848th Supply Chain Management welcomes new commander

  • Published
  • By Megan Prather, Staff Writer

The time honored tradition of passing a unit’s guidon to an incoming commander took place for the 848th Supply Chain Management Group during a change of command ceremony on July 12.

Director of the 448th Supply Chain Management Wing, Dennis D’Angelo, presided over the ceremony in which Col. Robert Kielty relinquished command to Col. Michelle L. Hall.

“Let me reassure that the process by which we select our leaders is very rigorous and only the best get to lead our Supply Chain Management Groups. We are very fortunate to have Col. Hall take the reins of the 848th today,” D’Angelo said. “I leave you with three charges as you take command. First, stay focused on the mission of supplying warfighter dominance through the 848th; never underestimate your impact on the mission or your proximity to the fight. Second, take care of our Airmen; they’re the most valuable resource. Ensure that we maintain a well-trained, innovative and diverse workforce and provide your people with tools, not necessarily rules, to get the job done right. Finally, have fun…every Airman deserves a happy leader so strive to be that.”

Hall comes to Tinker after serving as the Executive Officer to the Director of the DLA Logistics Operations Directorate, which oversees the development and dissemination of enterprise-wide policy supply chain management order fulfillment, planning, stock positioning, retail sustainment, asset management, transportation, distribution, disposition, technical quality functions and business cycle process.

“My family and I are very excited about this adventure here at Tinker and we’re looking forward to being part of this amazing team,” Hall said. “We see this as an opportunity to join all of you on this continuous journey of providing the best possible support to the warfighter.”

D’Angelo also thanked Kielty and his family for their service to Tinker and for leaving the 848th SCMG and Oklahoma City community in better condition than they found it.

“He’s done a superb job of taking care of our most precious resource, and that’s our people,” D’Angelo said. “He’s developed a diverse and innovative workforce, one that tackles and overcomes the command’s most difficult bomber, tanker and engine sustainment issues.”

During Kielty’s time in command, the 848th SCMG set new standards for exemplary leadership and support to the warfighter. This includes providing supply support for 37 major weapons systems and more than 12,000 engines while managing a $2.6 million budget, performing a major reengineering effort to improve B-1, B-2 and KC-135 fleet sustainment support, the execution of approximately 900 contracts, and increased readiness for Air Force weapons systems through supply chain readiness agreements.

“The things this team came up with were awe-inspiring,” Kielty said. “These past two years have been the greatest honor in my 24-year military career and I will always take this with me. Not only the accomplishments, not only the phenomenal mission support we provided, but the friendships and the great times that we all had together as we did this as a team.”