# DLA Distribution Commander delivers holiday message

/ Published Dec. 20, 2022
NEW CUMBERLAND, Pa., 
As the holiday season approaches and 2022 draws to a close, I’d like to pause to reflect on the amazing work you’ve done this year, and the innovative course we’re focused on for the future.

The fantastic work you do every day never ceases to amaze me — this year you processed over 15 million transactions supporting the Warfighter and our Federal partners. As an agency, we significantly tightened Receipt Induction standards to better support audit, measuring all inductions to a 24-hour goal. Despite this more stringent goal, you met or exceeded performance goals for 13 of 14 core Wholesale issue, receipt, and denial rate metrics! In addition, 11 of the 14 metrics we track either improved or remained consistent compared to last year. We have also seen great improvement in Inventory Accuracy and reduction in High Dollar Value (HDV) adjustments, and I greatly appreciate your continued commitment and focus on quality!

As the COVID-19 pandemic continued, DLA Distribution shipped over 1.4 million doses of adult and pediatric vaccines to 35 countries since the end of 2020. Distribution also partnered with the U.S. Postal Service to ship over 730 million COVID-19 test kits to service locations in support of the President’s mandate to provide free test kits for all Americans this year. Additional COVID-19 supplies, including gloves, masks, hand sanitizer and other supplies continue to ship to troops as the virus looms. In addition to COVID-19 vaccines, Distribution delivered 3.4 million seasonal influenza vaccines globally to DoD Service members, their dependents, and Veterans this year. Speaking of Veterans, we continue to support the Veterans Administration, storing high priority medical supplies and testing kits. We also shipped over 6,500 orders for Cue, Ellume and other test kits for DOD and Department of Health & Human Services Department customers totaling over 16 million COVID-19 Test Kits.

This summer, we supported Pacer Goose 2022, the annual resupply of Thule Air Force Base in Greenland. Over 116 pieces of material were staged for shipment on the Ocean Gladiator, to provide vital supplies to people stationed on Thule Air Base. During California’s record wildfire season this year, Distribution shipped over 22,000 lines of items in support of the Wildfire Support mission and expedited more than 960 fire shelters in support of the U.S. Forest Service.

We’ve implemented many modernization efforts this year. Moving forward, process enhancements and modernization investments will improve Warfighter support and Auditability. In August, I helped cut the ribbon on the new Warehouse Management System (WMS) at DLA Distribution Corpus Christi, Texas. DLA Distribution Puget Sound, Washington, went live with the new system this month. WMS is a state-of-the-art system that replaces DSS and will help employees work more efficiently and effectively. By 2025, we plan to have the new system at every Distribution Center.

The $200 million modernization effort at New Cumberland’s Eastern Distribution Center is underway and will change the way material is handled and stored by implementing both proven and cutting-edge technologies. This project has a four-year implementation schedule that includes new automation controlled by an industry-leading Warehouse Execution System. The new receiving and buffer system and the goods-to-person workstations have been installed and tested. In addition, wireless printers and tablets have been provided to all Distribution Centers and Voice Pick has deployed to seven additional sites this year. Our J4 teammates are busy as elves working on additional technologies, including augmented reality and 5G technology.

These are just a few of the MANY examples of the extraordinary work accomplished across the network. As we celebrate the successes of 2022, we look forward to what 2023 holds for DLA Distribution as we continue to revolutionize the way we do business.

Mr. Knight and I send our warmest Holiday wishes to you and your loved ones and ask you to continue to be COVID cautious and follow CDC and local guidelines for gatherings. Please keep safety at the forefront of everything you do, and please keep our Warfighters, their families, and our teammates in your thoughts and hearts throughout the holiday season.