After learning about the missions of DLA Aviation and other DSCR tenants, Cindy Kubat, deputy director of DLA Installation Support and Amy Clement, chief of Public Affairs, took visitors from the Virginia National Industrial Defense Authority on a tour of the installation Oct. 7. (Photo by Jackie Girard)

Officials from the Virginia National Defense Industrial Authority, as well as state and regional economic developers, learned about Defense Logistics Agency and other activities at Defense Supply Center Richmond during a visit to the installation Oct. 7.

The visitors included retired Navy Rear Adm. Robert Fountain; Crater Planning District Commission Executive Director Dennis Morris; Robert White, military liaison to Congressman Randy Forbes; Craig Duehring, former assistant secretary of the Air Force for Manpower and Reserve Affairs; and retired Navy Rear Adm. John Hekman, who commanded Defense General Supply Center from 1991-1993.

“VNDIA was established by the Virginia General Assembly in the wake of the first Base Realignment and Closure process,” Fountain said. “Virginia values its military installations from a patriotic and economic standpoint. Our purpose is to be informed as to the needs of the military in Virginia and how the state is meeting those needs.”

The non-profit organization visits all Virginia military installations every two to three years – their last visit to DSCR was in 2007.

DLA Aviation Chief of Staff Marine Corps Col. Robin Gentry welcomed the visitors and provided them with an overview of the agency and the changes to DLA Aviation since their last visit. He pointed out that the Richmond-based organization is the single DLA point-of-contact for 19 aviation sites located throughout the country and has the ability to realize immense benefits to the taxpayers in efficiencies and stewardship through streamlined inventories throughout its sites.

Discussions also focused on the impact that the almost 3,400 employees working on the installation have on the surrounding communities.

“According to the last economic impact statement prepared in 2005, employees contributed $623 million to the local economy,” said Cindy Kubat, deputy director of DLA Installation Support in Richmond.

As an agency, DLA Aviation’s total economic impact in Virginia – including contracts awarded to large, small and non-profit firms – was $94.9 million in fiscal 2010.

Navy Rear Adm. John Heckman (retired) and Rear Adm. Robert Fountain (retired) speak with DLA Aviation Deputy Chief of Staff Marine Col. Robin Gentry before the group receives briefings on current DLA Aviation missions and learned about all acitivities located on DSCR. (Photo by Amy Clement)

Kubat and her chief of Installation Management, Ray Hall, spoke to the group about ongoing environmental compliance programs, property disposals and a new operations center scheduled for completion by 2018.

As the footprint of the center decreases with property disposals, Fountain questioned whether or not the land could be occupied by new tenants. He said that looking down the road at potential new BRAC legislation, it is important to VNDIA to see if additional facilities can be attracted to Virginia.

“DLA is talking with other DoD activities, but nothing is firm yet,” Kubat said. “DLA is permitted use of the land by the Army and potential use would need to be coordinated through Army channels.”

Non-DLA tenants at DSCR were also on hand to provide the group with briefings on changes to their missions. VNDIA heard from the local commanders and directors of DLA Distribution's depot, DLA Distribution's mapping activity, Defense Contract Management Agency, DLA Operations Research and Resource Analysis, and the Combined Support Maintenance shop for the Virginia Army National Guard.

“A lot has changed since our last visit,” Fountain said. “We appreciate the opportunity to hear about what is happening now and in the future.”

Before leaving DSCR, the group toured the installation to see the current facilities and where changes will be occurring in the next 10 years.