Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Sustainment

On February 11th, Ms. Leigh Method, Performing the Duties of Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Sustainment, gave a keynote address at the NDIA 39th Annual National Logistics Forum in Orlando, FL. Ms. Method addressed SECDEF priorities, emphasizing the direct call to action for the sustainment enterprise to continue reviving the defense industrial base, "We’re moving out to build credible deterrence through a more lethal joint force and a defense industrial base that is ready, resilient, and capable of securing our logistics operations, supply chains, and data in contested environments both in theater and at home." She also emphasized all entities must build closer ties with government, industry, and academia and work together to develop solutions from the enterprise to the front line. Additionally, Ms. Method presented the "DoD Award for Supply Chain Operational Excellence" award, which honors organizations that have made exceptional progress through innovative development or adoption of the best supply chain practices.

Mr. Kumashiro, Senior Advisor for F-35 Sustainment recently addressed the AY24-25 class at the College of Information and Cyberspace, National Defense University, National Defense University to discuss DIB supply chain risks and current development of data decision support tools such as the Supply Chain Risk Evaluation Environment (SCREEn) to strengthen resiliency within key weapon systems such as the F-35.

On January 17th, Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Sustainment (ASD-S) Steven J. Morani met with 10 reporters from the Defense Writers Group for an on-the-record discussion on the topic of the Department’s efforts to prevail in contested environments through logistics, materiel readiness, and product support focused initiatives. The Acting ASD-S discussed the major sustainment and logistics accomplishments of the last few years while highlighting the ongoing and forthcoming work to advance the Sustainment Enterprise and provide global competitive advantage to the warfighter. Access the link to view the full transcript from the interview:

The Department of Defense revealed the recipient of the 2024 Phoenix Award for Maintenance Excellence on December 11, 2024, during the Secretary of Defense Maintenance Awards event. This ceremony was part of the annual DoD Maintenance Symposium held in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Phoenix Award is a yearly accolade that recognizes the top field-level maintenance unit within the Department of Defense. The 2024 winner of this prestigious award is . . . USS Makin Island! The USS Makin Island established herself as the most reliable amphibious warship in the fleet by being the first ever to embark two air combat elements comprised of 10 F-35s, 10 MV-22s, and 3 MH-60s which executed more than 12,600 launch and recovery evolutions for 9,900 flight hours. The crew’s innovative maintenance of shipboard equipment across 15 departments and assigned aircraft contributed to unsurpassed operational readiness levels, cost savings, customer support, and unit morale. Find the full press release here:

On January 23rd, Ms. Leigh Method, Performing the Duties of Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Sustainment, participated in the 2025 Defense R&D Summit hosted by the Potomac Officers Club in McLean, VA. Panelists alongside Ms. Method included Maj Gen David Sanford, J3 Director, Logistics Operations/Commander, Joint Regional Combat Support of Defense Logistics Agency, Mr. Justin Hunter, Digital Transformation, Dept of the Navy, and Mr. Rob Vietmeyer, Chief Software Officer for the Deputy Chief Information Officer for Information Enterprise. The four panelists engaged on the topic of reinvention at the tactical edge in contested environments. Ms. Method highlighted the DoD's logistics and sustainment enterprise efforts to mitigate supply chain risk while supporting the rapid delivery of technology to the field to ensure warfighters have the latest capabilities when and where it's needed. She also emphasized that the partnership between the Department of Defense and the Industrial Base is paramount to maintain the competitive edge. #POCRD2025

The 2024 Department of Defense (DoD) Maintenance Symposium provided a wealth of opportunities for active engagement between the DoD and industry representatives. Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Sustainment, Mr. Morani, had fruitful discussions with numerous industry leaders, to gain insights into their innovative work and explore potential avenues for collaboration. These interactions are crucial for fostering partnerships that enhance operational efficiency and technological advancement within defense maintenance sectors. Such collaborations not only drive innovation but also bolster national security capabilities. Book your travel arrangements now for the 2025 DoD Maintenance Symposium in Louisville, KY!

#ICYMI: If you attended the Department of Defense (DoD) Maintenance Symposium you might have seen Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Sustainment ((A)ASD-S), Mr. Morani in a number of events while in Salt Lake City, Utah last week. (A)ASD-S kicked off the busy week providing opening comments at the No Fault Found (NFF): Chasing Intermittence panel discussing the importance of breaking barriers and finding new solutions to the Department's NFF occurrences. (A)ASD-S Morani also led the discussion for the Senior Logistics Roundtable - Advancing Sustainment Initiatives for Warfighter Dominance and offered Peer-to-Peer opening remarks. Apart from conference room discussions, Mr. Morani engaged with many in the exhibit hall - where perhaps you caught a glimpse of his Knowledge Bar presentation on "Why Core Matters". Finishing up the week, (A)ASD-S Morani hosted an exciting SECDEF Maintenance Awards Banquet and Ceremony where he brought out a special guest, "Stanley" to pair with the spirited atmosphere. Begin your arrangements now: Next year's event will take place in December in Louisville, Kentucky!

#TBT: During the opening of the 2024 Department of Defense (DoD) Maintenance Symposium, the Acting Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Acquisition and Sustainment) ((A)DUSD(A&S)), Hon Rosenblum, delivered an exceptional keynote address. The speech underscored sustainment's role as a strategic advantage in global security. The (A)DUSD(A&S) highlighted priorities from leadership and the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition & Sustainment regarding the vital duty of maintaining forces during conflicts, stressing the sustainment workforce's essential part in ensuring Joint Force readiness. Hon Rosenblum's remarks emphasized taking advantage of engagement opportunities like the DoD Maintenance Symposium help the Department maintain a competitive edge, enhance agility and foster stronger collaborations among the Services, Joint Force, Congress, academia, and industry. Begin your arrangements now: Next year's event will take place in December in Louisville, Kentucky!

ICYMI: The Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Sustainment returned from last week's Department of Defense (DoD) Maintenance Symposium with record-breaking attendance of over 3,500 registered attendees! The event was a booming success and this year's theme of Advancing the Sustainment Enterprise for Global Competitive Advantage inspired discussions about global security threats and how the Department must evolve to compete in a contested logistics environment. More to follow - including detailed coverage of the event! Begin your arrangements now: Next year's event will take place in December in Louisville, Kentucky!

This week, the Assistant Secretary of Defense - Sustainment team will be participating in the 2024 DoD Maintenance Symposium in Salt Lake City, Utah. With over 3,000 registered attendees comprised of military, government, industry, and academia, this year’s symposium will be the highest attended event in it’s history! For more information, see the link below or stop by our booth in the expo to speak to our team members. https://lnkd.in/ePEbDujJ