-year veteran of the U.S. Air Force. His career assignments included Pentagon duty and work in such areas as transportation, joint strategic mobility, and joint crisis action.