# DLA Energy commander officiates DLA Distribution Salalah’s opening

/ Published March 13, 2017
FORT BELVOIR, Virginia, 
Defense Logistics Agency Energy Commander Air Force Brig. Gen. Martin Chapin officiated a ribbon cutting ceremony for DLA Distribution’s newest material processing center in Salalah, Oman, Feb. 9.

Chapin hosted the event on behalf of DLA Distribution Commander Army Brig. Gen. John Laskodi and DLA Distribution Deputy Commander Twila Gonzales.

“[DLA’s] goal in opening this site is that inventory management, customer wait times and audit readiness will improve exponentially to create an efficient distribution network and provide the flexibility for our customers in the area of responsibility to execute their theater campaign plans,” Chapin said during the ceremony.

Salalah, Oman was chosen for the new facility because it provides an efficient and effective joint solution including material aggregation, trans-shipment, short-term storage and delivery functions for visiting U.S. Navy vessels and other U.S. customers in the U.S. Central Command AOR. This will reduce overall costs to individual services and logistics response time to USCENTCOM, USNAVCENT and other forces operating in the region.

“The cutting of this ribbon not only recognizes all of the pre-planning, reviewing, coordination and construction it has taken to get to this milestone—it also serves to celebrate the partnership between DLA and its strategic partners, and the support that DLA Distribution Salalah Oman provides our customers,” said DLA Distribution Bahrain’s Deputy Commander Peter Boone.

“Thank you all for your continued support and partnership and ... being with us today as we officially open DLA Distribution Salalah, Oman,” Chapin said. “This is a relatively low-key event that will end up having a very significant impact in the future of support to the forces in the Central Command AOR.”

Chapin welcomed and addressed the DLA Distribution Salalah, Oman’s workforce.

“Your hard work, dedication and commitment will directly contribute to this organization’s success. Additionally, the support you and our 25 distribution centers around the world provide to our front-line troops is vitally important to their success,” Chapin said.    

Renovation of the Warehouse 5 began on July 30, 2016, and became operational on October 27, 2016, as the DLA Distribution Salalah, Oman MPC.

The new MPC meets CENTCOM requirements via DLA Distribution’s worldwide contingency contract and execute assigned missions through the diligent application of the organization’s institutional processes, professional employees and enterprise business systems. 

Chapin closed his remarks by addressing DLA Distribution Bahrain Commander Navy Cmdr. Erik Naley. “Erik, on behalf of the entire DLA enterprise, I’d like to say you have a great team of hard-working professionals. You and your team will have some incredible opportunities ahead of you, and I am confident you will do everything you can to further enhance DLA Distribution’s role in delivering world-class support to the men and women of America’s military.” 

In addition to Chapin, the official party consisted of Hamdan Al Hinai, director of procurement and contracts, Office of the Secretary General, Ministry of Defence; David Gledhill, chief executive officer, Port of Salalah; Army Col. Eric J. Larson, senior defense official and defense attaché, US Embassy Muscat;  and Paul McMillan.