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# Leadership transfers at Defense Department’s largest distribution center

By Diana Dawa, DLA Distribution Public Affairs

                NEW CUMBERLAND, Pa.  –              
Command leadership transferred at Defense Logistics Agency Distribution, Susquehanna, Pennsylvania, when outgoing commander, Army Col. Trent Conner, relinquished command to incoming commander, Army Col. Samuel “Sam” Miller during a change of command ceremony July 22.

DLA Distribution Headquarters’ Commander, Navy Rear Adm. Grafton D. Chase, Jr., presided over the ceremony.

As the DDSP commander, Conner had oversight over the largest distribution facility in the Defense Department that provides over 10 million square feet of storage space for nearly 850,000 unique stock numbers valued at $19 billion. Additionally, he led over 1500 civilians and joint military service members operating 52 warehouses at three geographic sites including not only New Cumberland but also warehouses on Naval Support Activity in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, and Columbus, Ohio.

One of Conner’s greatest impacts as commander was his dynamic leadership of DDSP’s logistics support to the Nation through the national response to the COVID-19 pandemic. He excelled at balancing safety, quality and productivity while keeping employee welfare, growth and development at the forefront. In his remarks, Chase noted how Connor proved to be an exceptional leader in his early days as commander of DDSP – in the initial months of a worldwide pandemic.

“Trent’s accomplishments over the last two years are many. Under his leadership, DDSP’s mission essential workforce showed up every day, even in those early days of the pandemic, to ensure our customers had the materiel needed to support the warfighter, while at the same time, ensuring our warfighters, employees and federal partners had the vaccines, personal protective equipment and test kits needed to battle the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Chase. 

“His extraordinary performance as a distribution center commander enabled outstanding storage and distribution support that bolstered the readiness of the Armed Services, Combatant Commands and Allied Nations.”

Conner’s logistics planning and operations expertise led to the distribution of over 1.2 million doses of the nation’s three COVID-19 vaccines to forward-deployed military personnel, their families and DoD contractors in 35 countries, all without loss or compromise. His team worked with DLA Distribution Headquarters – overcoming challenges in scheduling, inspections, cold chain management, as well as delivery restrictions in foreign countries.Incoming commander, Miller, has over 23 years of experience in logistics at tactical, operational and enterprise levels.

Miller, a native of Kelseyville, California, earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from the United States Military Academy, a Master of Science degree in Business with a concentration in Logistics and Supply Chain Management from the University of Kansas, and a Master of Arts degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Naval War College.                 Navy Rear Adm. Grafton D. Chase, Jr., left, commander of Defense Logistics Agency Distribution, passes the organization flag to Army Col. Samuel “Sam” Miller, signifying a change in leadership during a change of command ceremony at Defense Logistics Agency Distribution Susquehanna, Pennsylvania, July 22, 2022. Photo by Matthew Mahoney, DLA Distribution Public Affairs. Photo by Matthew Mahoney, DLA Distribution Public Affairs.                            Leadership transfers at Defense Department’s largest distribution center                            Navy Rear Adm. Grafton D. Chase, Jr., left, commander of Defense Logistics Agency Distribution, passes the organization flag to Army Col. Samuel “Sam” Miller, signifying a change in leadership during a change of command ceremony at Defense Logistics Agency Distribution Susquehanna, Pennsylvania, July 22, 2022. Photo by Matthew Mahoney, DLA Distribution Public Affairs. Photo by Matthew Mahoney, DLA Distribution Public Affairs.            SHARE IMAGE:Download ImageImage DetailsPhoto By: Matthew Mahoney, DLA Distribution Public AffairsVIRIN: 220722-D-VQ057-0011

Miller most recently served as the assistant chief of staff for Logistics, G-4, NATO Rapid Deployable Corps-Turkey in Istanbul, Turkey. His earlier assignments include service as a support platoon leader, forward support company executive officer and battalion S4, 204th Forward Support Battalion, Fort Hood, Texas, and Baquba, Iraq; battalion S3 and Headquarters/Supply Company commander, 101st Forward Support Battalion, Fort Riley, Kansas; brigade liaison officer, 1st Sustainment Brigade, Fort Riley, Kansa and Balad, Iraq; battalion S3 and executive officer, 6-353d Support Battalion, Fort Polk, Louisiana; logistics operations officer, Special Operations Command Central, Doha, Qatar and Arifjan, Kuwait; deputy corps transportation officer and chief, Supply and Services, I Corps, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington; deputy G4, 7th Infantry Division, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington; CJ4, Task Force Bayonet, Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan; chief, Materiel Readiness Branch, 593d Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington; commander, 8th Special Troops Battalion, 8th Theater Sustainment Command, Fort Shafter, Hawaii; and deputy chief of the Sustainment Maintenance Division in the Army Deputy Chief of Staff, G-4, Washington, D.C.

Miller deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom I and OIF 07-09 and to Afghanistan for Resolute Support in 2016.

Miller’s military awards and decorations are consistent with officers of the same grade and time in service. His significant military awards include the Bronze Star, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal (one combat star) and the Iraqi Campaign Medal (three combat stars).

Miller was inducted into the Honorable Order of Saint Martin in 2011 and the Honorable Order of Saint Christopher in 2019. He was selected as a Distinguished Member of the Quartermaster Corps in 2021.

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