DVIDS – News – Cherry Point Welcomes Career Broadner Tour

Cherry Point, North Carolina –
The Defense Logistics Agency Aviation Division at Cherry Point recently hosted a special tour for eight Air Force career-expanding talent, including Col. Daniel Willison, DLA Aviation Customer Operations director.

The event was spearheaded by Air Force Technical Sergeant Stephanie Whitmore, DLA Aviation Materiel Management Carrier Broadner, stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, who provided a comprehensive rundown of Cherry Point’s activities Feb. 6.

Whitmore, who will serve as the program’s lead organizer from September 2023 and is currently participating, expressed his intention to share his insights and experiences.

“I’m assigned to DLA Aviation Cherry Point supporting the Eastern Fleet Readiness Center,” she said, “It’s very important to understand how we support the military branch through retail support.”

Her goal is to understand DLA Aviation Cherry Point’s support role and the collaboration between the Defense Logistics Agency and the Aviation Logistics Complex.

The tour included visits to various divisions at Fleet Readiness Center East that support engine overhauls for the AV-8B and TAV-8B, F-35, UH-1N, CH-53E, MH-53E V-22, Presidential Aircraft VH-3D Sea King and more. The hands-on visit gave career-expanding participants the opportunity to interact directly with FRCE and DLA Aviation leaders and explore DLA and FRCE retail operations, the F-35, H-53 and V-22 production lines, organic manufacturing and parts divisions.

Touring the various production lines and meeting the people involved in the operation provided valuable insight,” Whitmore said.

The event ended with a visit to the Planning and Support Department, where Whitmore is assigned. She praised the warm atmosphere of her team, shared the knowledge she had gained there and encouraged those interested in the Career Broadener Programme to take the plunge.

“Don’t shy away from this program,” she advised. “It’s packed with learning experiences and opportunities to give you a deeper understanding of supply chain management.”

Air Force Capt. Tyler Milam, logistics career expansion officer for the Demand Planning Division of the Plans Office, who has been with the program since September 2023, said the program aims to achieve an enterprise-level understanding of the Department of Defense’s supply chain management practices. Milam found the similarities in production management practices at various installations, including FRCE, Tinker Air Force Base Depot and Lockheed Martin, particularly interesting. He noted challenges with production delays and potential solutions through forecasting collaboration with DLA.

Milam advised future participants to embrace their role as students: “Be willing to learn, ask questions, and use your unique skills and perspectives to identify and drive significant positive change within your organization.”

The DLA Materiel Management NCO Career Expansion Program is a three-year program designed to develop an enterprise-level understanding of the Air Force supply chain. The program rotates through various DLA departments, giving participants exposure to materiel management, forecasting, provisioning, procurement and other key logistics disciplines.