Bob Johnson (left), SDDC deputy chief of staff, and Greg Younger (right), SDDC's liaison officer to the U.S. Army Materiel Command, graduated April 27 from the Senior Logistician Advanced Course, a two-week graduate level logistics management educati...

Two senior civilian employees of the Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command (SDDC) graduated April 27 from the Senior Logistician Advanced Course, a two-week graduate level logistics management education program taught at the University of Alabama-Huntsville campus in Huntsville, Alabama.

Bob Johnson, SDDC deputy chief of staff, and Greg Younger, SDDC's liaison officer to the U.S. Army Materiel Command, completed the course which is open to Army civilians in grades GS 13-15 working in logistics-related career programs.

The course provides the knowledge and skills necessary to keep pace with technological, professional and mission advancement, with instruction designed to prepare senior Army logisticians to anticipate potential changes in the business world to coordinate and implement anticipatory responses. The curriculum is also designed to challenge students in core logistics scenarios.

"It was a very informative and well thought-out course," said Johnson. "Guest speakers also included former SDDC leaders such as retired Lt. Gen. Kathleen Gainey (commanding general, 2006-2008) and Mr. Mike Williams (SDDC deputy to the commander, 2009-2013)."

According to Younger, the course proved beneficial beyond just classroom instruction.

"It was great to meet and develop relationships with other logisticians from across the enterprise. I would encourage other senior logisticians to attend the course," he said.

Senior civilians applying to attend the course are selected through a panel process. The panel evaluates each applicant based on the following areas: applicant's statement of interest, supervisor utilization plan, experience, education, supervisor ratings and previous training.