The value and importance of the Defense Commissary Agency's (DeCA) mission was recognized by the Department of Defense (DoD) when it recently authorized the elevation of the agency's director position to a Tier-3 status.

To match DeCA's recognized increased importance to the military's global and strategic mission with the level of leadership charged to manage the benefit, DoD authorized the elevation to a Tier-3 Senior Executive Service (SES) position, which equates to the rank of a three-star flag officer, for DeCA Director Philip E. Sakowitz, Jr.

“Ultimately,” Sakowitz said, “the leadership level of this agency reflects how important the commissary benefit is to supporting our men and women in uniform.”

Richard S. “Rick” Page, chief operating officer (COO) of the Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA), will retire effective Feb. 28, 2009, capping a federal service career spanning more than 30 years.

Page, a member of the Senior Executive Service (SES), served as DeCA's acting director from October 2007 to June 2008 after completing more than five years as the director of DeCA West.

As COO, Page oversaw the agency's retail operations, safety and security, program management, plans, and systems engineering in support of the day-to-day operations of DeCA's 254 commissaries.

“Rick will be missed by all who've had the pleasure of working with him to make the commissary benefit worth the trip,” DeCA Director Philip E. Sakowitz Jr. said. “He really made my job transition to DeCA as smooth as it could possibly be, and that's a testimony to his professionalism and passion for the commissary benefit.

“His leadership in DeCA has been monumental and historic,” Sakowitz continued. “I know he will engage the next phase of his life with equal zeal. We in DeCA will honor him these last few months with equal quality to that which he has consistently provided to military service members and their families.”

The agency had not yet named his replacement, as this issue went to press.

The Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) announced that Donna J. Willis, most recently the deputy director of Performance and Policy, was named DeCA East deputy director.

This move, which became effective on Dec. 7, saw Willis filling a position that had been vacant since Edward Jones left the agency in October to become comptroller, Air Force Reserves headquarters, Robbins AFB, Ga. Willis joined Robert G. Vitikacs as one of the two deputy directors of DeCA East, working under Region Director Michael J. Dowling.

Willis is responsible for day-to-day operations in support of five zones and 48 commissaries in DeCA East.

Eric Swayzee, the chief of the operations division within Performance and Policy, was chosen to succeed Willis as the directorate's deputy director. As this issue went to press, DeCA had not yet chosen his successor.

November was designated as “Warrior Care Month” by Secretary of Defense Robert Gates. The military resale community, along with other Department of Defense (DoD) entities, helped to spread the message — to inform military members and their families about the many programs that are, and will be, available to assist Wounded Warriors — during this 30-day period, and beyond.

During a Wounded Warrior “Summit” meeting at the Pentagon, Gates said he wants to focus DoD's efforts in drawing attention to improvements for the support of Wounded Warriors. The secretary said the observance “will provide an opportunity to highlight the sacrifices of wounded troops and their families; take stock of how much has been achieved in this area; and reflect on how much more needs to be done.”

DoD has created the Warrior Care Web Portal (www.WarriorCare.mil) to serve as a link site to all warrior care resources and information.

“With barber shops, fast-food restaurants and stores with items to help pass the time at military hospitals such as Landstuhl Regional, Germany, and Walter Reed AMC, Washington, D.C., the Army & Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) is positioned to serve wounded warriors and their families,” said AAFES's Chief of Corporate Communications Lt. Col. Dean Thurmond, USA.

AAFES raised awareness of Warrior Care Month resources through in-store radio, signage, as well as other promotional materials at BXs and PXs worldwide.

During 2008, the Navy Exchange Service Command (NEXCOM) and Nintendo donated Wii Systems to three military hospitals to help recovering military personnel.

In addition, with the help of vendor Ashley Furniture, new furniture was donated to NNMC Bethesda, Md., for its waiting room. Tailors at NEX Bethesda have also been doing their part through uniform tailoring services to enable these wounded warriors to wear their uniforms, no matter what their injury. (See E&C, 10/08.)

The Marine Corps handles Wounded Warrior matters on an installation basis. One such event was held Nov. 14, the USMC's Wounded Warrior Care Day, when the Marine Corps Wounded Warrior Regiment teamed with the Navy's Bureau of Medicine and Surgery on several programs highlighting Warrior Care Month at the Wounded Warrior Regiment Operations Center, Quantico, Va.

“Educating our Marine Corps community on the Wounded Warrior Regiment's mission is vital in ensuring assistance and information is available through the Regiment,” said Col. Gregory Boyle, USMC, commanding officer of the Wounded Warrior Regiment, which was established in April 2007.

According to John Reiley, director of merchandise for the Coast Guard Exchange System (CGES), the exchange service participated in the American Logistics Association (ALA) donation effort for Wounded Warriors and their families at NNMC Bethesda, Md., and Walter Reed AMC, based here.

Throughout November, DeCA commissaries displayed posters to emphasize Wounded Warriors and the programs that exist for their care and support.

Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) commissaries displayed posters to help emphasize Wounded Warriors and the programs that exist for their care and support. During the year, personnel from DeCA's human resources and Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) offices teamed to recruit Wounded Warriors along with civilians with targeted disabilities and disabled veterans with a 30-percent or more disability rating.

The Veterans Canteen Service (VCS) by its very nature is an organization dedicated to warrior care, and serves not only veterans but also their family members who visit them, and their caregivers. The VCS is involved in numerous programs related to Wounded Warrior care and rehabilitation. Along with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the VCS helps Wounded Warriors and other veterans via its sponsorship of the VA's National Rehabilitation Therapy Special Events, including the National Veterans Wheelchair Games, Winter Sports Clinic, Golden Age Games and Creative Arts Festival.

In late November, the Defense Commis-sary Agency (DeCA) announced that Robert Hayden, the agency's director of Performance and Policy, was retiring after nearly 45 years of federal service, effective Dec. 31.

James “Jay” Hudson Jr., the agency's director of Corporate Communications, was appointed the agency's new director of Performance and Policy early this month.

In his new position, Hudson will serve as the functional owner of a business process that centers on store-level support and improvement.

As this issue went to press, the agency had not yet named Hudson's successor in Corporate Communications.

“It's difficult to say goodbye to such a dedicated and well-accomplished public servant as Bob,” said Philip E. Sakowitz Jr., DeCA director and chief executive officer (CEO). “He has seen it and done it all in the commissary business. We wish him all the best as he starts a new chapter in his life.”

The Army & Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) announced in November that 20-year veteran executive Craig Sewell, vice president (VP) of the Resilian Communications strategic business unit since October 2007, would be retiring, effective Dec. 12.

According to Larry Marshall, AAFES's strategic communications planner, the status of the Resilian Communications services will continue unabated through Sewell's retirement and the naming of his successor.

As this issue went to press, AAFES had not yet named his successor.

Gen. Ann E. Dunwoody, USA, the deputy commanding general of the U.S. Army Materiel Command (AMC) in Fort Belvoir, Va., became the first woman promoted to the rank of four-star general during a Pentagon ceremony, here, on Nov. 14. She is now one of 12 on active duty to have reached that rank in the current Army.

Prior to her recent move to AMC, Dunwoody served as deputy chief of staff (G-4) for Logistics, since 2005, when she became the Army's highest-ranking female officer. She also served on the Army & Air Force Exchange Service's (AAFES) Board of Directors, and as chairman of the Commissary Operating Board (COB).

In an interview with E&C News (4/07), Dunwoody spoke at length about DeCA. “Today, we're designing our stores to create a world-class shopping experience and the focus has shifted, rightfully so, to the customer. As a shopper, I've seen steady improvement over the course of my life.”

After the Pentagon ceremony, Dunwoody returned on the same day to Fort Belvoir, where she was sworn in as AMC commanding general.

“There is no one more surprised than I,” she was quoted as saying, “except, of course, my husband. You know what they say, 'Behind every successful woman there is an astonished man.''

The Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) recently named Martin J. “Marty” Jackson its Zone 6 manager. Jackson, previously the store director at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, fills a position that had been vacant since David C. Carey was named the DeCA West region's director of operations in June. Carey continued to oversee Zone 6 until Jackson was selected.

Jackson now oversees 10 commissaries in Texas, including NAS Corpus Christi; Dyess AFB; Fort Hood's Clear Creek and Warrior Way stores; Fort Sam Houston; Goodfellow AFB; NAS Kingsville; Lackland AFB; Laughlin AFB; and Randolph AFB.

DeCA has not yet named Jackson's successor at Fort Sam Houston.

Gen. Craig R. McKinley, USAF, became a four-star general — and the first one to serve as chief of the National Guard Bureau — at a Pentagon ceremony here on Nov. 18.

Having served most recently as the director of the Air National Guard, McKinley is also the fourth Air National Guard officer to be promoted to that position, where he succeeds Army Lt. Gen. H. Steven Blum, who in January will become the first Guard officer to serve as deputy commander of the U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM).

• EXCOM, USMMA MINI-MART    New NEX for Kings Point USMNA Midshipmen • USMMA Kings Point, N.Y.   A shiny new Navy Exchange (NEX) was recently christened at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) Kings Point, N.Y., and students, faculty and their leadership here are enjoying the store's maiden voyage. On Sept. 16, Vice Adm. Joseph D. Stewart, USMS, then-superintendent of the Academy here, and Rear Adm. Robert J. Bianchi, SC, USN, Navy Exchange Service Command (NEXCOM) commander, cut the ribbon on a bright and airy new 5,260-sq.-ft.-NEX that replaced a USMMA Ship's Store that previously served the site. “A number of midshipmen I spoke to said they thought they had died and gone to heaven” about their first visits to the new store, said Capt. John J. Jochmans, USN, assistant superintendent for administration. With a dramatically enhanced merchandise selection featuring a comprehensive assortment of consumables, a generous softlines, varsity and uniform shop and a convenience-oriented electronics selection, it's no surprise the patrons are very pleased with their store. Then-USMMA Kings Point, N.Y. Superintendent Vice Adm. Joseph D. Stewart, USMS (Second from left) and NEXCOM Commander Rear Adm. Robert J. Bianchi, SC, USN (third from left) cut the ribbon marking the Sept. 16 grand opening ceremony for the new Mini-Mart/Exchange at the site. Assisting them with the opening ceremony were, from left to right, Capt. John J. Jochmans, USN, assistant superintendent for administration; NEXCOM Northeast District Manager Kevin Comer, NS Mitchel Field, N.Y., GM Solange Westerhaus, and Mitchel Field Divisional Manager Grace Donato. LAUNCH In addition to the quality of life NEXCOM provides the Navy family, Stewart said, NEXCOM “makes a profit and they return those earnings back to morale, welfare and recreation (MWR) activities throughout the military, which in turn enhances the quality of life for the Navy, military servicemembers of all branches and their families. This store, this exchange will contribute to that ... We're pleased to have it; we think it's a great partnership.” NEX MISSION “Supporting the Navy family is our mission,” said Bianchi before the ribbon-cutting ceremony. “More than 35 percent of our Navy Exchange associates have direct ties to the military, as part of a military family — so we 'get it.' We understand that emotional connection between our exchanges and our patrons who shop there. It's what we do every day. And we understand the importance of family. “As Adm. Stewart so eloquently noted there, the Navy Exchange is an important non-pay benefit that contributes to the overall quality of life of all our military servicemembers.” Bianchi thanked the Tidewater Facilities Group involved in construction and NEXCOM merchanding staff, operations and facilities teams, ”including Tim Delaney, Curtis Davis, Justine Lokey, Mark Meierhofer, Patty Williams, Joe Endicott, Joe Marchese, Bill Jones, Nanette Kopasakis, and Rick Lambert for their work in planning and executing this project. And of course, to the queen of Mitchel Field here, Solange Westerhaus, thank you and Grace Donato for seeing this project through. I know you guys put a a lot of blood, sweat and tears into this and thank you very much.” ASSORTMENT With the new store, Bianchi explained, “We're able now to offer you a wider variety of frozen foods, snacks, cold beverages, school supplies, electronics, CDs, games and much more. And of course, we also have an expanded selection of your MMA clothing and giftware.' During the store's planning phase in 2007, Senior Vice President CONUS Exchange Operations Gary King noted that the store would in some ways be comparable in assortment and function to the one NEXCOM operates for Navy students at NTC Great Lakes, Ill. The store's key staff include Branch Exchange Manager Lane Weissman; Sales Supervisor Joseph Lihach; sales associates Nancy Ching and Rose Gonzalez, who also serves in the New York Army National Guard; and Warehouse Store Worker Thomas Matthews.