DLA Oklahoma City commander emphasizes teamwork Published Feb. 7, 2008 By Tonya Johnson DSCR Public Affairs Tinker AFB, Okla. -- Lt. Col. Kelly Larson, who has been selected for promotion to colonel, is the commander of Defense Logistics Agency Oklahoma City at Tinker Air Force Base, Okla. The organization was officially recognized Feb. 3. DLA held an activation ceremony Feb. 8 in the Tinker Club ballroom recognizing the standup of DLA Oklahoma City. Larson's previous assignment was as commander of the Defense Distribution Center, Oklahoma City, at the base. In his new position, Larson leads more than 300 people transitioned from the Air Force to DLA. "Goal number one is to ensure and improve support to the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center, both during and after the transition so they can ultimately support the warfighter," said Larson. "To do this, we will improve our communication and maximize teambuilding opportunities with both our customers and our partners." The 776th Maintenance Support Squadron, which is part of the 76th Maintenance Wing at Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center at Tinker, transferred to DLA as required by the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Supply, Storage, and Distribution legislation. DLA Oklahoma City is the second site established by DLA based on the BRAC 2005 supply, storage, and distribution decisions created to reshape the Department of Defense infrastructure through consolidation, realignment and restructuring to optimize military readiness. Under the mandate, all supply, storage, and distribution functions done at service-run maintenance depots, industrial sites and shipyards will be transferred to DLA. DLA Warner Robins was the first site established under the BRAC 2005 mandate. On Oct. 15, 2007, 240 employees, who were a part of the 702nd Maintenance Support Squadron of the 402nd Maintenance Wing, transferred to DLA. DLA Oklahoma City has five divisions: · Aircraft Support Division · Commodities Support Division · Engine Materiel Support Division · Depot Support Division · Industrial Prime Vendor Program Division The Aircraft Support Division provides materiel support for programmed depot maintenance and unscheduled repair activities on B-1, B-52, E-3, and C-135 aircraft. The Commodities Support Division provides materiel support to air accessories, fuel accessories, structures, avionics and local manufacture. The Engine Materiel Support Division provides materiel support to whole engines and engine modules including TF33, F100, GE family engines, and back shop engine repair processes. The Depot Support Division supports other divisions by coordinating and evaluating special projects, internal surveillance of supply operations, providing procedural guidance, and reviewing new or increased workload requirements. In addition, the Industrial Prime Vendor Program Division oversees DLA's Industrial Prime Vendor Program to streamline the supply chain for the industrial hardware, reduce multiple levels of inventory, and use commercial best practices to provide bench stock support to mechanics on the production line. Larson's military career has provided him with assignments and experience along several links in the supply chain to help him in his current role. "Base-level assignments and being deployed enabled me to clearly understand the warfighter's perspective," said Larson. "My two assignments with the Air Force Materiel Command have given me wholesale logistics experience in both maintenance and supply chain management. My most recent assignment as the Defense Distribution Depot Oklahoma City, Okla. commander provided me with insight into storage and distribution functions." Larson said he wants Air Force employees who converted to DLA to remain focused on supporting service members. "Their main focus should be unchanged, and that is supporting their customers," he said. "Throughout the transition I would ask that they work to identify and communicate issues which will negatively impact support so we can make this transition as transparent as possible to the customer. I want them to keep us (managers and supervisors) informed of any problems the transition is causing for them." As DLA Commander, Oklahoma City, Larson said teamwork will be necessary during the transition. "The warfighter depends on all of us to work together as a team to provide them the best possible support," he said. "It is important to keep in mind that in the numerous processes and links of the supply chain the customer and provider relationship constantly switches back-and-forth between our customers, partners and ourselves," he added. "With a teamwork approach toward meeting the mission, everyone should ensure their actions and decisions are in the best interest of the overall supply chain instead of seeking to benefit the specific processes in their link of the supply chain." Larson, a career maintenance officer, received a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Kansas in 1988. In 1998, he received a Master's Degree in Human Resource Management from Troy State University. He graduated from the Air Command and Staff College in 2000 by correspondence and in residence at Maxwell Air Force Base in 2002. Larson graduated in 2007 from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces at Fort McNair in Washington, D.C. Some of his career highlights include working as a logistics career broadening program officer at Ogden Air Logistics Center, Hill Air Force Base, Utah; commander, 20th Component Maintenance Squadron, Shaw Air Force Base, S.C.; and deputy director, 848th Combat Sustainment Group, Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center. His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, and the Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster.