IU-UNC LogMBA Student Receives the 2011 Defense Logistics "Beyond the Call of Duty: Logistician of the Year Award"

CHAPEL HILL, N.C., Dec. 1, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- At the 8th Annual Defense Logistics Awards Ceremony held last night in Arlington, VA, Capt Kazimir Kostrubala, USAF, Operations Officer, 19th Logistics Readiness Squadron, 19th Airlift Wing, Little Rock Air Force Base, won the 2011 Defense Logistics "Beyond the Call of Duty: Logistician of the Year Award."  The Defense Logistics awards ceremony has been established to honor, recognize and promote the logisticians in the US Department of Defense and the Defense Industry that have made a significant contribution to military logistics. These logisticians support interoperability and transformation through logistics initiatives/programs/processes.

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The award is based off Capt Kostrubala's successful IU-UNC LogMBA applied project in which he conducted an in-depth production analysis, restructured shift capacity, and implemented variable work-hour models to improve Aerial Delivery load production by 48%. The project also resulted in an increase of operational capability by 32% meeting the increased demand and reducing the need for a then-planned $1.7M facility among other significant financial benefits to his organization. The initiative reallocated previously unused labor ($113,000/year) to a new training program, resulting in a 70% cut in production qualification time. The cut allowed for a 20% increase in Aerial Delivery operations tempo, directly supporting the increased use of life-saving Aerial Delivery down-range.

Captain Kostrubala directs operations for the over 500-person 19th Logistics Readiness Squadron providing logistical support to the 19th Airlift Wing, 314 AW, the 463 AG, and 19 associate units. He manages a $21M stock fund, a 575-vehicle fleet, and $139M worth of supplies and in-use equipment. He directs operations for an aerial port and passenger terminal and ensures $26M in fuels support is available for the peacetime and rapid wartime deployment of the base's 72 C-130 aircraft. Responsible for the largest Aerial Delivery function in the Air Force, he oversees operations which build, load and reconstitute 876 tons of aerial delivery equipment annually for the training of 432 aircrews across 72 C-130 aircraft for 3 services and 4 nations.

Van Noah, Program Director, IU-UNC LogMBA Program noted, "This award reflects how Capt Kostrubala has really embraced the business knowledge and concepts in the MBA program. He and his classmates continue to use their new skill sets to improve the business of supporting those who defend our nation."

Capt Kostrubala's dedication to the U.S. military is not only apparent in the number of training programs he established to improve efficiency and effectiveness, but also in the "Adopt a School" program he created with a local elementary school and the Logistics Officers Association for community outreach and mentorship to 606 children in a low income district.

Capt Kostrubala will graduate from the IU-UNC LogMBA, an Institute for Defense and Business program, on December 15, 2011.

About the IDB:
The Institute for Defense and Business (IDB) is a non-profit research and education institute formed in 1997 by UNC-Chapel Hill and the state of North Carolina. The IDB offers a series of educational programs for the military, government, non-governmental agencies, and private sector, in the areas of logistics, life cycle management, organizational change, and stabilization and economic reconstruction.

For more information on the IU-UNC LogMBA program please contact Zebrina Warner, Program Manager at [email protected] or call at 919-969-8008.

SOURCE Institute for Defense and Business