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***Workforce Resources***

AFDW logistics experts lead a revolution in supply techniques

  • Published
  • By Benjamin Newell
  • AFDW PA
Air Force District of Washington --  Air Force District of Washington's Logistics, Installations, and Mission Support directorate will be ushering in a transformative way of supplying Airmen in the coming months.

The annual Logistics Readiness Conference held March 10-11 at the Air Force Conference Center on Andrews AFB, Md., crystallized how larger Air Force-wide logistics transformation initiatives will directly impact operations at all Air Force levels.

"We really try to take advantage of this location and bring in the people who can help us plan for the future of this field," said Col. Brian Bellacicco, commander of AFDW's Logistics, Installation and Mission Support directorate, A 4/7. "We consulted with representatives from the Joint Forces Headquarters-National Capital Region and Air Staff during this conference, ensuring AFDW will continue to have the responsibility to operationally support joint forces in the NCR."

Presentations by JFHQ-NCR and U.S. Military District of Washington provided conference attendees a greater understanding of how AFDW brings air, space and cyberspace capabilities to the joint team protecting the nation's capital. "We look forward to continuing our joint relationship with AFDW as a key player during planned National Special Security Events, and a myriad of unplanned contingency operations," said Sam Baker, JFHQ-NCR logistics expert. "AFDW is constantly improving its methods. These transformations will allow for a more seamless relationship between local, state, federal and military support elements."

This year's conference theme, "Transformation," focused on Logistics Readiness organizational changes within AFDW and advanced AF logistics technologies like eLog21 and ECSS.

Enterprise logistics for the 21st Century (eLog21) is a transformation campaign integrating Air Force supply chain operations and it will impact the entire logistics enterprise. The two primary goals of eLog21 are to increase equipment availability to match aircraft availability targets and reduce operations and support cost by 10 percent. The Expeditionary Combat Support System (ECSS) will enable eLog 21 goals and objectives. Implementation of ECSS will begin throughout the AF in the coming months.

Air Force organizations from the MAJCOM to Wing level will be utilizing new logistics systems that will give customers and suppliers a better understanding of the Air Force's comprehensive supply chain. AFDW's Logistics Readiness division will be at the forefront of this culture change by guiding its reporting units in the NCR to fully integrate this transformation initiative, according to Daniel Colter, a logistics expert.

"Customers will soon be able to see supplies they ordered and track their progress through the system," said Colonel Bellacicco. "It will work a lot like FedEx or UPS shipping trackers, complete with bar codes and scanners." Logisticians will also be able to view demand patterns to predict customer needs, eliminating some of the searching required in past generations.

"We had a lot of programs that we used to account for products and they didn't integrate well," said Floyd Bogart, Logistics Readiness division chief. "These new programs will make it much easier for us to assess the entire process."

At conference end, attendees left with a greater understanding of forthcoming AFDW organizational changes and AF logistics transformations that ultimately will provide enhanced logistical support to the warfighter.