[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 111 (Friday, August 7, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1604]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          DEACTIVATION OF CASC

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. NICK SMITH

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, August 6, 1998

  Mr. SMITH of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the end 
of an era in the United States Air Force and in my district.
  On Friday, August 7, the Air Force Cataloging and Standardization 
Center (CASC) of Battle Creek, Michigan, will be deactivated from 
active duty at 0900. The functions of (CASC) will be incorporated as 
part of a new service-wide cataloging effort of the Defense Logistics 
Agency, known as the Defense Logistics Information Service (DLIS). CASC 
was the last remaining active duty Air Force facility in Michigan.
  CASC began cataloging operations in Battle Creek in 1973. This was 
the beginning of efforts to centralize all Department of Defense (DOD) 
cataloging in Battle Creek. In 1976, all Air Force cataloging functions 
were transferred to Battle Creek.
  The Air Force and CASC sought to encourage other branches of our 
Armed Forces and agencies to centralize their cataloging efforts in 
Battle Creek as well.
  Mr. Speaker, in 1996 the Office of the Secretary of Defense approved 
their idea to have the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) lead the new 
consolidated center and to deactivate CASC. That plan was finalized in 
March of 1997. This entrepreneurial spirit and their willingness to 
deactivate their unit for the greater good is simply the kind of 
innovative and decisive leadership CASC has shown over the years.
  CASC's Corporate Board developed a comprehensive strategic plan, 
putting customer service first. Independent customer surveys support 
this claim. Such efforts should be a role model for every federal 
agency.
  CASC's efforts to incorporate state-of-the art automation into their 
work processes led to a significant workload enhancements and improved 
efficiency throughout the organization. These significant 
modernizations reduced the work force by nearly 300 people, however, 
all reductions were done without any involuntary separations. CASC 
workers retired, resigned or were placed in other organizations.
  One of the technical accomplishments of CASC has been to identify 
crashed aircraft from the Vietnam War. CASC employees were able to 
match recovered aircraft parts to specific aircraft, making it possible 
to identify aircrews missing in action.
  In 1983, CASC established a helpline (call center) to provide Air 
Force personnel with answers to complex logistic information questions. 
CASC's call center exceeds industry standards in all categories.
  Over its twenty-two year history., CASC's innovative approach to 
cataloging has saved taxpayers over $60 million. the entrepreneurial 
spirit within CASC has led to agreements with non-DoD agencies such as 
the National Weather Service and the Federal Aviation Administration to 
provide cataloging services which have saved taxpayers $250,000 per 
year. Negotiations with further agencies continue.
  Such efforts has moved CASC away from measuring processes to 
measuring performance. Their efforts are a model for our entire U.S. 
Air Force to emulate.
  Mr. Speaker, as an Air Force veteran and on behalf of my constituents 
in Calhoun County, I am proud to offer this tribute in recognition of 
the accomplishments of the outstanding men and women of CASC.

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