Okinawa DC Manager Retires After 40 Years of Service

Okinawa Distribution Center Manager Tomomi Kinjo has spent more than 40 years working for the Exchange, with 35 years at the distribution center. He worked his way up from starting as a material-handling equipment operator to become the first local national senior logistician in 2019.

Senior leaders from the Pacific Region gave Kinjo retirement mementos and kudos for his lasting service and dedication during his retirement ceremony.

Pacific Region Senior Vice President Karin Duncan awards Okinawa Distribution Center Manager Tomomi Kinjo a coin of excellence on behalf of Tom Shull, Exchange CEO/Director, for his  40 years of service and dedication. (U.S. Army Photo by Staff Sgt. Mark A. Kauffman)

Prior to the ceremony, Kinjo gave Lt. Col. Michael Kovalchek, the new AAFES Pacific Region commander, a short tour of the distribution center and explained their daily operations, which include delivering supplies to more than 480 Exchange facilities to include the main stores, Expresses and other stores that the Exchange operates.

Kovalchek was surprised to see how clean and organized the center was but was more in awe of the wall of associates who worked with Kinjo for the past 20, 25 and 30 years.

“It really shows me what type of leader he is when you see people working for a person for that long,” Kovalchek said. “People don’t stay that long unless you have the right person at the helm.”

Kinjo’s philosophy as a manager is the same as Exchange’s core value of family serving family. The way he treats his associates like family was evident during the ceremony, as he received multiple retirement gifts from store managers and fellow distribution center managers from Japan and Korea.

From left: Azusa Inoue, Human Resources personnel officer; Orfe Dussetschleger, chief of Employee Relations; David Swenson, Okinawa general manager; Lt. Col. Michael Kovalchek, Pacific Region commander; Tomomi Kinjo, Okinawa Distribution Center manager; Karin Duncan, Pacific Region senior vice president; and Sgt. Maj. Wayne Crudup, senior enlisted leader, pose with the Pacific Pride posture after Kinjo’s retirement ceremony Nov. 2 on Camp Kinser.  (U.S. Army Photo by Staff Sgt. Mark A. Kauffman)

He also earned a certificate of retirement signed by Tom Shull, AAFES CEO/Director, and his coin of excellence presented by Karin Duncan, Pacific Region’s senior vice president.

“I have known Kinjo for the past 11 years and he has been a fantastic manager,” Duncan said. “I never had to worry about our stores not getting their supplies because he has his team running like a well-oiled machine.”

Alan French, senior vice president of supply chains, can attest to the success and accomplishments due to Kinjo’s involvement and expertise over the years.

“I have known Kinjo-san for more than half of his career and he has been a big part of the success at the Okinawa DC,” French said. “He spent a great deal of time as the second person in charge and he has helped so many of our past American DC managers learn about our warehouse system and how to deal with our great associates in Okinawa. Kinjo-san’s leadership skills and passion for our business made us confident he would do an exceptional job managing the Okinawa Distribution Center as the DC manager.”

Now that Kinjo has more time on his hands, he plans to travel, go fishing and camping. For now, he wants to relax and fix up his 30 year-old house.

“I will definitely miss my family whom I worked with over 30 years,” Kinjo said. “I want to thank everyone from top to bottom, without their support, I would never have made it to 40 years.”