IDSE Senior Advisor McCoy wins lifetime achievement award in logistics

A South Carolina native, McCoy spent more than 35 years in the Air Force. He was stationed at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base three separate times, most recently from 2003 to 2006, when he was director of logistics and sustainment at the headquarters of Air Force Materiel Command.

A recently retained senior advisor to Wright State University’s Institute for Defense Studies and Education has received a top national honor in the field of defense logistics.

Maj. Gen. Gary T. McCoy, USAF, retired, received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Defense Logistics 2011 Conference in Washington, D. C. on Wednesday, Nov. 30. The award recognized McCoy as a visionary leader with extensive strategic and operational experience.

McCoy served in the United States Air Force for more than 35 years, retiring on Oct. 1 as commander of the Air Force Global Logistics Support Center at Scott Air Force Base in Illinois. In that position he managed a global operation with a $9 billion budget and more than 4,200 personnel.

McCoy said he accepted the award on behalf of all military, civilian and contract logisticians, especially those serving in remote locations far from family and home, many of them in harm’s way.

A South Carolina native, McCoy received his commission through the Officer Training School in July 1976 and served in a variety of command and staff assignments.

During his career he commanded a supply squadron and a logistics group, and he served staff tours at both major command and air staff levels. He also served as a deputy program manager, a joint duty officer with the Defense Logistics Agency and an air logistics center product director.

McCoy also was director of Logistics Readiness, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics, Installations and Mission Support, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.

At IDSE, McCoy is helping to develop educational programs that support the Defense Department, commercial industry and others by employing experts from government, the military, academia and the private sector. He will also help market IDSE to make military personnel and others aware of its programs.

“I’m especially thrilled to be able to join Wright State and IDSE and apply the education, skills and experience I’ve been able to receive over the years to help the next generation of logisticians and leaders for our military, our federal government and our nation,” he said.