DLA general visits customers, employees in Afghanistan, Kuwait

Photo By Photos DOD | DLA team members pose for a photo outside the 101st Sustainment Brigade headquarters at Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan.  

AFGHANISTAN

11.19.2013

Story by Daniel Bender 

Defense Logistics Agency   

BAGRAM, Afghanistan - Defense Logistics Agency Logistics Operations Director Army Maj. Gen. Kenneth Dowd spent Nov. 15-22 visiting DLA customers and employees in Afghanistan and Kuwait.

“Visiting with the DLA teams in Afghanistan and Kuwait pumps me up every time I’m here,” Dowd said. “Everywhere I travel in the [U.S. Central Command area of operations] our customers rate DLA support extremely high.”

Dowd began his first morning in Afghanistan attending a memorial ceremony for a fallen service member.

“This ceremony was very sobering for me; so many warfighters who have given their lives. They paid the ultimate price for democracy,” Dowd said.

Dowd’s whirlwind tour included visiting DLA Disposition Services yards at Bagram and Kandahar and DLA Distribution Kandahar, where he noted, “The drawdown and depot closure is on track, and the DLA yards are noticeably clear, and the team is making great progress to meet the closure timelines.”

Next Dowd toured the facilities of Anham, DLA’s subsistence prime vendor in the CENTCOM region.

“The bakery facilities here are top notch; we’re bringing the best to our troops,” he said after touring the Anham facilities.

At the DLA Distribution warehouse in Bagram, Dowd made a point of observing the Mine Resistant, Ambush Protected vehicles going through new steps to ensure no ammunition remains in the vehicles.

“The new steps include an added pressure wash that makes a noticeable difference in clearing out dirt and debris from chassis interior,” he noted.

Dowd then toured the DLA Disposition Services yard in Kuwait, where he met with customers and checked out the warehouse space.

“This is a very strong operation, a lot of great work being performed by a stellar team,” he said.

Dowd closed the trip by visiting Bahrain, where he spoke to DLA personnel at the USCENTCOM Deployment Distribution Operations Center and toured the facilities there.

“Putting eyes on operations and connecting with our deployed DLA folks allows me to see the full picture of J3 operations, at the same time touching base with our customers,” Dowd said. “Results speak for themselves; the warfighter is happy with DLA, and our folks are making a real difference.”

• Date Taken: 11.19.2013
• Date Posted: 11.27.2013 09:34
• Story ID: 117456
• Location: AF