Brian Lott (right) chief of staff for McAlester Army Ammunition Plant, Oklahoma, is congratulated by Gen. (ret.) William G. T. Tuttle, Jr., after the installation, Col. Sean M. Herron (center), past commander, and Col. Joseph D. Blanding, current com...
McALESTER, Okla. -- Col. Joseph D. Blanding, commander of McAlester Army Ammunition Plant, here, COL. Sean M. Herron, past commander, and the ammunition plant received the Gen. William G. T. Tuttle, Jr. USA (Ret.) Award for Business Acumen in Defense and Government, during the annual Institute for Defense and Business Executive Fellows Induction Ceremony in Washington, D.C., Sept. 6.
The award recognizes Blanding, Herron and MCAAP for implementing procedural, organizational and cultural changes through the execution of the plant's 2017-2021 strategic plan, which will initiate a long-term approach to achieving its vision.
MCAAP was praised for turning its strategic plan into actions with metrics; sharing its vision with the City of McAlester; creating a culture of continuous process improvement through the use of Lean Six Sigma and Value Engineering to save more than $18 million in fiscal year 2015 and $23 million in fiscal year 2016; and, for consistently having the lowest rate in the U.S. Army Materiel Command.
"These accomplishments and more demonstrate that the men and women of McAlester Army Ammunition Plant have fully applied the principles and are richly deserving of the Gen. William G. T. Tuttle, Jr. Award for Business Acumen in Defense and Government," said Van W. Noah, program director for the Institute of Defense and Business, during the ceremony.
One of Herron's top priorities after taking command on June 24, 2015, was to push a strategic approach to the production, storage, distribution and demilitarization of munitions. The plan, "Over the Horizon: Preparing Today for the Challenges of Tomorrow," was initially completed in April 2016.
Blanding assumed command of MCAAP on June 21, 2017, and forged ahead with the plan that lays out the plant's future.
"We're honored to receive the Gen. Tuttle Award recognizing our outstanding strategic plan that charts the course for the future of our ammunition plant," said Blanding. "The award is an acknowledgement of our business acumen and the great work being done by our employees to provide readiness for our nation's warfighters."
The award was established in 2000 at the Center of Excellence in Logistics and Technology by the IDB. It recognizes alumni and their colleagues for demonstrating the applications of principles learned that lead to achieving outstanding results in their organizations.
Herron and Blanding are graduates of the Depot and Arsenal Executive Leadership Program in 2015 and 2016, respectively. Other graduates are MCAAP employees Gary Reasnor, Brian Lott, Bill Tollett, John Ross, Todd Stone, Robert Mabray and Steve Cox.
DAELP is organized and administered by IDB and delivered through a partnership with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Kenan-Flagler Business School.
Herron is currently assigned to U.S. Army Central Command at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina, as its assistant chief of staff for logistics.
Previous award recipients include the U.S. Transportation Command's Logistics Sustainment Division; Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics, Fleet Supply and Ordnance Directorate; Defense Logistics Agency - U.S. Transportation Command Division; and the U.S. Coast Guard's National Industrial Enterprise.
MCAAP is one of 17 installations of the Joint Munitions Command and one of 23 organic industrial base facilities under the U.S. Army Materiel Command.
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