"Meeting the challenges of a new era": Senior Supply Corps Leadership Training Symposium held

Navy Supply Corps Newsletter, July-August, 2006 by Jonathan Yuen, Kathryn J. Smith

RADM Dan Stone, Chief of Supply Corps, welcomed Supply Corps flags and captains to the annual Supply Corps Leadership Training Symposium held at the National Convention Center in Leesburg, Va., on April 25 and 26, 2006.

More than 170 active duty and 20 Reserve Supply Corps officers, representing almost every Navy claimancy, as well as Office of Secretary of Defense, and the joint community, came together providing the Chief an opportunity to communicate face-to-face with his leadership team on current and emerging issues affecting the logistics community.

"Meeting The Challenges of a New Era" was selected as the theme of the symposium and it provided the platform for a wide range of briefings and presentations. Throughout all the sessions, the Chief encouraged an active and open dialogue, thus creating an interactive environment with various viewpoints and perspectives aired and discussed.

The Supply Corps Senior Leadership Advisory Council (SRLAC) coordinated the symposium agenda. CAPT Jonathan Yuen, as SRLAC Chairman, served as symposium master of ceremonies.

At the kick-off session, RADM Stone introduced the theme, stating that many of the briefings were going to tackle the challenges of a new era: planning and engaging in the joint environment, NAVSUP efforts in Distance Support, and our community's efforts in support of the global war on terrorism. The Chief also noted that in addition to the technical challenges of providing premier logistics support in the 21st century operating environment, the second day of the symposium would be focused on preparing the supply community, officer and enlisted, to better meet the challenges of a new logistics environment.

What follows is a short overview of the symposium presentations and key discussion points. (Complete briefs from the symposium can be reviewed on Navy Knowledge Online [wwwa.nko.navy.mil] under the Supply Corps Community Homepage.)

RADM Al Thompson, Director, Supply, Ordnance, and Logistics Operations, on the CNO Staff presented the OPNAV perspective. He discussed resources, organizational construct changes, productivity enhancements, emerging joint logistics concepts and the implications of these topics for the Supply Corps community. He summarized this portion of the brief by indicating significant budget pressures will continue, so finding ways to reduce costs must become a "part of our daily routine."

The Navy's governance structures and processes are fundamentally changing so the Supply Corps must continue to engage as valued members of warfare enterprises. Successful implementations of productivity enhancement--ERP/RFID/Distance Support--are critical for the future of the Navy. RADM Thompson also discussed how essential joint education and experience are going to become as the Navy's logistics system is becoming less of a "stand alone" and more of a joint and interdependent logistics capability.

RDML Martin Brown, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Acquisition Management) provided an update on acquisition issues, and trends, including, Seaport- e, Wide Area Workflow (WAWF) goals, and field contracting and acquisition process reforms. He indicated acquisition reform is a never-ending process. He pointed out that although Navy contracting performance is good, the DoD contracting workforce is suffering from low numbers and decreasing skill level.

RDML Brown covered the current acquisition career path, discussed contingency contracting and contracting officer independent augmentations. He closed by saying that acquisition remains a core competency of the Supply Corps and there is room to grow in contingency contracting, combat commander staffs, and Defense agencies--if we seize the opportunities.

RDML Charlie Lilli, Commander, Defense Supply Center Columbus (DSCC), briefed the Defense Logistics Agency perspective. He reviewed DLA's support to the Navy, DLA's Business Systems Modernization currently under roll out, the impact of BRAC on wholesale logistics for DLA and the Agency's role in retail and distance support. He concluded by restating the DLA Director's assessment: "'it's a matter of trust' ..." it's up to DLA to earn and maintain it through performance, agility, and best value!"

RADM Mark Harnitchek, Vice Director, Logistics Directorate for the Joint Staff addressed our work from a joint perspective. He spoke about the Joint Staff J4 transformation stemming from mandate analysis and stakeholder perspective, reporting that J4 transformation was in sync with DoD transformation initiatives.

In speaking about the need for joint logistics, RADM Harnitchek stated that the logistics imperatives of unity of effort, domainwide visibility and rapid and process response would deliver the effect of "freedom of action" for the joint task force commander.

He also provided an overview of lessons learned during Hurricane Katrina response, and near-term J4 focus areas to include equipping the Iraqi Security Force (ICF), the Mobility Capability Study, the Joint Pub 4.0 series (Logistics) rewrites and actions arising from the 2006 QDR. RADM Harnitchek addressed the Supply Corps Joint Officer Development plan and illustrated the growing need for more officers with familiarity and experience in the area of joint logistics.