Supply Manager at Lear Siegler Services, Inc.
Career Army logistician excels as a supply manager with government contractor Lear Siegler.
by Warren Duffie

Rommie Little is a study in attention to detail. As supply manager for Lear Siegler Services, Inc. — at the company’s mobility center in Killeen, Texas — he helps pump the life’s blood of that location.

Little oversees thousands of repair parts — from nuts and bolts to blowtorches and wrenches — for a team of mechanics, electricians, and painters. His mobility center is charged with repairing and refurbishing a wide range of aircraft and armored vehicles for the Army.

Each day, dozens of M1 Abrams tanks, Humvees, and other tactical vehicles arrive at the center, ready to be outfitted and polished for another tour of duty.

“We get vehicles from all over the world, including a lot from Iraq,” says Little, 50. “At the rate the Army is rotating soldiers, it doesn’t have the time to take care of these vehicles, so we’ve been contracted to provide 100 percent maintenance and repair. I would say we fix anywhere from 25 to 45 vehicles a week.”

To facilitate this fast-paced process, the former Army sergeant major arrives at work daily at 6 a.m. to review issues from the previous night and catch up on e-mails. At 7 a.m. the center’s mechanics arrive, and Little’s 30-person supply crew delivers the parts needed for the day’s repairs. The rest of his time is spent going over upcoming repair schedules, ordering new parts, and taking inventory of existing supplies. Sometimes Little doesn’t leave until almost 7 p.m.

“If it’s been bought by Lear Siegler or the government, I’m responsible for it,” says Little, who spent his military career in logistics and transportation. “Sometimes the days are long, but that’s alright. I served in Iraq — in the first Gulf War and Iraqi Freedom — and this last time I was with a unit that was in charge of food, water, and parts to soldiers in and around Baghdad. In combat, you know that anything can happen, so you have to be in a mindset of preparation. That really helps when you become a civilian.

“Also, the Army taught me other useful skills,” he continues, “including how to manage people and supply systems, effective time management, and the ability to multitask.”