Strengthening industrial base focus of symposium, matchmaking signups open May 28

Speaker: Kevin Cheshure, special programs project manager for the Plans, Training and Modernization Directorate at DLA Distribution.

Cheshure will discuss ways to improve shipping efficiencies to better support military readiness. This session will run from 9:45 to 10:30 a.m., June 2.

Speakers: David Koch, director of DLA Research and Development and Martina Johnson, deputy director for DLA R&D Information Operations.

Koch and Johnson will share groundbreaking advancements within DLA's supply chains and how businesses large and small can help DLA R&D move critical technologies from pilot to production. This session will run from 9:45 to 10:30 a.m., June 2.

Speakers: Donette (Dee) Lowe, program manager, Defense Priorities and Allocations System, DLA Acquisition, and Lesley (Joe) Valentine, acquisition program specialist for DLA Acquisition.

Lowe and Valentine will share an overview of the DLA Industrial Capability and Warstopper program and its core readiness concepts. Attendees will explore how this critical initiative strategically invests in the defense industrial base, empowering commercial partners to rapidly surge production and sustain critical supply chains during national emergencies or armed conflict. This session will run from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., June 2.

Speaker: Michael Cannon, director of DLA Disposition Services.

Cannon will discuss creating a closed-loop system for recovering critical minerals and rare earth elements from existing products and waste streams through recycling, reuse and innovative extraction techniques. This session will run from 2:35 to 3:15 p.m., June 2.

Speaker: Makeya Porter, Product Assurance branch chief, DLA Logistics Operations.

Porter will share how businesses can obtain a DLA Enhanced Joint Certification Program certification. This session will run from 2:35 to 3:15 p.m., June 2.

Speakers: Jennifer Smith, Packaging program manager for DLA Logistics Operations; Kimberly Wilson, branch chief in the Specialized Management Operations Directorate at DLA Weapons Support (Columbus); and Michael Alston, supervisory technical and quality analyst, DLA Logistics Operations.

Smith, Wilson and Alston will take a deep dive into the complexities of DLA Packaging. Attendees will learn how to effectively navigate special packaging instructions and DOW's primary packaging standards, how to meet strict contractual requirements to avoid costly errors; and streamline processes using DLA tools and the Training, Knowledge, and Opportunities program. This session will run from 3:15 to 4 p.m., June 2.

Speaker: Brooke Wunderly, senior procurement analyst for the DoW

Wunderly will share an overview of the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification such as CMMC methodologies and compliance procedures for defense contractors and subcontractors. This session will run from 9:50 to 10:35 a.m., June 3.

Speakers: Daniel Rosen, chief of Strategic Planning for DLA Strategic Materials and Curtis Stough, National Defense Stockpile liaison for DLA.

Rosen and Stough will discuss the adversarial weaponization of critical materials through the use of export bans, market flooding and foreign stockpiling. Attendees will learn how DLA Strategic Materials looks to mitigate the risks associated with critical and strategic materials through the operation of the National Defense Stockpile, and through R&D. Organizers said the session will focus both on the methods of prioritization of critical materials for the DLA and DOW, as well as programmatic actions being taken to ensure the availability of these materials to the warfighter. This session will run from 9:50 to 10:35 a.m., June 3.

Speakers: Heath Berkshire, director, Specialized Management Operations for DLA Weapons Support (Columbus); Kelly Watts, director, Supplier Operations Commodities for DLA Weapons Support (Richmond); James (Travis) Beasley, director, Supplier Operations Original Equipment Manufacturer for DLA Weapons Support (Richmond); Don Schulze, deputy director of Land Supplier Operations for DLA Weapons Support (Columbus); and Shawn Cody, deputy director of Maritime Supplier Operations for DLA Weapons Support (Columbus).

This Class IX oriented session will provide suppliers with direct access to DLA leaders managing the Aviation, Land and Maritime supply chains. Each leader will share brief insights about current challenges and steps they are taking to drive readiness. A substantial portion of the time will be reserved for suppliers to ask each leader questions. This session will run from 10:35 to 11:15 a.m., June 3.

Speakers: Kelvin Goodwine, deputy director, DLA Office of Small Business Programs, and John McCormick, strategic communications specialist, DLA Office of Small Business Programs.

Goodwine and McCormick will provide an interactive tutorial on how to use the DLA OSBP's Supplier Pathway Program. The SPP is a targeted initiative designed to help small businesses and new vendors navigate the complexities of defense contracting. According to the organizers, this event acts as an accelerator for any small business or supplier looking to learn more or expand their partnership with DLA's supply chains. This session will run from 10:35 to 11:15 a.m., June 3.

Speakers: Shirley L. Reed, director, Defense Finance and Accounting Service Columbus, Industrial Base Pay, and Stacy Son, deputy director, DFAS Columbus, Industrial Base Pay.

Reed and Son will share an overview of the new DFAS Industrial Base Pay business line and their role in its creation. As the architect of the IBP, Reed is at the forefront of modernizing financial services for the defense industrial base. Reed and Son lead approximately 2,000 people across five geographical locations that annually disburses over $400 billion through 32 million payments and executes 3.7 million billing and collection transactions each year. This session will run from 12:45 to 1:30 p.m., June 3.

Speakers: Peter Battaglia, deputy director, DLA Mission Assurance, and Raffaele Croce, operations research analyst and program manager, DLA Supply Chain Risk Management, DLA Mission Assurance.

Battaglia and Croce will look at how the DLA SCRM team is approaching the assessment of data to quantify risk, which is central to developing mitigation strategies. This session will run from 12:45 to 1:30 p.m., June 3.