Eller, DeCA’s logistics director, retires after 46 years

FORT LEE, Va. – When the COVID-19 pandemic began to take over the world in February 2020, the ability for the Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) to get products to its stores, especially overseas, became an enormous challenge.

For DeCA’s logistics director, Randall S. “Randy” Eller, it was never a question of if they could supply stores. Failure was not an option for the nearly 240 commissaries serving millions of service members and their families worldwide.

“COVID caused logistical challenges never experienced in any supply chain such as manufacturer shortages, personnel shortages and shipping delays off the East and West Coast from seven to 21 days,” Eller said, “and as a result we started airlifting product to ensure our customers had ample product in both the Pacific and Europe – and we’re still performing airlifts when needed today.”

Eller, who retired Dec. 31, has been the agency’s logistics guru since May 2019. Jerry Hall, deputy director of logistics and chief of the overseas distribution division, was named acting logistics director effective Jan. 1.  

Eller’s leadership during COVID was crucial to the agency’s ability to deliver the benefit, said Michael J. Dowling, DeCA deputy director and COO. Dowling presented Eller with the DeCA Civilian Career Service Award at the agency’s Fort Lee headquarters.

“Our logistics system was tested beyond measure in the early days of COVID,” Dowling said, “and under Randy’s direction, expertise and dedication, we weathered the initial storm and effectively served our customers.

“Randy has served this nation well in more than four decades in uniform and as a government civilian,” he added. “We wish him all the best in his retirement.”

As the agency’s logistics director, Eller oversaw the operations and business processes of eight overseas central distribution centers, the central meat processing plant in Europe, management and accountability for operational store and CDC equipment and supplies, and the agency’s distribution and transportation operations supporting nearly 240 commissaries in 13 countries, and 800 employees.

Eller applauded his logistics teams at headquarters, central distribution centers in Europe and the Pacific, and the central meat processing plant in Germany for performing “above and beyond any and all expectations during these challenging times” to coordinate product airlifts, work with distributors and overcome delays receiving new equipment and parts to maintain existing machinery.

“Their outstanding efforts and dedication to our patrons ensured product was available throughout this crisis,” Eller said. “Additionally, we received outstanding support from our senior leaders who ensured we had the resources necessary to keep the product flowing.”

In his previous assignment as the deputy director of logistics, Eller was responsible for managing operational equipment and supplies, the agency’s distribution and transportation operations, property book division, and the recycling and food bank division.

Eller has more than 46 years of combined military and civil service. He began his commissary career as an enlisted airman assigned to the Air Force Commissary Service (AFCOMS) and culminated a 20-year Air Force career as a senior master sergeant and served as a store director for commissaries at Fort Belvoir, Virginia; Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida; Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina; and Royal Air Force Bentwaters United Kingdom. He also served as the site commander of the troop support mission for Operation Provide Comfort in Northern Iraq and Operation Restore Hope in Mogadishu, Somalia.

He is the recipient of the Superior Service Award, the Office of the Secretary of Defense Medal for Exceptional Civilian Service, six Office of the Secretary of Defense awards for excellence and numerous DOD and military service awards.

Eller credited his career to experience gained in challenging assignments worldwide as a store director, a zone manager in Europe, and later headquarters positions of leadership including chief of the then Grocery Center of Excellence and in logistics. 

“My most profound times are opportunities DeCA presented to me in developing my career path,” Eller said. “As I leave, I just want to say a very special ‘THANKS’ to all of the outstanding personnel who have assisted me in my career for the last 46 years – you’re the best!”

-DeCA-

About DeCA: The Defense Commissary Agency operates a worldwide chain of commissaries providing groceries to military personnel, retirees and their families in a safe and secure shopping environment. Commissaries provide a military benefit, saving authorized patrons thousands of dollars annually on their purchases compared to similar products at commercial retailers. The discounted prices include a 5-percent surcharge, which covers the costs of building new commissaries and modernizing existing ones. A core military family support element, and a valued part of military pay and benefits, commissaries contribute to family readiness, enhance the quality of life for America’s military and their families, and help recruit and retain the best and brightest men and women to serve their country.