The History of Defense Logistics

2010:
With dozens of senior leaders across the Services and Defense Agencies already confirmed to participate, Defense Logistics 2010 will once again be the annual meeting place for the most innovative logistics minds in the defense industry.

2009:
Nearly a year after the inauguration of the new administration, leaders in military logistics gathered once again at the Marriott Crystal Gateway to discuss their logistics challenges, opportunities and vision. Vice Admiral Alan S. Thompson, Director, DLA kicked off the event by describing the DLA Logistics Vision and way forward. Day two highlights included a session on Optimizing Business Operations & Performance In DoD by the Assistant Deputy Chief Management Officer at the DoD, Ms. Beth McGrath.

2008:
Taking place just weeks after the election, the event kicked off with Major General Art Morill's update on the National Supply Chain. Both speaking for the first time at the event, Lieutenant General Kathleen Gainey and Vice Admiral Ann Rondeau discussed the furture outlook for The Joint Staff & USTRANSCOM, respectively. Major General Vincent Boles finished the morning with a passionate keynote discussion around how we can all better support the Warfighter.

2007:
LTG C.V. Christianson opened the show with the question; Are we doing our best to serve the Warfighter? LTG Robert T. Dail followed up with an update on the current status, future thinking & impact of DLA’s vision. General Norton A. Schwartz discussed the promises that we must keep to the Warfighter. Mr. Paul A. Brinkley and LTG Christopher A. Kelly capped off the most captivating morning of our event’s history.

2006:
The pending repositioning of thousands of overseas U.S. troops and stateside base closings and adjustments mandated by BRAC was top of mind for many. Ken Krieg, Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE once again kicked off the main conference proceedings with a compelling look into OSD’s logistic portfolio and offered his vision for 2007 and beyond.

2005:
Hurricane Rita and Katrina created new logistics challenges! LTG Russel Honoré discussed his recent experience leading the hurricane relief efforts. He urged us all to leverage the lessons learned in New Orleans for success in every mission.

2004:
600 logisticians flooded the conference room and the energy and passion in the room was extremely high as an impressive speaker faculty outlined their unwavering dedication to excellence in defense logistics:

2003:
The announcement came March 2003 - Operation Iraqi Freedom had begun. Fighting in an asymmetrical battlefield posed new logistics challenges and logisticians across the Services agreed that the Defense Logistics conference was critical to achieving the “jointness” necessary for winning this war.

2002:
As the country braced itself for news of War, the Defense Logistics conference series was honored to bring John W. Handy, USAF, Commander in Chief, US Transportation Command to the forefront as he set the tone by opening with “WarFighter Support: Nothing Else Counts!”

2001:
In the wake of 9/11, 300 devoted logisticians gathered at The Ritz in Washington, D.C. for the launch of the Defense Logistics conference series. Have just embarked on Operation Enduring Freedom two months prior, the logisticians in attendance were focused on delivering the best possible frontline support and the best strategies for the war ahead.