DLA Jacksonville activates

The employees transferred in place to DLA and will continue to provide supply, storage and distribution support to maintenance activities at FRCSE. Cmdr. Bernard Knox is the officer in charge of DLA Jacksonville. He previously served as FRCSE supply officer.

DLA Jacksonville reports to Defense Supply Center Richmond, the DLA aviation supply and demand chain, based in Richmond, Va.

Brig. Gen. Andrew Busch, commander of Defense Supply Center Richmond, presided at the ceremony in the VP-30 auditorium at NAS Jax.

The transfer is the result of a 2005 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) congressional decision that directed all supply, storage and distribution functions at service-run maintenance depots, industrial sites and shipyards be transferred to DLA to optimize military readiness.

Knox said, "We look forward to maintaining our focus and providing world-class warfighter support to FRCSE. To all former FISC Jacksonville employees, I congratulate you on joining the DLA Jacksonville workforce. Even though we have a new name and a new leader, our commitment to meeting supply chain challenges remains the same."

Busch said that his role was to implement public law and consolidate retail supply functions into the DLA aviation supply chain, with the intent of improving inventory efficiencies and enhancing support to the FRCSE.

"This isn't a manpower drill, where we do a transfer of people and we're done. This is about a partnership and a detailed process that goes beyond today. This is an opportunity to take a fresh look at old problems," Busch said.

"On day one, work will continue as is, where it is -so that the transfer to DLA will be fairly seamless to customers," said Busch.

As officer in charge of DLA Jacksonville, Knox is responsible for daily operations of retail supply, storage and distribution in support of FRCSE.

Knox praised the work force for its accomplishments in customer support, calling them the "standard bearers" for excellence, and congratulated them on their performance record. Over the last four years, Knox said immediate issue rate and work order effectiveness metrics have been at all-time highs.

"There is no other work force that I would rather face challenges with. I am proud to have received the DLA flag and proud to have done it with you. We shall strive for continuous improvements as the realm of the possible keeps growing."

DLA and the Navy worked together to smooth the transition for realigned employees, while ensuring continuity of service to warfighters. A similar transfer took place in August at Navy Fleet Readiness Center, Marine Corps Air Station, Cherry Point, N.C. The next Navy site to implement the BRAC mandate will be North Island, Calif., in February 2009.