TRANSCOM commander visits DLA to discuss current partnerships and future collaboration opportunities

Challenges such as the contested logistics environment, supply chain resiliency, and data interoperability were top topics as senior leaders from U.S. Transportation Command and the Defense Logistics Agency met at the McNamara Headquarters Complex here Nov. 7.

"You are supply chain professionals; your end-to-end supply chain operations demonstrate that you are incredible at what you do," TRANSCOM Commander Air Force Gen. Randall Reed said. "Your portfolio is amazing and incomprehensible to those of us who don't do this full-time."

DLA is TRANSCOM's largest volume customer, representing 42% of the organization's total support to the Defense Department, DLA Distribution Commander Navy Rear Adm. Michael York explained.

"TRANSCOM delivers on behalf of DLA 17,000 orders a day, 520,000 orders a month and 6.2 million orders a year," he said. "Our partnership with TRANSCOM is critical to our work - we do not succeed without you."

DLA Energy Deputy Commander David Kless also explained the role TRANSCOM plays in ensuring global bulk fuel distribution and delivery.

"DLA's role as the Integrated Material Manager compliments TRANSCOM as the single manager for global bulk fuel management and delivery," Kless said. "Today, 62% of DLA fuel is moved by TRANSCOM."

Contested Logistics

As DLA looks to solve contested logistics challenges and transform as an agency in response to changing warfighter needs and priorities, the agency will have to think, act and operate differently, DLA Director Army Lt. Gen. Mark Simerly stated.

"Data acumen is necessary for our people to establish the right relationships with our customers, suppliers and whole-of-government partners, be empowered to interact and illuminate challenges at all echelons, improve retention, and interact with our data and technological tools effectively."

Reed added that data is always adapting and comes in many forms and from many sources.

"We have to redefine how we do data together so that we can better integrate in the future," he said.

In response to a question from Reed, DLA's Chief Information Officer Adarryl Roberts explained the agency is testing artificial intelligence in a limited capacity. He also added that agencies can't wait for their data to be perfect to improve data interoperability challenges.

"Users have to make sure that they are entering correct data at the functional level," Roberts said. "We also must understand interoperability challenges across the enterprise, create data standards, and work with the commercial sector to not only create platform solutions that meet the cybersecurity needs of the federal government. There is also opportunity for us to integrate with commercial sector, as well, to ensure that the data exchange is more secure and more manageable."

Roberts noted the two agencies have been undergoing a research and development initiative with the Army to use blockchain networks that update continually to track shipments. He also discussed how the integration between TRANSCOM's Vendor Shipment Module and DLA's Warehouse Management System has led to reduced shipping costs. There are opportunities for the two agencies to partner on joint use cases in the future to better integrate legacy systems and test new technologies, Roberts added.

York praised the TRANSCOM team's efforts and their partnership to maximize data-sharing capabilities, which has enabled DLA's network optimization initiative using TRANSCOM's Next Generation Delivery Service.

"The NGDS is reliable, fast and cost effective, but also increases warfighter readiness from competition through conflict," York said.

Exercise and Wargame Integration

DLA Deputy Director of Logistics Operations Kristin French highlighted recent opportunities in which the two agencies have collaborated, such as the drawdown of military forces in Afghanistan, recovery efforts in response to hurricanes Helene and Milton, and several exercises and wargaming integrations globally.

"We must amplify our exercises because they are more operational focused and not necessarily logistics focused," French said. "We are working with (TRANSCOM's) planners to do this so that we can better integrate with the services and test our end-to-end logistics and supply chain capabilities prior to a surge."

During his visit, Reed also had an office call with Simerly and toured the DLA Agency Synchronization and Operations Center.