FORT LEE, Va., 2014-12-12 — /EPR Retail News/ — Scott Hill, former Camp Pendleton Commissary, California, store director has been promoted as DeCA’s Zone 18 manager, filling a vacancy left when the zone’s former manager Ken Chastain moved to be DeCA’s Zone 35 manager.
The changes took place in August and September. Chastain, who moved in August to his new office at the Kadena Air Base Commissary, Okinawa, oversees 14 commissaries in Japan, 10 on the mainland and four on Okinawa. Zone 35 stores had combined annual sales of $208 million in fiscal year 2014.
“On the job now for more than three months, Ken has been using his solid leadership abilities to strengthen his team in Japan,” said David Carey, Pacific Area director. “I’m confident in Ken’s abilities to take this already strong zone to even greater levels of sales and service.”
In addition to serving two years as Zone 18 manager, Chastain served four years as Zone 30 manager in the United Kingdom. He began his commissary career in 1981 as a sales store checker at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, and quickly moved into the ranks of management where he has enjoyed a series of progressively responsible assignments.
Chastain replaced Bruce Graf who is now Zone 13 manager in Hawaii.
As Zone 18 manager, Hill oversees eight commissaries in Southern California with an office hub at March Air Reserve Base. Zone 18 stores had combined annual sales of $122 million in fiscal 2014.
“Scott is a good fit for the zone,” said Terry Batenhorst, West Area director. “He is well respected by the many employees he’s worked with over the years, and he has already begun to develop a renewed sense of dedication and excitement to serve our customers.”
Hill moved into the zone manager position in September after serving for six years as store director at Camp Pendleton. He has also been store director of the Anchorage Area and Fort Wainwright commissaries in Alaska.
He began his commissary career in 1992 as a sales store checker at Naval Base Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and moved into management in 1998 as an assistant store manager at Camp Humphreys, Korea. For the next nine years Hill worked in commissary management positions at Osan Air Base, Korea, at Fort Lewis and Whidbey Island, Washington, and for two years as store manager at Camp Pendleton.
NOTE: To see a photo of Ken Chastain and Scott Hill visit, please visit our Flickr page.
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. Authorized patrons purchase items at cost plus a 5-percent surcharge, which covers the costs of building new commissaries and modernizing existing ones. Shoppers save an average of more than 30 percent on their purchases compared to commercial prices – savings amounting to thousands of dollars annually. 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.
Media Contact:
Kevin L. Robinson
(804) 734-8000, Ext. 4-8773
kevin.robinson@deca.mil