Thursday, January 12, 2012

Navy Exchange Service Command Names New Chief Executive Officer

By Kathleen Martin, Navy Exchange Service Command Public Affairs

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (NNS) -- Navy Exchange Service Command (NEXCOM) and the worldwide Navy Exchange System NEXCOM welcomed its first chief executive Jan. 11.

In this position, retired Rear Adm. Robert J. Bianchi is responsible for the oversight of 104 Navy Exchange facilities with nearly 300 stores worldwide, 40 Navy Lodges, 158 Ship's Stores, Navy Clothing Textile and Research Facility and the Uniform Program Management Office.

"I am very pleased to have Rear Adm. (retired) Bianchi on our team," said Rear Adm. Mark Heinrich, commander, Naval Supply Systems Command. "He brings a wealth of experience to the table, and I have great confidence that he can lead NEXCOM into the future."

In March 2011, NEXCOM's flag billet was converted to a senior civilian position per the Secretary of Defense Track Four Initiatives Decision memo. Rear Adm. Glenn C. Robillard, Supply Corps, transferred in August 2011 after serving as the 29th and final commander of NEXCOM.

Bianchi is the first civilian chief executive officer of this organization. He joins NEXCOM after a distinguished 29-year military career as a Navy Supply Corps officer. Bianchi attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill on a Navy ROTC scholarship, receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mathematics. Upon graduation in 1982, he was commissioned as an Ensign in the Navy Supply Corps. He earned a Master's degree in Business Administration with distinction from Harvard University in 1992 and completed the Wharton School of Business Executive Development Program in 2003. Bianchi served in various senior leadership positions including assistant deputy chief of Staff for Fleet Readiness and Fleet Supply officer, U.S. Fleet Forces Command; Commander, Navy Exchange Service Command; deputy commander for Aviation, Naval Inventory Control Point; military advisor to the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Logistics & Materiel Readiness); and supply officer, USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75).

NEXCOM's four independently functioning programs generated over $2.6 billion in sales in 2010 and provided $48.4 million to the Navy's Morale, Welfare and Recreation programs. NEXCOM's mission is to provide authorized customers quality goods and services at a savings and to support Navy quality of life programs. NEXCOM is an Echelon III command within the Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP) Enterprise.

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