• WASHINGTON
In two separate letters, the American Logistics Association (ALA) thanked the Secretary of Defense and Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, and their respective teams, for their many contributions and support for military members and families during their tenure.
Signed by ALA President Steve Rossetti and Chairman of the ALA Board of Directors Stephanie Supplee, the Jan. 12 letters congratulated each of them for their leadership in enhancing the lives of those sacrificing for our nation.
SECDEF
The letter to Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III thanked the work that he and his team made during the past few years, “leaving the force’s life quality better than you found it.”
ALA noted that one of its key objectives “is the improvement and deployment of a partnership that brings the best of the public and private sector together to uplift quality of life for our military,” and this dovetailed into the work done by Austin and his team.
“One of the less-headline grabbing yet critical contributions was toward ensuring that the vast network of on-base services both at home and abroad have been sustained and protected under your leadership,” ALA stated.
“Your care and concern backed by tangible funding and action recognized that a vibrant on-base commerce network of commissary, exchange and other family support programs are a gift that keeps on giving in that food security is enhanced and the troops’ own pay is recycled back to their own benefit,” ALA said, pointing to the successes achieved during the pandemic period.
“There is no better example than the early dark days of the pandemic of the necessity and vitality of this program as our military families at far-flung locations were faced with uncertainty as to whether their daily needs would be met.
“The Department stepped up and mitigated this uncertainty and shored up critical support services with enduring results.”
ALA noted that among the programs initiated by the Secretary of Defense and his team that helped service members and their families included the far-reaching “Taking Care of People” initiatives, “[which] will endure far into the future as they solidified the foundation on which our force structure support is built.
“It represents the best of what great leadership and teamwork can accomplish.”
UNDER SECRETARY OF DEFENSE FOR PERSONNEL AND READINESS
The letter to Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness Ashish S. Vazirani thanked the leadership for their contributions, which “has significantly enhanced the well-being of those who serve and sacrifice for our nation,” also acknowledging two senior leaders, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense For Military Community and Family Policy Patricia Barron and Assistant Secretary of Defense For Manpower and Reserve Affairs Ron Keohane, “who made remarkable contributions to the quality of life for military personnel and their families.”
ALA said, “Your team’s collective achievements are too numerous to mention in full but we note several significant accomplishments that were made possible through your leadership.”
These initiatives included the “Taking Care of People” initiatives; the expanded focus on food security including boosting the commissary benefit; pandemic support; exchange and community services minimum wage impact relief; ensuring the food pipeline to overseas; Wi-Fi access; spouse employment; child care and parental leave.
“Your efforts shored-up the critical on-base commerce system that helps sustain the force and provides a remarkable mechanism to recycle troop pay back to their own programs,” ALA noted.
“Your dedication and the collaborative efforts of your leadership team have created a lasting impact on the lives of military personnel and their families,” ALA stated. “These achievements represent the best of what leadership and teamwork can accomplish.”
