# DLA Distribution leaders present forward-thinking Annual Operating Plan to DLA Director

/ Published Nov. 30, 2016
NEW CUMBERLAND, Pennsylvania, 
On Nov. 18, Air Force Lt. Gen. Andy Busch met with DLA Distribution leadership at the newly constructed headquarters building in New Cumberland, Pa., for a report on the fiscal year 2016 annual operating plan and presentation of the fiscal year 2017 AOP. Key leaders from DLA Headquarters joined Busch in New Cumberland for the AOP review, including Edward Case, vice director; Navy Rear Adm. Vincent Griffith, director, DLA Logistics Operations; and DLA Senior Enlisted Advisor Army Command Sgt. Maj. Charles Tobin. 

The Distribution leadership team kicked off the meeting by reviewing accomplishments from the fiscal year 2016 AOP, outlining the DLA Director’s specified tasks and current status. BG Laskodi highlighted Distribution’s culture of continuous improvement, including improvements to the integrated planning process, improved leadership span of control and the implementation of high performance leadership training. According to Laskodi, “The Distribution team is not just executing today’s goals, but also thinking differently-- looking to where we’re heading with a continued focus on long term planning and modernization efforts.”

The discussion then turned to DLA Distribution’s fiscal year 2017 AOP. Distribution leadership discussed how each line of effort in the fiscal year 2017 plan is nested and aligned with the Director’s goals, with each objective focused on desired outcomes aimed at accomplishing the overall end state. To ensure synergy throughout the plan, Distribution works with headquarters as well as other DLA PLFA’s to accomplish the Director’s five strategic goals—warfighter first, people and culture, strategic engagement, financial stewardship, and process excellence.

During the meeting, the Director was briefed on Distribution’s PBL storage and distribution partnerships, foreign military sales, performance standards, acquisition support through Better Buying Power, DLA Distribution expeditionary, and GSA, ICBM and NWRM support. A significant point emphasized is the desired outcome to integrate DLA S&D capability with PEO/PBL sustainment contracts when leveraging organic maintenance to improve readiness and reduce costs. 

Briefers then presented the governance design with a focus on structure alignment, people development, and engineered standards. Distribution’s culture focus areas include adaptability, mission, involvement and consistency. The DoD Performance Management and Appraisal Program is a key enabler to enhance this design. Commenting on the presentation, Case said, “Looking ahead to fiscal year 2017’s culture focus, accountability has to be where we are headed.”

Discussions on process excellence initiatives, supplier relationships, and audit readiness rounded out the AOP review, with dialog covering how DLA Distribution’s strategic engagement efforts are coordinated through the regional commands. Briefers reviewed how Distribution has teamed with the combatant commands, industry and other partners to deliver effective and affordable S&D solutions. For example, the establishment of DLA Distribution Djibouti, Africa in September 2016 was in response to a request from Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa of the U.S. Africa Command. The distribution center not only supports units on base at CLDJ, but also fulfills a critical requirement for storage and distribution of supplies to forces throughout the Horn of Africa, Gulf of Aden, and Red Sea. Distribution also set up a materiel processing center at the Port of Salalah, Oman in October 2016 -- a key element in posturing DLA Distribution Bahrain to support the Trans Arabian Network as it expands through fiscal year 2017. The MPC will improve delivery times while reducing costs for select material. In addition, Distribution is setting the stage for a distribution capability in Iwakuni, Japan by April 2017 and a TCSP in Okinawa by June 2017 to support USPACOM. DLA Distribution Expeditionary was a key area of focus during the meeting and Busch advised the Distribution team to, “continue to evolve DDXX to expand the capability and make it more appealing to the services.”

In an effort to increase effectiveness and efficiency through modernization, seven distribution centers will implement the use of tablets this fiscal year. Further modernization efforts expected to be completed in fiscal year 2017 are wireless printing, mobile printers, and a real time location system.  

After the final presentation, Lt. Gen. Busch wrapped up the session with appreciation for the hard work put in by DLA Distribution leadership, “You did great in 2016, now it’s time to look forward to where DLA Distribution is going to be.”