Page 8 - gfs0418_Magazine

MEETING PREVIEW

A Bigger

Picture

R&DA Draws Back the Curtain

on Research and Trends

reminder of the more from industry
research done about trends. “So, this
A by the military seemed like a good
to ensure that war- fit,” he said.
fighters have reliable
access to high-quality NATICK AND DLA
meals when deployed In addition, the
in the field or back on The Annual Exhibition features about U.S. Army Natick Sol-
base and aboard ship 40 vendors. (Photos by Ron Hoffman.) dier Research, Devel-
is the aim of this opment & Engineering
spring’s annual Research and Development Associates Center in Natick, Mass., is sending nine representatives,
(R&DA) for Military Food and Packaging Systems meeting. which McNulty counts as the largest group it has sent to
The 72nd R&DA Annual Spring Meeting, “Partnering attend a recent R&DA meeting, and he anticipates a strong
with DoD to Enhance Support to the Military Services,” turnout from Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support as
is April 17-19, 2018, at the Hotel Hershey in Hershey, Pa. well. Other key military government food service leaders
“We’re looking forward to a good government attendance from each of the military services are also expected to
and industry attendance, and we’re going to pack a lot present.
in in a short period of time at the meeting,” said John The principal speaker for Natick is Robert Trottier,
McNulty, R&DA’s executive director. branch chief, engineering and manufacturing develop-
This spring’s educational programming features a wider ment. “They’re going to be talking rations in the rations
focus by going beyond standard government and military workgroup, and then they have a special food service and
speakers. “Our keynote speaker is William Papa, and he is packaging workgroup where the focus will be on mostly
the executive vice president for research and development food service equipment,” McNulty said of the Natick pro-
for the Hershey Corporation,” McNulty said. “Mr. Papa’s gramming.
quite a distinguished guy, he’s been in that position for a Natick also plans a workgroup on food service equip-
while as the top R&D guy for Hershey.” ment for garrison and field fielding that will be chaired
Hershey is one of R&DA’s oldest industrial members, by Bob Bernazzani, team leader, joint foodsevice and en-
dating back to 1946, when President Harry Truman helped gineering team (JEET), and he will feature at least two
found it after World War II. “We thought since we’re there industry speakers.
at Hershey, let’s tap into the top R&D guy, and that is the “That’s something that we haven’t touched on too, too
name of our association,” he said. “I’m trying, little by much at recent meetings, so that was something that we
little, to bring us back into that realm, that side; Natick wanted to catch up with,” McNulty said.
certainly appreciates that.” One reason McNulty is choosing equipment as a topic is
McNulty also is responding to feedback from R&DA’s to raise the profile of combat service support. Food service
industry and government members asking to hear a little equipment often falls lower as a budget planning priority
8 GOVERNMENT FOOD SERVICE • APRIL 2018