By Mr. Steve Martinez, Director of Operations, CJSL Center for Joint & Strategic Logistics
The Center for Joint & Strategic Logistics (CJSL) recently hosted the 2017 Joint Logistics Faculty Development Workshop (JLFDW) at the National Defense University, Ft. McNair, Washington DC. This 3-day event was attended by faculty members from Department of Defense (DoD) Joint Professional Military Education schools, Air Force Institute of Technology, Naval Postgraduate School, and Defense Acquisition University. In addition, several personnel from the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Joint Staff, and Service logistics staffs, Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) and Service logistics training schools also participated. Over 50 people took part in this year's workshop, the most to date.
These experts, who represent the Joint Logistics Professional Development Community of Practice (JLPDCoP), gathered to hear from senior DoD logistics leaders, such as Ms. Kristin K. French, acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Logistics & Materiel Readiness, Navy Rear Admiral John P. Polowczyk, Joint Staff Vice Director for Logistics, and Army Lieutenant General Aundre F. Piggee, U.S. Army Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics, so they could better understand the most current logistics challenges facing DoD for which military leaders should be prepared to address. In addition, the participants received a presentation by Ms. Rebecca Jensen from The Case Method Project on the use of case studies as a way to improve their instructional effectiveness. Finally, the group reviewed the DoD Logistics Research Process and research topics of interest to the DoD senior leadership which could be investigated during the next academic year. The overarching benefit of this event was to provide a forum in which the JLPDCoP could get to know each other, share best practices, and collectively address issues that affect them so they can enhance the delivery of logistics knowledge at their respective institutions.
Ms. Christina Young from DLA’s Joint Contingency Acquisition Support Office, a first-time attendee, remarked, “The agenda was spot-on and loaded with the right senior leadership providing their insights. I found the workshop extremely valuable and informative!”
The highlight of the final day was a discussion about “Challenges for the Joint Logistics Enterprise,” led by retired Air Force Lieutenant General Bob Allardice, which focused on ways to approach risk analysis and mission assurance efforts. The Director of CJSL, retired Air Force Lieutenant General Chris Kelly, closed the workshop by congratulating the attendees for what was, in his estimation, the most constructive JLFDW yet and also urging them to keep the collaborations going throughout the year.
For more information on CJSL or Joint logistics professional development, go to http://cjsl.ndu.edu.