Air Force Brig. Gen. Allan Day is the commander of Defense Logistics Agency (Aviation), a field activity of the Defense Logistics Agency.

In his role in the Naval Aviation Enterprise, he serves as a co-lead for the Naval Aviation Enterprise Engineering, Maintenance and Supply Chain Management (EM&SCM) Team along with Rear Adm. Paul Verrastro, commander, Naval Supply Systems Command Weapon Systems Support (NAVSUP WSS); Rear Adm. Shane Gahagan, commander, Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division/assistant commander for Research and Engineering, Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR); Brig. Gen. Greg Masiello, assistant commander for NAVAIR Logistics and Industrial Operations (AIR 6.0); and Rear Adm. Paul Sohl, commander, Fleet Readiness Centers (COMFRC).

Day was commissioned in 1989 from the United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colorado, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in chemistry. He has served as deputy director, Resource Integration; deputy chief of staff for Logistics, Installations, and Mission Support, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.; and as vice commander, Air Force Sustainment Center, Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma. He holds a master aircraft maintenance and a senior acquisition badge and is Level III certified in program management.

Why is it important for DLA to be involved with the NAE? How have you encouraged this?

"Defense Logistics Agency Aviation (DLA-A) is a $4 billion enterprise that provides nearly 75 percent of the parts used across the DoD, foreign military sales, aviation and aerospace the aviation and aerospace industries. Many have heard me say, 'We are either 75 percent of the problem if we get it wrong or 75 percent of the solution if we get it right.' My goal is to get it right and deliver on time, every time. This requires a detailed understanding of our customer's business practices today and into the future. The better we understand how the Naval Aviation Enterprise (NAE) does business, where it is having challenges and what operational requirements are coming in the future, the better we will be able to deliver. I have encouraged full support of the NAE at every level to ensure we get the right folks listening and providing warfighter-driven solutions wherever and whenever those conversations are taking place."

As Commander of Defense Logistics Agency and one of the co-leads for EM&SCM, you have attended several Boots on the Ground (BoG) site visits. What were your impressions?

"The BoG site visits have been eye-openers for me. I was very impressed by the NAE leadership commitment to the mission and the individual Sailors and Marines getting that mission done. Vice Adm. Mike Shoemaker (commander, Naval Air Forces), Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Jon Davis (deputy commandant for Aviation), and Vice Adm. Paul Grosklags (commander, Naval Air Systems Command) provide a clear example of teamwork, commitment, and alignment that makes the NAE effective. This type of alignment is very evident during each BoG event. Their purpose-driven presence at the BoGs shows that commitment to every level in the organization. As an Air Force maintenance officer for most of my career, I have especially appreciated meeting the Sailors and Marines that have to make the mission happen with the resources we provide. The frustration I hear when we don't get it right and seeing the planes that are held down for material, keeps me focused on our primary mission of supporting the warfighter. These events have also allowed me to see the amazing innovations taking place across the fleet. The passion and pride the Sailors and Marines have for getting the mission done, continuous process improvement, and working through challenges and constraints is evident at every BoG event. I get recharged every time."

What did you take away in terms of how DLA supports naval aviation?

"I have learned that it requires collaboration across the NAE to be effective in providing mission ready aircraft. When we have a good understanding of the requirement with lead time to work with our suppliers to deliver the material support, we have great success. My concern is when that requirement is not met or there is an emergent requirement. The age of most of our air fleets drives unplanned failures -- or said another way, the airplanes get a vote. It is at these times the NAE must work like a well-oiled machine. To deliver on an unplanned/emergent requirement, the program office, engineers and suppliers need to all converge with Naval Supply Systems Command and DLA to deliver a solution. This is where the benefits of the NAE come to the forefront. The relationships forged through interactions in the NAE provide the relational foundations to deliver emergent and unplanned requirements as fast as possible."

What would you like to accomplish during your tenure in terms of DLA's relationship with the NAE?

"In the business of customer support, it comes down to relationships. Relationships built within the NAE are later leveraged and capitalized upon when a crisis happens. It is my goal to ensure DLA (Aviation) is seen as a force for good within the NAE. During my tenure, I would like to stretch the boundaries of how DLA (Aviation) delivers solutions to the NAE customer. How can we leverage our strong supplier relationships, our broad DoD-wide buying power and our innovative contracting strategies to find solutions for the NAE challenges? What constraints can we remove to ensure the NAE delivers airpower where and when needed around the globe? These are the questions I ask every day to guide our DLA (Aviation) team to make a difference."

Is there anything else you would like to add?

"DLA (Aviation) was recently added to the NAE Charter, showing a level of faith and confidence in our ability and role in bringing solutions to the table. (The charter is available at http://www.public.navy.mil/airfor/nae/Documents/NAE%20Charter%20-%20Signed.pdf/) I appreciate the trust the NAE leadership has placed in DLA (Aviation), and I commit to ensuring the Sailors and Marines get the best possible support we can deliver."

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