ARLINGTON, Va. -- Nearly 200 military and industry leaders converged June 3 to discuss logistics and sustainment in a "Hot Topic" forum hosted by the Association of the United States Army.
Titled "Strategic Sustainment for a Globally Responsive and Regionally Engaged Army," the forum included a series of keynotes remarks and panels featuring subject matter experts from across the Department of Defense, industry and academia.
"Army logisticians have played and will play an indispensable role in providing materiel," said retired Gen. Gordon Sullivan, AUSA president, opening the event.
Introducing three key points - logistics leader development, army readiness, and force 2025, Lt. Gen. Gus Perna, Department of the Army deputy chief of staff, G4, provided opening remarks that set the stage and agenda.
"The Army is a force that is simultaneously in transition, in action, and in preparation," Perna said. "That is why we must regenerate our expeditionary logistics capabilities, create and sustain materiel readiness, and leverage innovation as much as humanly possible."
Perna also stressed the criticality of Global Combat Support System-Army for the future of Army logistics.
"We as logisticians need to inform our maneuver commanders and ensure that they understand and grasp the importance. Maintenance and supply is not logistics business, it is commanders business, but we are held accountable to be the experts," he said. "I have confidence that you will be the experts, and you will coach, teach, mentor and be a part of the success of this program. [GCSS-Army] is clearly the game changer in logistics."
Army Materiel Command Deputy Commanding General Lt. Gen. Larry Wyche gave keynote remarks, highlighting the $58 billion organization's vision and strategic priorities.
"AMC's diverse sustainment portfolio includes building partnerships, providing acquisition and technology support, operating the Army's Organic Industrial Base, and providing strategic agility and operational flexibility to the six geographic Combatant Commanders," said Wyche. "We are adapting to provide global sustainment to win in a complex world."
Emphasizing a theme that would carry throughout the forum, Wyche noted the critical importance of partnering with industry and academia. Industry and defense leaders shared insight and dialog during panels on innovation, materiel readiness and leader development.
"As we move forward, you remain critical enablers in providing global sustainment and logistics," he told the audience. "I see opportunities for partnering in sustainment and support operations, manufacturing and technology, foreign military sales and many other areas."
In closing remarks, Hon. Alan Estevez, principal deputy undersecretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics, noted the declining budgets, but told the entire industrial base to look within for savings.
"If we are not looking inside our structures and leaning out our overhead, making ourselves as efficient as possible, across the joint force and across our industrial partners, then we're spending money that should be spent on combat capability," he said. "And we can't afford to not spend money that needs to be spent on combat capability."
He also challenged the audience to cross-level ideas and best practices across industry and the services.
"Great ideas do not emanate from [leaders]; great ideas come from the people who have to execute the missions -- who are out every day from the front lines of Afghanistan to the front lines of the depot," said Estevez.
Maj. Gen. William Hix, director of strategy, plans and policy, office of the deputy chief of staff, G3/5/7, articulated best the overarching theme from the day.
"Sustainment is not only an Army core competency, it is an Army competitive advantage that is unique among other armies around the world…,"he said. "We cannot concede this advantage to anyone."
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