DLA-Warner Robins activated Oct. 15 Published Oct. 18, 2007 By Amy T. Clement Defense Supply Center Richmond Public Affairs ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. (AFPN) -- The Defense Logistics Agency gained 240 employees Oct. 15 when DLA-Warner Robins stood up here. The "new" employees will provide supply, storage and distribution support to the maintenance activities for Warner Robins Air Logistics Center. DLA activated the new detachment of its aviation supply and demand chain in response to 2005 Base Realignment and Closure supply and storage legislation. The BRAC 2005 decision called for the Department of Defense to reconfigure its supply, storage and distribution infrastructure into one integrated provider -- DLA. The activation of DLA-Warner Robins marks Air Force Materiel Command's first air logistics center to implement the BRAC mandate, with Air Force positions in the 702nd Maintenance Support Squadron transferring in place to DLA. This is the first of 13 such supply, storage and distribution activations scheduled to take place over the next several years at all Air Force air logistics centers and aviation depots of other services. Similar transitions will take place at Air Force ALCs in February at Tinker Air Force Base, Okla., and in April at Hill AFB, Utah. The combined deactivation/activation ceremony was held in the Museum of Aviation at Warner Robins Air Logistics Center. Brig. Gen. Andrew E. Busch, the commander of the Defense Supply Center Richmond, and Brig. Gen. Mark A. Atkinson, the commander of the 402nd Maintenance Wing, presided at the joint ceremony. General Atkinson and Joe Alexander, the director of the 702nd MSS, officiated during the deactivation. General Busch and Col. Madeline Lopez, the first DLA-Warner Robins commander, officiated during the activation. "This ceremony ends one era and begins a new era," General Atkinson said. "Often at ceremonies like this, where we furl and case the flag, the flag, the people and the mission go away -- but not today. The people, mission and requirements stay. DOD transformation is ongoing and this transfer is part of the change." General Atkinson told employees from the 702nd MSS they'd remain part of the team. "You're still part of the family and our commitment to warfighters and customers will continue, and I look forward to the years ahead," he said. "The success of the 402nd Maintenance Wing is largely built on the supply and support (702nd MSS members) provided," General Busch said. The DLA-Warner Robins detachment will be managed by DLA's aviation supply chain, DSCR, based in Richmond, Va. "This is Day 1, and our focus is to ensure uninterrupted support to General Atkinson's maintenance line. Work will continue, as is/where is," General Busch said. "We're also identifying what we'll do on Day 2, which is not a date, but a condition of fail safe support to the maintenance wing as we move through the transformation DOD is asking us to do." Throughout the transition process, several town hall meetings were held to keep affected employees informed about the transition. "The communication with us was very good," said John Ricks, one of the employees who transferred to DLA. "The initial concern was that of being anxious and not knowing what to expect. But now that it is here, it's kind of invisible and it has gone smooth so far. People are doing the same functions; we're just working for DLA instead of the Air Force. I'm happy so far." Comment on this story (comments may be published on Air Force Link) View the comments/letters page