DISPOSAL DIVISION, PERSONAL LISTING G. L. Pettingell, Lt. (j.g.)-Disposal Division officer. R. E. Gray, Ensign-Prospective Disposal Division officer, presently serving as delivery officer. Name Gregory, Frederick J. Cascone, Rocco P. Civilian personnel PERSONAL HISTORY STATEMENT OF LT. (JG.) G. L. PETTINGELL Prior to assignment to active duty the writer was engaged in various retail selling enterprises and served aboard various merchant ships in the capacity of assistant purser and purser. It is believed that experience gained in the merchant marine as to nomenclature dealing with and information pertaining to machinery, machine tools, spare parts, and GSK items, has proved valuable in exercising the duties of disposal officer. After attending the Supply Corps School at Bayonne, N. J., the writer was assigned to COMCRUDESPAC aboard the U. S. S. Dixie, AD-14, as an assistant staff supply officer; then to the U. S. S. Proton AKS-28 as ship's supply officer; and finaly to the U. S. S. Chevalier, DDR-805, as supply officer. It is believed that retail selling experience and merchant marine service, in combination with the Navy background, comprised largely of sea duty, has helped make the job of disposal officer an easier one in that the writer has had the oportunity to view disposal problems from a buyer's, seller's and donee's standpoint. PERSONAL HISTORY STATEMENT OF ENS. R. E. GRAY (PROSPECTIVE DISPOSAL DIVISION OFFICER) Due to the fact that my father was a supervisor of heavy duty construction work, I became familiar and interested in machinery and equipment used in all phases of construction and maintenance projects. I worked during school summer vacations at various jobs connected with this type work, and being mechanically inclined, gained practical knowledge concerning materials, equipment and machinery and their related uses. From 1945 through 1950 I was steadily employed aboard merchant marine vessels where duties made it mandatory that I become familiar with all types of parts, stores, machinery, etc., necessary for the efficient operation and upkeep of ships. These duties also included supervision of personnel and preparation of paperwork required in connection with purchasing supplies, repair work, and overall operation. From 1950 to date of entering active naval service (1953) was employed by a steamship company ashore, in a supervisory capacity, under direction of the marine superintendent. Among other duties, I was responsible for maintaining satisfactory labor relations between the employees collective bargaining unions, and company; became familiar with warehousing and storage, due to large amount of ships stores and revenue cargo handled, and acquired a general knowledge of business administration. I worked in close association with the deck, engineering and steward's departments and through this association bebecome familiar with problems encountered when handling supplies and equipment (requisitioning, surveying, issuing, etc.) used by these components. From May 1953 to November 13, 1953, attended the Navy Supply Corps School at Bayonne, N. J., and there received instruction concerning the overall Navy supply system. This course included disposal functions to the extent of instructions contained in Bureau of Supplies and Accounts Manuals and outlined both practical and theoretical methods utilized in disposal of Navy material. The course also included the methods of fiscal accounting employed by surveying activities and activities receiving the material. From November 16, 1953, to present date, I have acted as depot delivery officer; authorizing the delivery and checking out of material purchased by commercial concerns from the Disposal Division. These materials consisted of that sold at our auction sale of November 4, purchases arising from closed bid sales, etc. During this time also, I have been under instruction, concerning all phases of the Disposal Division operation, by the depot disposal officer and the property disposal civilian supervisor, in preparation for assuming the duties of Disposal Division officer. PERSONAL HISTORY STATEMENT OF F. J. GREGORY, PROPERTY DISPOSAL OFFICER Prior to my entering civil service in 1941 I had 18 years of experience as machinist in shipyards on repair and installation of main and auxiliary machinery on shipboard and in shops; 5 years as bookkeeper and salesman. I hold a merchant marine engineer's license of unlimited tonnage. Upon entering civil service I became associate principal inspector of material at the Kearny Shipyard, having charge of the installation of all main and auxiliary machinery in the fire and engine rooms of destroyers, cruisers, transports, and cargo carriers. I was transferred to Bayonne to set up and coordinate the present Disposal Division. I have been property disposal officer for over 8 years. As civilian head of the Disposal Division I am technical consultant and legal adviser to the disposal and sales officer and the Survey and Disposal Board. I am alternate disposal and sales officer and in the absence of the disposal officer assume full responsibilities of the Division. I am responsible for the planning, technical information, and advice, administration, coordination, and management of the 4 branches and 6 sections comprising the Division. I direct research projects on the storage, transportation, preservation, identification of surplus material, and the arranging of sales. I advise and direct specific phases of operation in connection with material pertinent to the aeronautical, ordnance, automotive, electrical, and mechanical fields. This I do without instruction or aid, acting entirely on my own, using my special knowledge of the various fields to devise procedures. I advise and make recommendations on all problems that arise in the Materials Branch, Identification Branch, Reporting Branch, and the Sales Branch. I personally must contact representatives of commercial organizations and other governmental activities to keep them informed of the material for disposal through sales that I arrange and for bids. The full responsibility of completing a project, from the preliminary investigation of material through to the final recommenadtions as to disposal through sale or through survey is vested in me. In addition to the above the Disposal Division is the authorized selling activity for all activities in the 3d Naval District except those activities on Long Island and acts as technical consultant and advisor on all matters pertaining to sales. As there are no established practices or methods to which I may turn when initiating a procedure, I must depend entirely on my initiative, ability, and knowledge and not upon standard static practices. My technical background and practical experience have proven highly essential to the efficient operation of this Division. As specific problems on material and equipment are encountered in the field, I prepare comments and recommendations to be submitted to cognizant bureau. I also submit recommendations for the establishment of new procedures and standard methods on the acceptance of new material or equipment any of which will improve the existing practices in the Disposal Division. I attended Clason Point Military Academy Prep School and have completed Government courses in radiography at Columbia University, foundry practice at Stevens Institute of Technology, marine engineering at New York University, diesel engineering and diesel fuel injection at City College of New York. SURVEY OF MILITARY SUPPLY MANAGEMENT AND SURPLUS PROPERTY DISPOSAL PRACTICES THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1953 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, MILITARY OPERATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE Cheli Air Force Depot, Maywood, Calif. The subcommittee met at 10 a. m., at Cheli Air Force Depot, Maywood, Calif., Hon. R. Walter Riehlman (chairman of the subcommittee) presiding. Present: Hon. R. Walter Riehlman, chairman of the subcommittee, and Hon. Chet Holifield, member of the subcommittee. Also present: Hon. Clyde Doyle, Representative, 23d District, State of California, United States House of Representatives. Also present: Michael P. Balwan, staff director; Robert T. Morris, staff member; Harold Lane, field secretary to Congressman Holifield; and Miss Ida Reynolds, field secretary to Congressman Doyle. Present from the Department of Defense, Washington, D. C.: Col. William H. Smith, Deputy Chief, Investigations Division, Directorate of Legislation and Liaison, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force (Special Department of Defense representative accompanying subcommittee). Present from Cheli Air Force Depot, Maywood, Calif.: Col. Walter S. Lee, commander; Lt. Col. Donald J. Green, Director of Supply; Robert S. Shean, PSAF resident auditor; Maj. Thomas M. Clark, Comptroller; Maj. Damon A. Vernon, Chief, Materiel Control Division, Director of Supply; Sidney M. Heyser, Deputy Comptroller; Kenneth Porter, Assistant Chief, Materiel Control Division, Director of Supply; Mrs. Belle Wynn, Unit Chief, Statistics, Management Branch, Director of Supply; C. F. Butler, Chief, Disposal Division, Director of Supply; and R. L. Horton, Management Analysis Officer, Comptroller's Office. Present from Headquarters, Air Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio: Col. W. R. Betz, Chief of Disposal Task Group, Directorate of Supply and Services. Present from General Services Administration Regional Office, San Francisco, Calif.: Clarence W. Hull, regional counsel; and William A. Kern, Los Angeles Branch Office. Mr. RIEHLMAN (chairman of the subcommittee). The subcommittee will be in order. Colonel Lee, would you like to say a few words about the general mission of the depot before we get into more specific questions about your disposal program here? 41957--54- -38 Colonel LEE. Mr. Horton, from our comptroller's office, has prepared a complete presentation for the subcommittee covering both the general operation of the depot and the disposal operation in particular. I shall be here throughout the hearing and, of course, shall be happy to answer any questions that I can. So, if it is agreeable to you gentlemen, I think it might be well to start with Mr. Horton's presentation. Mr. RIEHLMAN. Thank you, Colonel Lee. If there are no objections, then, we shall have Mr. Horton's presentation. Would you proceed please, Mr. Horton. STATEMENT OF R. L. HORTON, MANAGEMENT ANALYSIS OFFICER, COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE, CHELI AIR FORCE DEPOT, MAYWOOD, CALIF. Mr. HORTON. Good morning Congressman Riehlman, committee members, Colonel Lee, and distinguished visitors and staff. In this presentation, we have attempted to cover those points of most interest to the committee. We have made charts, tabular in nature, to give you to review, which have been reproduced and are included in the brochure which you have before you. This presentation is to provide for the committee an overview of the organization, primary mission, and disposal operation at Cheli Air Force Depot. Cheli is located in the heart of Los Angeles, surrounded by major aircraft manufacturers of the west coast. We have three Air Force terminals-Burbank, Long Beach, and International Airport at Los Angeles. We are served by three major railroads. At San Pedro and Long Beach we have one of the finest manmade harbors in the world. Los Angeles is one of the major centers for trucking in the United States. Here at Cheli we are responsible for shipment of certain classes of Air Force property to the western zone of the United States, to Alaska, the Far East, and the South Pacific. We have some of the finest facilities available anywhere in the Air Force, located on 395 acres of land, valued at $6 million, with 27 buildings, valued at $16 million, 31⁄2 million square feet of space of closed warehouses. For those classes of material which do not require cover, there are available 1.9 million square feet of storage space. On the base are 12.7 miles of railroad and paved roads equivalent to 30 miles. Mr. HOLIFIELD. It might be well to point out this land was obtained without cost to the United States Government. It was done by paying the Santa Fe Railroad Co. $2 and they do the shipping for us. Mr. HORTON. The depot's mission is to receive, store, account for, report, inventory, accomplish maintenance as required, and distribute equipment as applies in required quantities and at such times as may be designated to meet the depot supply program and directives from higher authority; to maintain equipment and supplies in sound operating condition; to insure the proper training of military and civilian personnel on duty at the depot; to prescribe methods of operation; and to insure by inspection that prescribed methods are used. We have achieved this mission by accomplishing zonal responsibilities for designated property classes, by operating a Government |