Courtesy Photo | Sailors from the Navy Cargo Handling Unit-Four, Navy Expeditionary Logistics Support...... read more read more
by Lt. Bill Packard
AL ASAD AIR BASE, Iraq – Sailors from the Navy Cargo Handling Unit-4, Navy Expeditionary Logistics Support Group Forward-Mike, officially relieved the NAVELSG-Lima from their 12-month rotation in from operating the Bulk Fuel Farm on Al Asad Air Base, Iraq.
“Since 2005, the U.S. Navy has worked with the U.S. Army to oversee the operation of bulk fuel in both [Contingency Operation Base Adder] and Al Asad,” said Chief Petty Officer Michael Summers, contracting officer representative with the NAVELSG-Lima, 189th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 4th Sustainment Brigade, 310th Expeditionary Sustainment Command, and a native of Frisco, Texas.
The Bulk Fuel Farm is responsible for taking in wholesale bulk fuel from various supply distribution points. The fuel is tested, certified and then stored in large fuel bladders. From there, the fuel is distributed to retail locations around the base such as fueling stations and the airfield.
The bulk fuel mission in Al Asad is composed entirely of Navy reservists from across the country.
The outgoing group hails primarily from Oklahoma City, Okla., but Lt. Cmdr. Ronnie Garcia, the officer in charge, NAVELSG-Lima, who served as an individual augmentee, is originally from Jacksonville, Fla.
“We are leaving big shoes to fill,” said Garcia, who is in friendly competition with his replacement Lt. Cmdr. Diane Morris, OIC for the NAVELSG-Mike, and a native of Louisville, Ky.
Lima transitioned three quarterly inspections with extremely high marks.
It is not a competition. However, Morris boasts of her team’s nearly 40 years of collective petroleum experience.
“We expect a relatively seamless transition. The outgoing group did a commendable job and deserves a lot of kudos,” said Morris during the transition of authority ceremony. “Additionally, the local [Kellogg Brown and Root] contractors have been extremely helpful. They all have run a tight ship, and now it’s our duty to ensure it stays that way.”
Morris said she looks forward to her crew seeing the mission through the withdrawal of troops from Iraq.
| Date Taken: | 06.25.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 07.03.2011 02:17 |
| Story ID: | 73170 |
| Location: | AL ASAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 217 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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