U.S. Transportation Command (Dec. 2, 2005): admiral Lippert: DLA changes will take team effort.

WASHINGTON (AFPN) -- Defense Logistics Agency Director Vice Adm. Keith Lippert said the agency's transformation will be take a team effort.

The admiral spoke of the change and other topics to more than 600 people Nov. 29 at the annual North American Defense Logistics Conference in Washington.

"The transformation is not going to be done by DLA itself," he said. "The military services and U.S. Transportation Command are big partners in this.

"Together, we can make this system better and better by providing reliable, cost-efficient, and high-quality materiel, services, and information support through end-to-end supply chain integration," he said. "And we're doing it."

He went on to talk about three of the 13 major transformation initiatives that by themselves "are returning $3 billion to the Services through reduced operating costs and greater efficiencies."

The three initiatives included business systems modernization, base realignment and closure, and the integrated data environment.

Lippert said replacing the old BSM system is long overdue.

"It was written in the '60s, implemented in the '70s, and should have been retired in the '80s," he said.

The vintage systems will be replaced by a single commercial system. As a result, cycle times will be reduced dramatically, and there will be significant savings in inventory and personnel. For DLA employees, BSM will provide training and opportunities to succeed in a new environment. The new system is expected to be fully operational by September.

BSM is a key enabler for achieving the goals of the agencies' strategic plan, Department of Defense Logistics Strategic Plan, and Joint Vision 2020.

The admiral also talked about three BRAC recommendations that will result in transformational change to the agency. All depot-level reparable procurement, as well as the vast majority of consumable hardware items not currently managed by DLA, will transition to the agency.

Additionally, management of repair depot supply operations will transition to DLA. Tires, compressed gases, and pre-packaged petroleum products will transition to direct vendor delivery.

Integrated data environment was the final transformation initiative about which the admiral spoke.

"IDE will provide supply chain information technology linkages and single point of system access for DLA's internal processes, DoD-wide log data exchange interoperability, and total asset visibility," he said. "It will also assure access to supply chain management data, centrally managed metadata, authoritative data sources, and DoD logistics business rules."

In addition to the transformation initiatives, Lippert addressed DLA's growing role in natural disaster relief and noted several performance trends that highlight the agency's successes.

"In the three days after Hurricane Katrina hit, we were told it was now our problem," he said. "Over the next days and weeks we supplied $305 million of relief to our people on the Gulf Coast."

In total, DLA supplied the Federal Emergency Management Agency with more than 25 million military rations, 2.2 million units of bottled water, 50,000 cots, 60,000 blankets, 4.5 million gallons of fuel, and many other supplies to support relief efforts.

The admiral also mentioned some significant performance achievements. These included a record low for back orders, the lowest cost-recovery rate in agency history, and a 90 percent customer satisfaction rate.

DLA logistics operations director Maj. Gen. Bennie Williams said the agency is providing expeditionary support and transforming logistics through innovative excellence.

The general emphasized that the root of DLA's transformation is in "giving the warfighters what they need."

Williams discussed several agency transformational initiatives including BSM, supplier relationship management, National Inventory Management Strategy, and the Distribution Planning and Management System. By implementing these programs, he said the agency will further evolve into a "customer-focused enterprise, based on best practices and (information technology) tools."

During their presentations, both leaders addressed DLA's efforts associated with the conference's theme: "Marching Toward Seamless Support of Our Warfighter."

An awards ceremony was held in conjunction with the event. Two Defense Supply Center Philadelphia employees were selected as finalists for an award entitled "Beyond The Call Of Duty: Logistician of the Year."

Gary Shifton, chief of supplier operations for the Europe and Middle East Team, and Debbie Sinno, customer account specialist for the subsistence supply chain, were nominated.

Smith is with Defense Logistics Agency Public Affairs.