FORT BELVOIR, Va. -- The Defense Logistics Agency is hosting its annual Enterprise Supplier Conference and Exhibition, June 27-30, at the Greater Columbus Convention Center, in Columbus, Ohio.
The event will feature speakers from the Department of Defense, military services and DLA, informative breakout sessions, and exhibits from DLA Headquarters, field activities and major suppliers. Breakout session topics include presentations on forecasting, doing business with DLA and support to small businesses, along with sessions sponsored by each of DLA’s supply chains.
This year’s conference theme is “Sustaining Warfighter Support while Reducing Cost,” highlighting the agency’s role in providing worldwide logistics support while continuing to focus on Secretary of Defense Robert Gates goal of reducing costs and creating efficiencies.
“We have to find a way to get the financial resources to meet our national security needs. We owe our troops the financial support they need to carry out their mission,” said DoD Comptroller Robert Hale said during the 2010 conference.
Hale said he believes asking defense agencies to look for efficiencies in their operations and then realign that money to forces and modernization functions will help bridge the financial gap.
DLA Director Navy Vice Adm. Alan Thompson made similar comments during last year’s conference.
“We’ve really got to become a more efficient logistics enterprise and try to reduce costs wherever we can,” he said. “Certainly, though, there is going to be some stress and [Secretary Gates] would like us both – on the Department of Defense side as well as industry – to look for innovative ways that we can reduce sustainment costs and use those funds to modernize the force.”
Additional information about the conference, registration and exhibitor information are available at: http://www.ndia.org/meetings/1780/Pages/default.aspx.