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News | April 16, 2019

Eliminating sexual harassment, assault a key goal director says at 5K run

By Beth Reece

Headquarters McNamara Complex employees gathered on one of the first warm afternoons of spring 2019 for a 5K run held to highlight Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month April 10.

Eliminating sexual harassment and assault is a key goal across the Defense Logistics Agency, DLA Director Army Lt. Gen. Darrell Williams announced in pre-run remarks. Employees have done a good job striving toward a workplace free of sexual violence but can’t rest on their laurels, he added.

Over 150 employees registered for the run. Though it may seem an unconventional way of bringing attention to such a serious topic, the event’s purpose was to promote awareness and show support for victims, said Renée Ferranti, DLA Sexual Assault Prevention and Response program manager.

“There’s such a stigma with talking about sexual assault that we have to make it palatable. This is something we thought people would enjoy opposed to training with Power Point charts, which can be a downer,” she said.

Employees can help fight sexual harassment and assault by being aware of resources such as sexual assault response coordinators available throughout the agency to assist victims and the DLA SAPR 24/7 hotline at 1-800-841-0937. A list of resources and program information is available at https://www.dla.mil/Info/SAPR.

“You can also support victims by listening, not being judgmental and believing them,” Ferranti continued. “Just be there for them and point them in the right direction.”

Winners are of the 5K are:

  • 1st place runner, male – Alex Cano, DLA Energy
  • 1st place runner, female – Diane Mogard, Defense Threat Reduction Agency
  • 1st place walker, male – Marcus Young, DTRA
  • 1st place walker, female – Shari Fuzzell, DLA