JMC Collaborates with Strategic Leaders on Munitions Industry Study | Article

Nate Hawley, Director of the Munitions and Logistics Readiness Center, facilitates a strategic discussion about the Munitions Organic Industrial Base with students at the Eisenhower School.
1 / 1 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Nate Hawley, Director of the Munitions and Logistics Readiness Center, facilitates a strategic discussion about the Munitions Organic Industrial Base with students at the Eisenhower School. (Photo Credit: Kara Stetson, JMC) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT MCNAIR, Washington, D.C. — As the logistics integrator for life-cycle management of ammunition for all Services, informing and influencing strategic munitions decisions across the munitions enterprise is a priority for Joint Munitions Command (JMC). Mr. Nate Hawley, Director of the Munitions and Logistics Readiness Center at JMC, had an opportunity to do so during his visit with the Munitions Industry Study class at the Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy.

“As strategic leaders examining the munitions enterprise, it is important for you to understand the roles of the Army and JMC,” Hawley said. “It’s our responsibility to operationalize munitions readiness from the Strategic Support Area. We do this by providing ready, reliable and lethal munitions at the speed of war in sustainment of global readiness.”

The munitions industrial base, as managed by JMC, consists of 14 subordinate arsenals, depots and ammunition plants, which have unique capabilities not always found in the private sector. These assets collectively provide the conventional ammunition life-cycle functions of distribution, storage, demilitarization and production of munitions for U.S. military services, other government agencies and Allied nations, as directed.

JMC oversees a supply chain of more than 300 organic and commercial producers capable of delivering quality ammunition to replenish the stockpile, securing munitions readiness.

“We do this by understanding our supply chain, assessing readiness and risk impacts and sustaining critical capabilities,” said Hawley.

Mr. Hawley facilitated a strategic discussion on the challenges of managing a complex supply chain that needs to be capable to surge. The students posed questions about foreign sourcing risks and JMC’s ability to mitigate readiness impacts. Mr. Hawley explained how JMC uses the Industrial Base Assessment Tool to identify supply chain issues to include tariff impacts, rare earth element concerns, and anything that could affect JMC’s ability to provide munitions to the warfighter.

“As we modernize the industrial base,” Hawley explained, “JMC installations and private industry partners are postured to respond to surge requirements and other contingencies, and leaders like you can influence and inform strategic plans that balance current and future readiness in order to ensure the warfighter can win in Large Scale Combat Operations.”

The participants in the class will visit two JMC ammunition plants in the near future, and will have an opportunity to see firsthand how JMC and the munitions enterprise are committed to providing munitions readiness.

“We are grateful that JMC is collaborating with institutions like ours,” said Col. Ned Krafchick, MIS faculty member. “Because of JMC’s support, our students will gain a strategic perspective on the role of the munitions industrial base in supporting the capability requirements of national security, along with the impact of government policy on the munitions industry.”