# Assistant Secretary of Defense for Logistics and Material Readiness visits DLA Distribution 

/ Published March 29, 2018
NEW CUMBERLAND, Pa., 
The Honorable Robert McMahon, assistant secretary of defense for logistics and material readiness, visited Defense Logistics Agency Distribution March 12.  

Following an office call with Distribution commanding general Army Brig. Gen. John S. Laskodi, McMahon met with key Distribution staff to receive an organizational overview highlighting DLA Distribution’s 50 locations worldwide, with particular focus on storage and distribution and how the organization supports the warfighter.

“There are materials stored by Distribution that are a matter of national security. It’s important to drive costs down but remember that for us to do this, we need to find the balance. At the end of the day...the services don’t want us to be efficient, they want us to be effective,” said McMahon following the command brief. 

Following a tour of DLA Distribution Susquehanna’s Eastern Distribution Center, McMahon briefed DLA Distribution’s senior staff and commanders and deputies, who were beginning a week-long leadership summit, on an overview of logistics policies, practices and efficiencies in support of enhanced readiness to the warfighter and over $170 billion in Department of Defense logistics operations. McMahon explained his key areas of focus:  reform management; materiel availability; F-35 sustainment and organic depot analysis. McMahon stressed to Distribution leadership that what they do is tremendously important to supporting the nation’s defense capabilities. 

“The warfighter could not do it without you,” McMahon said.

Prior to his current position, McMahon served as the director of field operations and site lead at Warner Robins Air Force Base, Georgia. 

McMahon retired as an Air Force Maj. Gen. in 2012, after more than 34 years of service. Born in Toledo, Ohio, he entered active duty in the United States Air Force after graduation from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1978. His command experience includes a maintenance wing, a logistics group and two maintenance squadrons. He has served as the director of maintenance for the Ogden Air Logistics Center, and as the director of propulsion for the San Antonio ALC. 

McMahon was also the military assistant to the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Installations, Environment and Logistics, Headquarters U.S. Air Force. He has also served as the director of Logistics, Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics, Installations and Mission Support, Headquarters U.S. Air Force. 

Immediately prior to retirement, McMahon served as commander of the Warner Robins Air Logistics Center, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia. He was responsible for worldwide logistics support for C-130 and C-5 transport aircraft, F-15 fighter aircraft, U-2 reconnaissance aircraft as well as support for remotely piloted vehicles, Air Force helicopters, air-to-air missiles, surface motor vehicles and high-technology airborne electronics, avionics and electronic warfare requirements. The center was one of three Air Force air logistics centers and the largest single-site industrial complex in the state of Georgia.