REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. –
Focusing on the role of medical logistics in multi-domain operations, leaders from the Army Medical Logistics Command leaned into conversations around the Army's continued focus on readiness during a briefing Aug. 26 with the Army's senior logistician.
The briefing to Gen. Gus Perna, commanding general of the Army Materiel Command, was the first quarterly update for the AMLC, a new major subordinate command activated June 1.
AMLC leaders were at AMC's headquarters at Redstone Arsenal near Huntsville, where the briefing took place, to prepare for an exercise that will help them shape their preparedness for future combat needs.
"I have high expectations," said Perna, in reference to the potential of the developing AMLC. "This exercise will help us better understand our desired end-state and outputs needed to get to that end-state."
Discussions also centered on the current development of the AMLC, borne out of the restructuring of the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command. MRMC transitioned into the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command, which realigned under the Army Futures Command. Medical logistics functions previously belonging to MRMC moved under the direction of the new AMLC headquartered at Fort Detrick, Maryland. Perna said the transition better aligns functions under the Army commands with those resident core competencies.
The AMLC's mission is to project and sustain medical materiel capabilities and data in order to build and enable readiness for the Army and Joint Forces across the full spectrum of operations.
As a subordinate of AMC, AMLC is integrated within the Army's primary logistics and sustainment command, and can capitalize on the expertise already inherent within the enterprise. The move is also key to Army readiness because it centralizes all classes of supply and sustainment functions under one organization -- AMC.
Col. Timothy D. Walsh has been leading efforts to activate the new command. Walsh was tapped as interim AMLC commander, in addition to his role as commander of the U.S. Army Medical Materiel Agency, a now-direct reporting unit to AMLC.
Along with USAMMA, AMLC also oversees the U.S. Army Medical Materiel Center-Europe and the U.S. Army Medical Materiel Center-Korea.
Walsh was joined by USAMMC-E Commander Col. Jonathan B. Butler and USAMMC-K Commander Lt. Col. Marc R. Welde in the briefing to Perna and his deputy commander, Lt. Gen. Edward M. Daly.
Walsh highlighted the AMLC's strategic focus areas and global posture of the organization. Some of the discussion zeroed in on best practices to provide medical materiel management at the corps level, as well as appropriate ways to split up work between AMLC's reporting units.
"This will help us see ourselves and focus," Perna said.
Perna expressed optimism for the AMLC's direction, as well as appreciation for the leaders that have helped to move it toward activation and full operation.
"I really appreciate your leadership with everything going on," he said. "I think it is going to be good for our Army."