# DLA leaders sync with EUCOM partners on Ukraine, exercise support 

/ Published April 22, 2024
FORT BELVOIR, Va., 
The Defense Logistics Agency Logistics Operations director and executive director engaged with U.S. European Command warfighting partners and toured operations central to deterring Russian aggression during visits to Germany and Poland April 15-19.

Navy Rear Adm. Doug Noble and Kevin Kachinski, who also serve as DLA commander and deputy commander of joint regional combat support, respectively, met with the DLA Distribution Expeditionary team, or DDXX, that’s supporting Exercise Defender Europe 24 in Kaiserslautern, Germersheim, and Stuttgart, Germany. They also visited the Forward Operating Site Powidz, Poland. Noble said visiting sites like these gives leaders actionable intelligence to support warfighters in the EUCOM area of responsibility.

“It’s great to get boots on the ground and see the agency’s direct support of exercises and operations in Europe,” he said. “It’s important for DLA to be directly tied to the Army’s maintenance operations in order to stay ahead of emerging repair-part demands. We are a critical component in the services’ efforts to maintain weapons system readiness.”

Kachinski said the DDXX presence in Germany represents an important operational link for the agency. As part of DLA Distribution, the DDXX deploys as a theater consolidation and shipping point capability to support exercises and operations. The DDXX team supporting Defender Europe includes more than 20 personnel who are enhancing DLA’s permanent depots in Europe by providing in-transit visibility and receiving and consolidating materiel that is then shipped to units based on warfighter priorities. During the exercise, some cargo that would normally be routed through DLA Distribution Europe is going through DDXX instead to support the deployment of more than 17,000 U.S. and 23,000 multinational service members from over 20 allied and partner nations.

                Kevin Kachinski, left, executive director of Defense Logistics Agency Operations, and Navy Rear Adm. Doug Noble, center, director of DLA Logistics Operations, talk to U.S. personnel at Forward Operating Site Powidz, Poland, April 18, 2024. The DLA leaders visited the site to understand how DLA’s partnership enhances the Army’s support of the Ukrainian Armed Forces defending their borders from Russian aggression. Courtesy photo                            DLA leaders sync with EUCOM partners on Ukraine, exercise support                            Kevin Kachinski, left, executive director of Defense Logistics Agency Operations, and Navy Rear Adm. Doug Noble, center, director of DLA Logistics Operations, talk to U.S. personnel at Forward Operating Site Powidz, Poland, April 18, 2024. The DLA leaders visited the site to understand how DLA’s partnership enhances the Army’s support of the Ukrainian Armed Forces defending their borders from Russian aggression. Courtesy photo            SHARE IMAGE:Download ImageImage DetailsPhoto By: Courtesy PhotoVIRIN: 240418-D-D0441-0001

“DDXX is critical to ensuring the flow of supplies supporting Defender Europe,” Kachinski said. “To prove ourselves as a credible deterrent to our adversaries, we have to be prepared to deploy U.S.-based forces to integrate with our allies.”

In addition to touring DLA and military service operations, Noble and Kachinski met with critical EUCOM logisticians, including Army Brig. Gen. James Kent, EUCOM logistics director; Brig. Gen. Christopher Leonard, U.S. Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa director of logistics, engineering and force protection; and Army Brig Gen. James Porter, Security Assistance Group Ukraine deputy commanding general for support. The engagements gave them an opportunity to glean lessons learned for Exercise Austere Challenge 24 and better understand how to support operations on the continent.

“Austere Challenge was an important step in ensuring interoperability with our NATO allies,” Noble said. “As we move out on the Department of Defense’s Regional Sustainment Framework, we must understand the challenges inherent to operations in different AORs. Being prepared now will continue to deter Russian aggression.”