FORT BELVOIR, Va. - Navy Rear. Adm. David Baucom, Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support commander, has been named the next director of U.S. Central Command Deployment and Distribution Operations Center in Kuwait.
Baucom will continue to command DLA Troop Support during this “important and prestigious assignment,” Navy Vice Adm. Mark Harnitchek, DLA director, said March 27 in an email to senior agency leaders.
Baucom will begin his six-month assignment in August and will return to DLA Troop Support in January 2013.
The CDDOC mission is to synchronize and optimize strategic and theater resources to maximize distribution, force movement and sustainment logistics in the USCENTCOM area of responsibility, according to a U.S. Transportation Command executive summary of the program.
“DLA is a full partner with U.S. Transportation Command, CENTCOM and the military services in staffing the CDDOC and working to improve theater distribution capability and providing asset visibility,” Harnitchek said.
“The CDDOC’s charter is based on a longstanding need for improved integration of strategic and tactical distribution,” Harnitchek said. “Today, every combatant commander enjoys the expertise of units like CDDOC.”
USTRANSCOM stood up and deployed CDDOC to Kuwait in January 2004 to bridge gaps affecting theater distribution and force movement. Logistics experts from all the military services, DLA, USTRANSCOM and other material distribution stakeholders make up CDDOC and work under the USCENTCOM director of logistics.
Baucom will replace Navy Rear. Adm. Jonathon Yuen, who will return to command Naval Supply Systems Command Global Logistics Support in San Diego in the fall.