thoughtleaders MAJ. GEN. KEN DOWD
the theater—where they are sitting with the warfighters. If the warfighters need rations, fuel, or a repair
part, DLA is reacting pretty quickly. I just wanted to
make the agency a little more focused.
QIt’s not much different in the commercial space, where we often talk about getting close to our
customer.
ABefore, a lot of the work was done back here in the continental United States, so the DLA was about
nine to 10 hours behind issues. The time zone difference was slowing its ability to influence readiness in
theater. With DLA boots on the ground, people are
more focused on the requirements. If you are sitting at
the table and that general says, “I need two tow bars,”
it’s got to happen quickly.
QHow did you end up in logistics?
AAs a student at the University of the Cumberlands, I was playing basketball and, you know, I wasn’t
very good. I joined the Reserve Officers Training
Corps and took the platoon leader’s course one summer with the marines. I fell in love with the military,
and I was asked to be the brigade commander for the
ROTC student detachment.
Then I had to figure out what I would do in the
military. I rode around in the tank once and—I’m
6’ 5”—I was halfway out of the tank, so I knew I
couldn’t be a tanker. I looked at a helicopter and I
really couldn’t sit in the seat because my knees might
go out the window, so I had to look for other opportunities. Logistics—moving all this stuff and getting
it to the soldiers on time—always fascinated me. To
support warfighters and make an impact caught my
interest. I fell into logistics.
QIs there anything else you’d like to say?
AI want to make sure that I say something to mil- itary families. I really appreciate the families of
our young men and women in the military and on
the civilian side who support the Defense Department
and all those folks out there for all the sacrifices they
make to let our young men and women serve our
country. We often thank that soldier, sailor, airman,
and marine, but I want to publicly thank the families
for what they have done for our nation.
And please remember that we’ve got a lot of young
men and women coming back from the combat zone,
and I just ask our nation and your readers to grab one
of these guys and hire them. They’re dedicated, they’re
disciplined, and they have skills that are very valuable
to companies.
