Photo By Monique Randolph | Defense Logistics Agency Director Navy Vice Adm. Mark Harnitchek (second from right)...... read more read more
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FORT BELVOIR, Va. — Defense Logistics Agency Director Navy Vice Adm. Mark Harnitchek hosted a roundtable discussion with senior leaders from DLA and 14 of the agency’s subsistence providers, March 30, at the McNamara Headquarters Complex.
The meeting’s goal was to strengthen existing relationships with subsistence prime vendors that are significantly involved in the direct support of America’s warfighters, said Navy Capt. Francis Tisak, chief of staff for DLA Acquisition.
Industry executives representing seven overseas and seven stateside prime vendors participated in the discussion.
“Our intent is to ensure our industry partners are aware of the changes on the horizon and any shifts that may occur as a result of the new defense planning strategy,” Tisak said. “We also want them to know we value our relationships with them, and we want to hear their feedback if there are DLA processes or procedures we can review to improve their ability to work with us.”
As Army and Marine Corps reduce personnel, operations in Afghanistan draw down, and focus shifts from the U.S. Central Command to the U.S. Pacific Command areas of operation, DLA will work closely with its subsistence partners so they are aware of any changes and potential business impacts as early as possible, Harnitchek said.
Force-structure changes may have some implications for the subsistence industry as the number of soldiers and Marines decreases over the next five years, but there will still be a “good, healthy number of mouths to feed for the foreseeable future,” he said.
The director also discussed the agency’s plans to take 10 percent out of the cost of material across the agency’s eight supply chains and another 10 percent out of the cost of operations over the next five years. The result will be approximately $10 billion in savings that can be passed on to the military services, Harnitchek said.
“I’d like to achieve the same outcome for my military customers — and in the subsistence business, that means food that’s every bit as good and has the wonderful variety it has today — but I’d like to do it at about 10 percent less cost,” he said. “I’ll need your help figuring out how to do that.”
The director plans to hold a “captains of industry” meeting with senior industry leaders from one of the agency’s eight supply chains every quarter, Tisak said.
“My promise to all of you is that we won’t have any secrets,” Harnitchek said. “So if it’s not classified and we know about it, within the next day or two, you’re going to know about it. That’s what strategic partners do, and that’s our commitment to you.”
| Date Taken: | 04.03.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 04.12.2012 13:51 |
| Story ID: | 86654 |
| Location: | FORT BELVOIR, VIRGINIA, US |
| Web Views: | 106 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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