DLA director visits Pacific region
 
  By Nicole Dumm, DLA Pacific Public Affairs
  Defense Logistics Agency Director Air Force Lt.  Gen. Andy Busch traveled to DLA’s Pacific region March 12-21 to engage with logistics partners, senior military officials and DLA organizations — and get a firsthand, detailed update on DLA’s activities in the region.
He received consistently high feedback on DLA Pacific’s support to the warfighter from the region’s military leaders, who all stated they were pleased with DLA’s service. Other frequent topics were DLA’s support of warfighter readiness, forward stock positioning and fuel strategies outside the continental United States.  
Busch was accompanied by Jeff Curtis, executive director of  support policy and strategic programs for DLA Logistics Operations; Army Col. Rick Ellis, commander of DLA Pacific; and Army Command Sgt. Maj. Charles Tobin. 
The official party first traveled to Japan, to visit customers on Okinawa: the 18th Air Force Wing at Kadena Air Base, the III Marine Expeditionary Force Logistics Staff, Marine Corps Installation Pacific and the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing. They also met with DLA activities at Camp Kinser, including DLA Joint Environmental Material Management Services, DLA Disposition Services, DLA Energy, DLA Troop Support and the DLA Distribution detachment.  
The next flight brought Busch and the official party to mainland Japan, where they met with key customers and DLA entities at Yokota Air Base, Camp Zama, Sagami Army Depot, and Yokosuka Naval Station. They also visited and toured the USS Ronald Reagan.
After spending time in Japan, the team took off to Korea for the final leg of their tour in Asia.  Key customer visits in Korea included the 19th Expeditionary Sustainment Command, DLA Distribution Korea, DLA Document Services, DLA Energy, DLA Troop Support, Seventh Air Force and the Eighth Army.
The last stop brought Busch to Hawaii, where he met with more key customers.  His morning started off with a trip to Marine Corps Base Hawaii, where he met with Marine Corps Lt.  Gen. John Toolan, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Commanding General, to participate in a 3rd Marine Regiment Orientation.  They discussed the challenges of being forward deployed and how the DLA’s forward positioned materiel and operational presence in Hawaii contribute to readiness for Marines.  Busch also met with senior leaders at U.S. Pacific Command, U.S. Pacific Fleet, U.S. Pacific Air Forces, and U.S. Army Pacific.  
He also held an all-hands town hall at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam for all DLA employees on Oahu, focusing on DLA’s Strategic Plan goals and how DLA can continue to strive for excellence.  He also thanked DLA employees and shared the positive feedback he received from customers throughout his trip.  DLA employees attending the event could submit questions to the director in real-time through the “Ask the Boss” program.
Before boarding a flight back to Fort Belvoir, Busch and the official party participated in a forum for the Navy Supply Corps Association Hawaii and Air Force Logistics Officers Association.  In the forum, Busch advised junior officers from across Oahu about logistics at a higher level and shared the latest enterprise information about DLA.