# DLA Distribution Barstow welcomes new director

/ Published Aug. 30, 2021
NEW CUMBERLAND, Pa., 
Adam J. Smith became the new director of Defense Logistics Agency Distribution Barstow, California, Aug. 23.

As a retired Army Sgt. Maj., Smith has over 30 years of Defense Department experience in Army logistics. Smith entered military service in 1989 as an infantryman missile gunner at Fort Benning, Georgia. He transitioned into the logistics field in 1992 as a Sgt. and has since served at every level of logistics.

Smith holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Maryland and is a graduate of the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy in Fort Bliss, Texas.

Throughout both his military and civilian careers, Smith has held numerous positions of leadership and has deployed four times to Iraq and Afghanistan in both military and civilian capacities.

Smith previously served as the DLA Energy liaison officer to the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan, from June 2020 to June 2021. He was responsible for coordinating with senior U.S. Embassy officials, the Afghanistan Ministry of Finance, Afghan Customs Department, U.S. Forces Afghanistan, Resolute Support Headquarters and the primary fuel contractors importing fuel to Afghanistan. Prior to that, he worked as a logistics management specialist planner in the DLA Energy Operations & Plans office at Fort Belvoir, Virginia.

Smith’s military awards and decorations include Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal (with oak leaf cluster), Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal (with bronze star), Overseas Service Ribbon, Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon (numeral 5), Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Unit Citation and NATO Medal (second award), Superior Civilian Service Award, Department of State Meritorious Honor Award and the Commanders Award for Civilian Service.

DLA Distribution Barstow, California, stores over 59,800 warfighter support items valued at over $1.6 billion at two locations on Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow, a Marine Corps supply and maintenance installation located in the Mojave Desert east of Barstow, in San Bernardino County, Southern California.

With a hot, dry desert climate, Barstow is an ideal location for outdoor storage for large tactical vehicles and equipment. Among the major items stored outside are Tracked and Wheeled Vehicles, ship propellers and drive shafts, anchors and radar units.

DLA Distribution Barstow, California, is capable of accommodating inside storage requirements for a wide variety of commodities. Major items currently provided inside storage at the distribution center are electronic parts and components, radioactive material, clothing and textiles, replacement parts of military equipment, engines and transmissions, shafts, reduction gears, and wire cable.

DDBC also operates a container manufacturing section that is proficient in the design and construction of lumber, plywood cleated, fiberboard and special purpose containers for shipment or storage. Containers may be custom constructed to meet customer requirements and in compliance with federal, military and international specifications.