NAVSUP GLS Adopts Services of NAVSUP Logistics Operations Center

By H. Sam Samuelson, NAVSUP GLS Director, Corporate Communication

NORFOLK (NNS) -- San Diego-based NAVSUP Global Logistics Support (GLS) absorbed the transportation and distribution, ammunition handling, and logistics coordinating services of the NAVSUP Logistics Operations Center (LOC) during an official command disestablishment ceremony May 7.

While NAVSUP LOC is no longer a formal command, the services, service locations, and a majority of the experts of the former NAVSUP LOC remain unchanged. The integration with NAVSUP GLS helps consolidate NAVSUP GLS's role providing a "single face to the fleet," said NAVSUP GLS Vice Commander Bill Bickert.

"This is a vital and evolutionary next step in integrated logistics management that enhances our goal to present a single face to the customer," Bickert said. "Today's transition recognizes the speed and the agility with which we in Navy logistics management will react to a rapidly changing global security and naval operational environment."

The disestablishment ceremony was held at the former NAVSUP LOC offices in Norfolk. In a nod to operational flexibility, the Commander, NAVSUP GLS, Rear Adm. Jon Yuen, attended the ceremony via video teleconference (VTC) while he continues to serve a temporary assignment as director of the U.S. Central Command Deployment and Distribution Operations Center (CDDOC) in Kuwait.

Local keynote speaker was Commander, Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP) and Chief of Supply Corps, Rear Admiral Mark F. Heinrich.

"For NAVSUP, this relationship aligns all of our operational logistics functions and the tactical delivery of logistics services performed by NAVSUP under a single Echelon III command for the purpose of creating a single entity, command structure, and face to the customer," Heinrich said. "I am confident this consolidation will result in greater service to the fleet by maximizing NAVSUP Global Logistics Support command's agility and responsiveness. At the same time, we will see greater efficiency through consolidated efforts, all supporting the CNO's Sailing Directions, 'Warfighting First, Operate Forward, and Be Ready!'"

NAVSUP LOC's former commanding officer, Capt. James L. Shields III, lauded employees for their devoted service to the command and said he looked forward to their continued work joining the next generation of logistics management integration as members of NAVSUP GLS.

"You have performed admirably and can all be justifiably proud of your accomplishments," Shields said to assembled employees, including many from various satellite locations listening in via VTC. "You can also be proud to join the NAVSUP GLS team; I am confident the NAVSUP GLS team will be proud to welcome you."

Bickert echoed Shields' comments and said he looked forward to working with the staff.

"I want to recognize the historic value of this transition and the pride all of us at NAVSUP GLS share bringing onboard such a superb and pedigreed group of professionals, nothing less than an all-American group of patriots whose global achievements precede them, and whose tremendous experience will be most welcome at NAVSUP GLS," Bickert said.

As the ceremony wrapped, Bickert reminded attendees that the integration sends a vital message to the fleet.

"What we accomplished today demonstrates to our operational partners in the fleet that we are ready and able to meet their total logistics demands swiftly, efficiently and without fail. Our integration is one more key element in our Navy's overall capabilities to react immediately to an asymmetric security environment."

NAVSUP Weapon Systems Support Hosts 'Bring Your Children to Work Day'

By Margaret Kenyon-Ely and Meagan LeMelle, Naval Supply Systems Command Public Affairs

PHILADELPHIA (NNS) -- More than 100 students joined their parents, guardians and sponsors at the annual, "Bring Your Children to Work Day," at NAVSUP Weapon Systems Support's sites in both Mechanicsburg, Pa., and Philadelphia, April 26.

"This is a great opportunity, and I'm glad to see such a great turnout," said NAVSUP Weapon Systems Support Commander Rear Adm. John G. King, SC, USN, during his opening remarks at the event's kick off ceremony.

Before King engaged the participants in a lively question and answer session with the children who ranged in ages from eight to 17, he ensured they were aware of the importance of their sponsor's work.

"Your sponsors make sure that money is spent wisely on the weapons systems needed by our forces. They ensure our young Sailors, Marines and Airmen have everything they need to do their job," King added.

NAVSUP Weapon Systems Support Deputy Commander for International Programs Capt. Tracy Larcher, SC, USN, continued that theme in his keynote remarks and video presentation.

"The civilian employees are the backbone of our organization. What your sponsors do is very important and is the lifeline to keep the fleet going. The job they do here is vital," said Larcher.

Among the highlights of the day in Philadelphia were a video teleconference with Commander, Naval Air Force Atlantic in Norfolk, Va., to talk to experts from food service, readiness, and medical departments about how they ensure their aircraft and aircraft carriers are mission ready. Additionally, the day featured tours of the static display aircraft on the front lawn on NAVSUP Weapon Systems Support, the Army's Clothing and Textile operation, Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support Medal Works - Purple Hearts, and of course, one-on-one time between sponsor and child.

The other half of the command in Mechanicsburg sponsored a program where children and sponsors from a number of Department of Defense commands located at Naval Support Activity Mechanicsburg, made cards of appreciation for U.S. Navy Troops currently serving in Afghanistan. The children also learned about life as a military officer from Lt. Darren Sablan.

"We hope that the cards help the person who is going overseas for their first deployment. My children and I had a wonderful time," said Jonathan Works, a Business Analyst at Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA).

This was the 20th anniversary of the National Bring Your Children to Work Day program, which started out as Bring Your Daughters to Work Day. This year's theme "Build Opportunity: 20 Years of Education, Empowerment and Experience" paid tribute to that milestone.

A field activity of the Naval Supply Systems Command, NAVSUP WSS is the U.S. Navy's supply chain manager providing worldwide support to the aviation, surface ship, and submarine communities. NAVSUP WSS provides Navy, Marine Corps, joint and allied forces with products and services that deliver combat capability through logistics. There are more than 2,000 civilian and military personnel employed at its two Pennsylvania sites. NAVSUP WSS Philadelphia site supports aircraft, while its Mechanicsburg site supports ships and submarines.

Culinary Specialists Serve Up Health to the 21st Century Sailor

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Alexandra Snyder, Defense Media Activity Pentagon Bureau, Navy

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md (NNS) -- Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP) culinary specialists (CSs) from around the fleet showcased a wide variety of healthy and delectable dishes during several cooking demonstrations at the 2012 Sea-Air-Space Exposition in National Harbor, Md. April 17.

"We're trying to achieve healthy meals for the Sailor of the 21st century," said Cmdr. Danny King, Naval Supply System Command Navy Food Service director. "We want to feed our Sailors healthy, nutritious food that's of a great quality, and that's what is being demonstrated [with these demos]."

"Today's CSs have greater culinary instruction than ever before," said Commander, Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP) and Chief of Supply Corps Rear Adm. Mark F. Heinrich. "With even more advanced training on the way, Sailors, both afloat and ashore, can look forward to even healthier and better-tasting meals in the near future."

Heinrich also emphasized "over-the-shoulder" training by senior CSs to junior CSs and the deployment more senior CSs to ships. "We're going to place a greater emphasis on over-the-shoulder training to maintain and increase culinary specialist skills, to maintain proficiency," Heinrich said. "Khaki leadership is key."

Chiefs oversaw and offered input to junior Sailors cooking meals such as peppercorn steak stir-fry and bacon-wrapped chicken with greens.

"It's a good time to be a CS in the Navy," said Senior Chief Culinary Specialist Nathan Jiggetts, senior instructor, Navy Food Management Team Norfolk. "We're now putting out healthier, cooked-from-scratch food to our Sailors, because healthy food means a healthy Navy. Not only that, but by creating homemade dishes, our CSs will be more equipped to be successful in their culinary careers when they leave the service."

Some of the initiatives being spearheaded by NAVSUP to help further facilitate this type of further career training include: benchmarking CSs against industry standards for culinary certification, revitalizing a hotel internship program in fleet concentration areas to pair CSs with top hotel chefs, as well as working to establish partnerships with culinary schools in fleet concentration areas. The command is also developing new recipe cards that provide step-by-step scratch cooking preparation instructions with graphic images detailing the steps of recipe production to decrease errors in food preparation and provide a better foundation for improving culinary training.

Other areas of emphasis include increasing the percentage of scratch food on carrier up to 40 percent and enabling greater fleet control and input with menu control.

"Nothing impacts Sailors on a day-to-day basis more than the food CSs prepare for them," Heinrich said. "CSs need to learn to prepare meals, not assemble them. We're embarking right now on a plan to see that our CSs can produce meals that match right up with the top chefs."

The Navy League's Sea-Air-Space Exposition is three days of seminars and demonstrations highlighting the latest maritime-related technologies and solutions. The symposium provides an excellent opportunity for Navy policy and operational leadership to interact with industry representatives to discuss and debate common interests and concerns.

NAVSUP Serves Up Excellence at Sea Air Space Expo 2012

From NAVSUP Corporate Communications

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md, (NNS) -- Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP) demonstrated one of its top quality-of-life responsibilities at the Navy League's annual Sea-Air-Space Expo, which runs April 16-18.

Through food cooking and preparation demonstrations, Navy culinary specialists (CSs) worked together to serve samplings of a variety of dishes, ranging from chicken saltimbocca with mushroom asparagus and herb linguini to oriental pepper steak to country collard greens.

CSs who took top awards at the March 2012 Annual Military Culinary Arts Competition in Fort Lee, Va.- the largest culinary competition in North America-brought their award-winning dishes back for an encore presentation at the symposium.

"It's great to be able to go to a show like this and meet some of the young enlisted men and woman who are responsible for providing the quality of life afloat and ashore in these expeditionary environments that our Sailors need to be effective. They provide day to day warfighting readiness through their skills," said NAVSUP Commander and Chief of Supply Corps Rear Adm. Mark Heinrich.

"It's an honor and a blessing to be here," said Culinary Specialist 3rd Class Cameron Johnson, currently stationed at Naval Station Norfolk Galley. "A lot of people don't get an opportunity to do something like this and I'm proud to be here for the Navy and representing my culinary team. I love being a CS and cooking for others."

NAVSUP's exhibit features five daily cooking demonstrations, accompanied by twice-daily educational sessions on the Navy Operational Fitness and Fueling Series (NOFFS) by NAVSUP Nutrition Program Manager and Registered Dietician Jennifer Person-Whippo.

"Healthy and nutritious meals made from scratch that are also great tasting...that's what's going to fuel our Sailors out at sea and keep them motivated and keep them going," said Cmdr. Danny King, Navy Food Service director for NAVSUP. "This Expo is a great opportunity to show off the combination of our registered dietician, our corporate chef, representatives from our Navy Food Management Teams, and our CSs...it's bringing all the great roles together."

"I think this Expo is a great opportunity to introduce people to the Operational Fueling and Fitness Program," said Person-Whippo. "The fueling program gives service members knowledge on portion size, which foods they should eat, and actually designs a program for them according to their weight and their goals."

"We're really excited to be able to provide this kind of information at this year's Sea-Air-Space Expo," said NAVSUP Corporate Chef Michael Harants. "There are more than 7,300 CSs throughout the Navy and CSs deployed around the globe feed on average more than 92.5 million wholesome and nutritious meals per year, ensuring the Navy's fighting forces operate at peak performance and are ready to respond to threats worldwide. CSs have a huge impact every day. This is a big responsibility and we are very proud to provide support and manage the Navy's food service."

The Navy League holds its annual Sea-Air-Space (SAS) Exposition April 16-18, at the Gaylord National Harbor Convention Center in National Harbor, Md. As the largest maritime symposium in the world, SAS attracts approximately 10,000 attendees. It features more than 150 defense industry exhibits and professional seminars with top civilian and military leaders from the U.S. Department of Defense, Homeland Security, Maritime Administration and the defense industry who provide up-to-the-minute developments on policy and programs of the maritime services.

NAVSUP's primary mission is to provide U.S. naval forces with quality supplies and services. With headquarters in Mechanicsburg, Pa., and employing a diverse, worldwide workforce of more than 22,500 military and civilian personnel, NAVSUP oversees logistics programs in the areas of supply operations, conventional ordnance, contracting, resale, fuel, transportation, and security assistance. In addition, NAVSUP is responsible for quality of life issues for our naval forces, including food service, postal services, Navy Exchanges, and movement of household goods.

NAVSUP Partners to Provide Opportunities for Small Businesses to Grow

By Kathy Adams, NAVSUP Office of Corporate Communications

HARRISBURG, Pa. (NNS) -- For the second consecutive year, Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP) partnered with the City of Harrisburg and two Pennsylvania state agencies in Harrisburg, Pa., to provide vital information to small and women-owned businesses at an Expo held March 28.

"The entrepreneurial spirit is what makes this country tick," said Rear Adm. Sean Crean, deputy commander, Naval Supply Systems Command. "It's the small, women and minority-owned businesses that are the backbone of our economy. These business leaders are making the American dream a reality."

The Small, Minority and Woman's Business Enterprise Expo 2012, presented by the City of Harrisburg, NAVSUP, and the Pennsylvania Departments of General Services and Public Welfare, provides an opportunity to exchange information and learn about business opportunities available in city, local, and federal government.

Breakout sessions were provided on a range of topics during the one-day Expo. Information about construction, information technology, and how to get proper certification to do business with government were some of the sessions offered.

Exhibitor booths showcased the widely varied services provided across the state by small, women, and minority-owned businesses.

"We are proud of what we can do with our small business partners," said Crean. "The competitive and innovative products and services small businesses provide are what our warfighters need to accomplish their mission."

Linda D. Thompson, mayor of Harrisburg; Sheri Phillips, Pa. Department of General Services secretary; and Karen Deklinski, deputy secretary for Administration, Pa. Department of Public Welfare also spoke at the exhibition.

NAVSUP's primary mission is to provide U.S. naval forces with quality supplies and services. With headquarters in Mechanicsburg, Pa., and employing a diverse, worldwide workforce of more than 22,500 military and civilian personnel, NAVSUP oversees logistics programs in the areas of supply operations, conventional ordnance, contracting, resale, fuel, transportation, and security assistance. In addition, NAVSUP is responsible for quality of life issues for our naval forces, including food service, postal services, Navy Exchanges, and movement of household goods.