RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas –
A former U.S. Army sergeant who has served the Defense Commissary Agency for 25 years, most of those in Europe, is the Randolph Commissary's new store director.
Juan Rodriguez, a Puerto Rico native who grew up in Elizabeth, N.J., assumed his new role in December after serving in the same position at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey.
"I'm very excited about being here," he said. "I look forward to a long-lasting relationship with the community."
Mr. Rodriguez spent 15 years in Europe, including stints at the Sembach and Ramstein Air Base commissaries in Germany. He served the Ramstein Commissary as deputy director.
"The best thing about being overseas is experiencing different cultures," he said.
Mr. Rodriguez said being a store director requires "a lot of hard work, dedication and patience." He said a store director's biggest challenge is "ensuring there is the right product on the shelves to meet the needs of the customers."
The Randolph and Incirlik commissaries are comparable in size, but it's easier to stock the shelves here, said Mr. Rodriguez, who has worked stateside at Redstone Arsenal, Ala., and Fort Campbell, Ky.
"Turkey was a challenge logistically," he said. "Many products had to be trucked in from Germany."
Mr. Rodriguez said another advantage for Randolph is the ability to carry more products, especially those that are locally available, because DeCA does not offer own-brand merchandise.
"We have a wider selection of products compared to what's overseas," he said.
Mr. Rodriguez added the Randolph Commissary's customer base also differs from Incirlik's.
"The majority of our customers are retirees, so their needs are different," he said.
Shopping at a commissary can offer real savings for beneficiaries, Mr. Rodriguez said.
"Commissaries are government-funded, nonprofit institutions," he said. "We sell products at cost plus 1 percent, so that represents a 30 percent savings over most grocery stores outside the gate."
The Randolph Commissary workforce features 109 employees, including 33 who work full time, Mr. Rodriguez said.
"Here we have great diversity in the workforce," he said. "There are all ages and nationalities and they all work very well together."
Mr. Rodriguez said one of his goals as store director is to "increase sales and bring more awareness of the commissary's benefits."
"I'm excited about the potential of this store and all the great employees we have here," he said.
Now that he and his wife, Vicky, have had a chance to experience different cultures overseas, he said they look forward to the "opportunity to be able to travel in the continental United States."