- Excelling in Professional Development
By WGCDR Colin Marshall
FLTLT Andy Foster
Changes in Supply Chain management over the last ten years has meant that, in order for those in the RNZAF Supply Branch and trade to remain current with latest practices and processes, a significant amount of effort has been devoted to continuing with professional development. Taking the latest emerging commercial practices and applying them, where appropriate, to the military environment, enables those supporting military air operations to do so as effectively and efficiently as possible.
Last month, two RNZAF Supply personnel - Flight Lieutenant Foster and Leading Air Craftsman Barber - were formally recognised by external training institutions as being at the top of their fields. They were able to undertake their studies by utilising the professional development opportunities offered by the RNZAF including Branch and Trade sponsored external courses and the Voluntary Education Study Allowance scheme.
For those of you considering undertaking professional development, there is no doubting it is hard work, but the professional and personal results are worth it.
Congratulations to both of you!
Flight Lieutenant Foster
Flight Lieutenant Andy Foster completed a Master in Engineering, specialising in Integrated Logistics Management, at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) in 2008, as part of the Supply Officer Development Course. His thesis was on Logistics Integration in the NZDF Major Capability Acquisition Process.
RMIT selected FLTLT Foster as the 2009 recipient of the Head of School Prize for the School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering. The prize is awarded to the student with the highest academic performance grade point average (GPA) in the final year of any Masters Coursework programme. FLTLT Foster also received the Vice-Chancellor’s List Award in 2008 for finishing in the top two percent of RMIT higher education students.
LAC Barber receives her certificate
FLTLT Foster is currently employed within the Directorate of Defence Logistics in Defence Headquarters, putting his training to good use developing and implementing NZDF Integrated Logistics Support policy.
Leading Air Craftsman Barber
LAC Jennifer Barber is currently completing her final paper towards a Graduate Diploma in Logistics and Supply Chain Management at Massey University, and has had her academic achievements acknowledged by making the Dean’s List. LAC Barber’s achievement places her in the top two percent of students enrolled at the College of Business.
LAC Barber is currently employed within the Expeditionary Support Squadron at Air Movements Auckland, where she is able to apply the principles of logistics (sub-specialisation Air Movement) such as centralised control, regulation, flexibility and maximum utilisation of transport resources.