During October 2022, Rear Adm. Peter Stamatopoulos, NAVSUP commander and 49th Chief of Supply Corps, joined other NAVSUP leaders and Rear Adm. Patrick S. Hayden, Readiness and Logistics director, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa (N4), for tour of a number of the CLS' facilities and to strengthen existing relationships with UK Navy's senior logistics leaders.
"This visit to our operational site at Defense Munitions Crombie has exceeded my expectations. Our NAVSUP FLC Sigonella team's capabilities at Site Crombie support Naval readiness and strategic goals for the future," Stamatopoulos said. "In our very productive discussions, I saw clear indications that our FLC Sigonella team and our UK Allies are pushing forward with urgency to increase maritime logistics capabilities in Scotland so that US and NATO commanders can have greater confidence operating in these waters."
Defense Munitions (DM) Crombie serves as a multi-faceted munitions depot and maintenance support operated facility that is managed by UK Ministry of Defense (MOD) civilian officials. It has a deep-water Ammunitioning Jetty and a deep-water channel to allow UK Royal Navy and US Navy warships and auxiliaries to moor for resupply.
UK MOD leases part of DM Crombie to NAVSUP FLCSI.
At the CSL, a team of NAVSUP FLCSI's military and civilian logisticians and transportation managers, along with their US and UK mission partners, deliver key products and services such as customs clearance, sustainment, fuel delivery, husbanding services, port visit coordination, warehousing, transportation, inter- & intra-theater cargo and mail distribution.
During calendar year 2022, NAVSUP FLCSI and their mission partners supported the logistics and re-supply requirements for deployed warfighters aboard Military Sealift Command's underway replenishment oiler USNS Patuxent (T-AO 201), dry cargo and ammunition ship USNS William McLean (T-AKE 12) and multiple US Navy ships comprising the Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group.
"Thanks to the tireless efforts of my NAVSUP FLCSI team and those of our growing logistics network of US and UK mission partners, Site Crombie is fast becoming a logistics center of gravity from which we can better facilitate end-to-end sustainment across Europe's High North region," said Capt. Douglas S. MacKenzie, NAVSUP FLCSI commanding officer.
The NAVSUP leaders' visit to its operational site at DM Crombie culminated with a tour aboard the Royal Navy aircraft carrier, HMS Prince of Wales, hosted by the Commanding Officer, Captain Richard Hewitt OBE Royal Navy.
"The UK places NATO and its relationship with our US Partners at the heart of Defense," Hewitt said. "Welcoming the US Navy Supply Systems Commander (NAVSUP) on board HMS Prince of Wales allowed us to continue to foster the relationships that are vital for UK Defense and NATO."
After departing Scotland, Stamatopoulos conducted a multitude of other engagements across Europe, the Kingdom of Bahrain, U.S. 6th and 5th Fleet areas of operations showcasing NAVSUP's and the Supply community's critical role in supporting US Navy readiness and strategic goals in the regions.
"On behalf of my NAVSUP FLCSI team, we are so grateful and honored to welcome Rear Adm. Stamatopoulos into our AOR," MacKenzie said. "We are eager and proud to show him other operational areas across USNAVEUR where my team is demonstrating every day their technical expertise and unwavering dedication to accomplish our important NAVSUP mission."
As NAVSUP commander, Stamatopolous is responsible for an organization and community of more than 25,000 military and civilian personnel who provide responsive logistical support to U.S. and allied naval forces worldwide, through a global network with a presence in more than 17 countries and 21 states, districts, and territories. As Chief of Supply Corps, he is responsible for community management of more than 3,500 active and Reserve Supply Corps officers and more than 23,000 active and reserve enlisted personnel. He also serves as supported commander of Naval Sustainment System - Supply (NSS-S).
NAVSUP FLCSI is one of eight FLCs under Commander, NAVSUP. Headquartered in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, NAVSUP employs a diverse, worldwide workforce of more than 25,000 military and civilian personnel. NAVSUP and the Navy Supply Corps conduct and enable supply chain, acquisition, operational logistics and Sailor & family care activities with our mission partners to generate readiness and sustain naval forces worldwide to prevent and decisively win wars. NAVSUP FLCSI operates across 14 enduring and forward operating sites; forward contingency and cooperative security locations in 13 countries in Europe and Africa.