Tobyhanna Army Depot Annual Event Helps Industry Connect with Opportunities

The private and public sector joined forces on August 24 for Tobyhanna Army Depot’s (TYAD’s) seventh annual Industry Day.

In its triumphant return to an in-person event, Industry Day offered over 150 representatives from local, regional and national businesses the opportunity to see TYAD’s vast and ever-evolving capabilities firsthand and learn about opportunities for partnering.

Attendees enjoyed comprehensive tours of TYAD’s facilities, networking opportunities, breakout sessions as well as an overview of Tobyhanna’s business and operations from TYAD Chief of Staff Kristyn Smith.

During her remarks, Smith noted the depot’s intense focus on the future.

“Modernization and the diversification of our portfolio are key to ensuring Tobyhanna is successful in the coming years,” she said.

Strategic Initiatives Office (SIO) Chief Katlin Edmunds also provided participants with a briefing on the partnering process, noting the collaborative aspect to public-private partnerships (P3s).

“P3s are a cooperative arrangement between an organic product support provider and one or more private sector entities to perform defense-related work, use Department of Defense (DOD) facilities and equipment, or both. Partnering is a cooperative effort, not a competitive engagement,” she said.

Attendees were then able to choose between breakout sessions that focused on either partnering or contracting. Sessions included a capability overview, information about Tobyhanna’s long-range strategic plan, TOBY2035, a modernization opportunity panel, installation services contract opportunities, mission operations support opportunities and base supply center opportunities.

TYAD subject matter experts briefed potential partners on the ever-evolving capabilities of the depot and the new and continuing partnership opportunities created through them.

Russell Keating III from the Powell Electronics Group said the event was valuable and informative – for both new attendees as well as those who have participated in the past.

“With over 25 years of experience and having visited TYAD over the years, one thing that’s evident is commitment to the same mission. Coming here as possible partners and reengaging, seeing requirements, and fostering mutual business opportunities was invaluable,” he said, adding that he appreciated the warm welcome attendees were given by Team Tobyhanna.

“From the moment I stepped foot onto the installation, everyone at TYAD was hospitable.”

Depot Commander Col. James L. Crocker provided closing remarks, underscoring the importance of teamwork between the public and private sector.

“Partnerships are extremely important,” he said, adding that these types of collaborations will help the United States remain a world leader.

Conducting the event on-post was critical to giving attendees the full experience of Industry Day, according to Chris Lupole.

“Being the first in-person TYAD Industry Day since 2019, there was a lot of excitement to network and discuss opportunities with our commercial partners. We jumped on the opportunity to host this event in-person again to allow the innovative minds of both the public and private sectors to collaborate more efficiently.” Lupole is a logistics management specialist in the SIO. The event was last held on-post in 2019; virtual events were held during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The SIO team urges attendees to remain engaged with Tobyhanna – today, tomorrow, and into the future.

“You are all welcome to come back to the depot for another visit focused on your specific interests. We look forward to working together to fulfill DOD goals,” said Edmunds.

Many Industry Day attendees said they left with a greater sense of the importance of partnerships to warfighter readiness and the attainment of organizational goals. Both TYAD and its partners and potential partners remain committed to exploring new ways to collaborate to offer heightened readiness at the best value to our nation’s warfighters.

The seventh annual Industry Day event is an initiative aligned with Tobyhanna’s long-range strategic plan, TOBY2035. The plan aligns with the depot’s four strategic focus areas: Investing in Our People, C5ISR Readiness, Shape the Future and Strategic Communications and aims to posture the organization for future success.