Naval Supply Systems Command Fleet Logistics Center (NAVSUP FLC) Norfolk provided logistics support for ship and aircraft movements, along with supporting shore facilities preparing for Hurricane Dorian, which passed through the Hampton Roads area September 6.

According to Logistics Support Officer Lt. Cmdr. Chris Sands, the Logistics Support Center (LSC) supported the sortie efforts of 21 ships, including those who had sortied to Naval Station Norfolk and Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story from Naval Station Mayport earlier in the week.

“The team’s ability to understand a unit’s requirements and drive high velocity logistics, whether CASREP parts or food provisions, is extraordinary,” said Sands.

He added that the team provided round-the-clock logistics support to the units prior to the setting of Sortie Condition Alpha, through their brief period underway and they manned the Logistics Support Center throughout the weekend as the ships returned.

“As the Logistics Support Officer, they consistently exceed my expectations and have impressed me with their response during a natural disaster,” Sands added.   “I couldn’t have asked for a better group of professionals.”

Sands explained that the LSC worked with both vendors and ship’s company to provide 32 food provision orders worth more than $1.2 million in the days leading to the ships’ departure, many within a 24-hour period.

NAVSUP FLC Norfolk is also responsible for the fuel that ships and aircraft need to sortie from their homeport.  According to Fuels Department Deputy Director Lt. Cmdr. Keith Hough, they provided 5.7 million gallons of fuel prior to the sortie, with another 2.1 million gallons of JP-5 scheduled for Naval Air Station Oceana this week to support the returning aircraft wings.

Hough added that the Fuels Department has the added challenge maintaining a watch of personnel onsite at both Oceana and Craney Island Fuel Depot who can take care of issues that would require an immediate response. 

Preparing for an effort like this requires coordination with several commands including Port Operations, Naval Facilities Command, Military Sealift Command, Type Commanders, U.S. Fleet Forces Command and the Defense Logistics Agency Material Processing Center.

“Our No. 1 priority is support to the warfighter,” said NAVSUP FLC Norfolk Commanding Officer Capt. Jim Lowther. “I am proud of the efforts of the entire team in leaning forward and providing world class logistics support for emergent needs of the units affected by the hurricane.”

NAVSUP FLC Norfolk is one of eight FLCs under Commander, NAVSUP. Headquartered in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, and employing a diverse, worldwide workforce of more than 22,500 military and civilian personnel, NAVSUP's mission is to provide supplies, services, and quality-of-life support to the Navy and joint warfighter. Learn more at www.navsup.navy.mil, www.facebook.com/navsup and https://twitter.com/navsupsyscom.

Get more information about the Navy from US Navy facebook or twitter.

For more news from Naval Supply Systems Command, visit www.navy.mil/.