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NEWS | Jan. 30, 2019

Letterkenny supplies the missile enterprise

By Traci Boutwell

Members of the Aviation and Missile Command gathered Jan. 17 for a virtual huddle to position Letterkenny Army Depot, Pennsylvania, as the “depot of the future.”

AMCOM Commander Maj. Gen. Doug Gabram and AMCOM Logistics Center leadership and subject matter experts in Huntsville met with Letterkenny’s Commander Col. Stephen Ledbetter and Deputy Commander Damian Bess via video-teleconference for the daylong Workload Summit.

ALC acting director, Don Nitti, explained the purpose of the summit during his opening comments. “We are here today not only to highlight Letterkenny’s capabilities and successes, but – more importantly – to collaborate and have the discussion on future opportunities for Letterkenny,” he said.

Based in Chambersburg, Letterkenny Army Depot is the premier Department of Defense center of industrial and technical excellence for air defense tactical missile ground support equipment and Patriot missile recertification. The depot provides responsive and sustainable readiness for U.S. and allied air and missile defense forces to support U.S. global strategic interests. They do this by operating as a metrics-based organization dedicated to continuous improvement and championing emerging technologies that support air and missile defense systems integration and material readiness, Ledbetter said.

During the summit, Ledbetter and Bess presented some of the depot’s success stories, highlighting the depot’s responsiveness to customers’ needs and providing timely, often lifesaving equipment to the warfighter.

“Letterkenny wants to look at the world differently than it has in the past,” Bess said. “We want to know about the capabilities you are going to need for the future so we can allow for a different way for acquisition but still allow for sustainment.”

Gabram added his endorsement of Letterkenny’s expertise and adaptability, stating “This has been proven by the strong 76-year history of the depot. Now, with great determination and leadership, AMCOM is looking to position LEAD as the depot of the future with modernization and innovation at the forefront of their mission.

“As we move forward with weapons systems, let’s have the conversation to see what we can do for you first,” Gabram said. “This is an extremely important mission. Thank you for what you are doing and helping us win our nation’s wars.”

Letterkenny offers a variety of opportunities for partnership; and – thanks to the Depot Source of Repair process, this can be initiated early in the life cycle sustainment plan, Ledbetter explained. The Army program managers have a strategic partnership ensuring a skilled workforce, as well as facilities and equipment capabilities to meet readiness, sustainment and affordability objectives. The Army is not the only organization that can benefit from the innovation and responsiveness of Letterkenny. All Department of Defense services, other government agencies and even commercial vendors can rely on Letterkenny as a premier, recognized source of supply.