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Posted Wednesday, November 05, 2008
The Logistics Officer Association (LOA) includes more than 3,500 military officers and civilians in logistics fields around the globe. LOA seeks to enhance the military logistics professional by providing an open forum for promoting quality logistical support and professional development. This year’s annual conference was hosted by the WPAFB Wright Brothers LOA Chapter at the Columbus Convention Center. The conference provided 1200 logistics professionals the opportunity to gather together and discuss the monumental transformation occurring in the logistics career field. AFIT’s School of Systems and Logistics and Graduate School of Engineering and Management once again hosted a booth at the conference to provide information and answer questions regarding all AFIT logistics educational opportunities.
The theme for this year’s conference, “Leading the Materiel Enterprise,” was welcomed by Maj. Gen. Thomas Owen, AFMC/A4, who discussed AFMC’s role in logistics transformation. He was followed by Gen. Bruce Carlson, AFMC/CC, and Sue Payton, SES, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, SAF/AQ, who gave a dual presentation on total lifecycle management, partnering operational logistics and acquisition logistics from the beginning of weapon system acquisition to ensure sustainment is effectively planned and executed. Later, Gen. Norton Schwartz, CSAF, joined the conference to present his thoughts on the status of the Air Force and where he expects to lead us. He recognized and praised the job performance and leadership of logistics professionals in the variety of missions they support. Gen. Schwartz spoke of the tremendous deployment burden, but maintains the expectation that we honor our commitments. As part of his presentation, Gen. Schwarz focused on our nuclear operations and how we must tighten up accountability and practices. Subsequently, Brig. Gen. Everett Thomas, AFNWC/CC, provided a comprehensive briefing on the Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center. This organization will be growing in the next few years to ensure we take responsibility for the nuclear program and earn back the faith of the public. To conclude the first day’s activities, Maj. Gens. Loren Reno, Kathleen Close and Polly Peyer, the Air Logistics Center Commanders, conducted a Depot Commanders’ Forum, assessing their depots’ role in “Leading the Materiel Enterprise.”
On the following day, Maj. Gen. Robert McMahon, the new HQ AF/A4L, offered his perspectives regarding an array of logistics transformation initiatives, tactical to strategic. This set the stage for a historical view about logistics support evolution from senior logistics leaders, retired Lt. Gens. Leo Marquez, Michael Zettler, and Donald Wetekam in their Senior Statesman Panel. The third session included Lt. Gen. Terry Gabreski, AFMC/CV, and her views on the future of the Materiel Enterprise, Chris Puckett offering Space Logistics developments, and Maj. Gen. Arthur Morrill III discussing the Defense Logistics Agency.
Following each presentation, presenters answered an array of questions from the attendees. Additionally, all attendees had the opportunity to attend breakout sessions on a variety of topics, from career development of officers and civilians, to operational practices such as performance-based logistics. As a result, attendees had ample opportunity to hear, ask questions, and discuss matters that affect their logistics careers and operational environment across the entire logistics spectrum, ground to space, and acquisition to sustainment. Furthermore, innumerable attendees received information at AFIT’s booth regarding the myriad AFIT logistics educational opportunities. Once again LOA held a successful conference with AFIT in attendance. We are looking forward to next year’s convention in Las Vegas. See all you loggies there!