# Land and Maritime Commander hosts installation management director; discussions center on security enhancements

/ Published May 28, 2019
COLUMBUS, Ohio, 
Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime Commander Navy Rear Admiral John Palmer, hosted Gordon Hackett, director of Installation Management during a two day site visit to the Defense Supply Center Columbus May 21-22.

Though part of Gordon’s continuing agenda to personally visit each of DLA’s installations, the Columbus visit included the completion of some official business that formally linked DSCC to the neighboring City of Whitehall. Palmer and Gordon carved out time during the visit to sign a memorandum of agreement that linked the emergency response capability of Whitehall and DSCC during instances of heightened need.

“We’ve been providing support to the community for years and this agreement allows Whitehall to reciprocate with emergency services,” said Palmer. “This agreement formalized an already great working relationship with Whitehall and now we can give them access to the base so they can provide specialized help when and if needed.”

Work on the MOA has been ongoing and involved reconciling a few locality technicalities. DLA finally got the clearance to proceed with the agreement and the parties accomplished the signing as part of Hackett’s visit.   

Noting the extensive cooperation that was required to complete the process, Palmer said DSCC is safer today as a result of the cooperation and great staff work between DLA Headquarters and the Land and Maritime team.

During his visit Hackett had the opportunity to tour DSCC and made several stops. Among them were the Defense Information Systems Agency, the Ohio Army National Guard and several of the installation’s other larger tenants. He capped his visit by holding a Site Director’s Call in the installation’s Building 11 where he met with more than 100 members from the installation’s workforce.

“I’m here because we’re in Washington D.C. working policy so that the field organizations can be successful, because the folks here are the ones directly executing support to the warfighter,” said Hackett.

During the Site Director portion of his visit, Hackett focused on four vital areas that he said he’s touched on during his visits to other DLA major subordinate commands. He identified Warfighter First, Business Reforms, Audit Readiness as the Directors primary focus areas and he included operational technology control systems as an emerging focus because they’re installation functions. “It’s important for me to get out here because you take back so much.”

Hackett positively mentioned the appearance of the installation when you first enter. He said the upkeep and the grounds were very nice and conducive to a safe work environment. He also praised DSCC’s wealth of workforce experience and the passion he experienced from associates.  Didn’t matter what their job was everyone here is really focused.

“I certainly appreciated the time spent with Admiral Palmer and signing the MOA with the City of Whitehall,” Hackett said. “The signing continues to enhance DSCC’s relationship with Whitehall and the surrounding community. “Emergencies will happen, it’s really not a matter of if, but when and Whitehall will bring different resources and capabilities that we can leverage, we have to be prepared.”  

Hackett has visited several other DLA installations and he’ll be adding a few more to his schedule after leaving Land and Maritime.