INDUSTRY INTERVIEW: SAIC

MLF 2009 Volume: 3 Issue: 9 (October)

Doornink’s Army active duty career spanned a variety of command, logistics leadership and staff positions across all echelons. Most notable was her assignment as deputy commanding general and director of operations for Surface Deployment and Distribution Command, where she directed surface deployments of U.S. forces to Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as their surface sustainment support.

Q: Tell us a little about your company.

A: Given our breadth of expertise, our company description says it best: SAIC is a Fortune 500 scientific, engineering and technology applications company that uses its deep domain knowledge to solve problems of vital importance to the nation and the world, in national security, energy and the environment, critical infrastructure, and health. The company’s approximately 45,000 employees serve customers in the U.S. Department of Defense, the intelligence community, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, other U.S. government civil agencies and selected commercial markets. SAIC had annual revenues of $10.1 billion for its fiscal year ended January 31, 2009.

Q: Please provide some background on your company and the company’s work with DoD in the logistics arena.

A: SAIC has provided logistics services to the DoD for the past 25 years, and is focused on delivering solutions that enable DoD logisticians to meet the warfighters’ needs. As the Army’s mine resistant ambush protected joint logistics integrator [MRAP JLI], SAIC integrates diverse logistics elements from manufacturers, government supply systems, and commercial suppliers with the operational requirements of the warfighter to provide overarching logistics solutions. Military logisticians need the same technology advances that SAIC has delivered to warfighters: better intelligence sensors and communications networks; quicker and more reliable data; tools for supply chain planning, tracking and management; and analytical capabilities to battlefield decision-making.

At the same time, they need the best demand forecasting, total asset visibility, and just-in-time inventory supply chain solutions from the commercial sector to ensure the right item arrives at the right place at the right time. An example of this is depot level aircraft support. For this, SAIC combines demand forecasting and just-in-time inventory planning to ensure that aircraft depot mechanics don’t wait for parts—when maintenance is required, a part is there, ready to satisfy that requirement.

At SAIC, we deliver these things and more as part of our commitment to give logisticians the technical edge needed to support the warfighter.

Q: As a major player in the military logistics arena, how does SAIC plan to focus on meeting key DoD logistics objectives?

A: SAIC’s experience supporting deployed forces such as the MRAP JLI has given us a keen understanding of the challenges of continuous operations. The dynamic nature of evolving requirements stresses the traditional systems but also enables innovation and improvement. Combining the technology available with functional knowledge supports customer outcomes.

With significant budget constraints on the horizon, we believe that the lessons learned from our MRAP effort and other programs have shown us new ways to help our DoD customers attain the configuration management, integration and cost control that they require.

Q: What new programs is your company working on in partnership with DoD, agencies and the military services?

A: We of course are continuing our work with the MRAP and similar efforts. We also have a multitude of other initiatives that include improved management tools to help decision-makers achieve the enterprise level perspective that they seek for more comprehensive decisionmaking. From my perspective, in the logistics area, SAIC’s motto of “Science to Solutions” really does translate our scientific and engineering expertise to excellence in support at the tactical and operational levels.

Q: What are the main challenges facing your company in meeting the needs of the 21st century warfighter?

A: SAIC’s challenge is to continue helping customers get the maximum benefit from every dollar as they continue to provide comprehensive defense of the nation with declining budget support. In the logistics and modernization areas—we certainly understand the challenges and will continue to provide leadership in finding new and improved ways of delivering capability across the enterprise. ♦

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