Albany Herald

Photo by Barry Levine

ALBANY -- Maintenance Center Albany Commander Col. Terence Reid was all smiles Monday after being given the Manufacturer of the Year award by Albany Technical College President Anthony Parker and the Marine Corps Logistics Base.

"This award belongs to the dedicated Marines and civilian Marines of this facility," Reid said. "What we do is important, and we don't do it for recognition, we do it because Marines' lives depend on us."

Between 2006 and 2009, MCA was the largest vehicle assembler in the state of Georgia. MCA manufacturers, assembles and repairs war-fighting vehicles for the entire U.S. Marines Corps and is one of just two Marine maintenance depots in the country. The other is located in Barstow, Calif.

The MCA performs the necessary repairs, maintenance and retrofitting of military vehicles coming back from the Middle East.

"I am pleased that MCA has allowed ATC to maintain our long-term commitment to make MCLB an integral part of our community," Parker said.

ATC continually trains many of the maintenance center's skilled workers, from electricians and welders to mechanics and logisticians. To support the MCA and MCLB, Albany Tech developed a comprehensive Business Logistics Management program in 2006.

"Our mission is to provide our warfighters with simply the best equipment available," Reid said. "And Albany Technical College has played a big role in helping us provide that equipment."

The MCA was also nominated for state large Manufacturer of the Year honors, but Frito Lay of Perry won the award.

"I am pleased we were also nominated at the state level for MOY," Reid said. "But, to be recognized along with Georgia's large private manufacturers is still very special."