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News | March 12, 2020

DLA Disposition Services Mid-America looks at "What's next"

By Jeff Landenberger DLA Disposition Services Public Affairs

“What’s next” was the event theme as the Defense Logistics Agency Disposition Services Mid-America region held its annual leadership summit in February at Texas’ Red River Army Depot.

Members of a tour listen to a tour guide outside
A contractor at the Red River Army Depot, Texas, explains the demilitarization operation his company performs on behalf of the Defense Logistics Agency to attendees of the DLA Disposition Services Mid-America Leadership Summit. Attendees of the summit were a mix of the Headquarters leadership team and Mid-America’s leaders.
Members of a tour listen to a tour guide outside
Mid-America Leadership Summit
A contractor at the Red River Army Depot, Texas, explains the demilitarization operation his company performs on behalf of the Defense Logistics Agency to attendees of the DLA Disposition Services Mid-America Leadership Summit. Attendees of the summit were a mix of the Headquarters leadership team and Mid-America’s leaders.
Photo By: Jeff Landenberger
VIRIN: 200226-D-YU183-527

During his opening remarks, DLA Disposition Services Mid-America Director Joe Arnold said the summit theme would include three critical agency focus areas: Warfighter First, People & Culture and Compliance Readiness.

Arnold also announced that he had accepted a new position within DLA and introduced his successor, longtime South-East Region Director Kathy Atkins-Nuñez, who he had invited to the summit.

“I appreciated the invite and opportunity to participate in Mid-America’s leadership summit,” said Atkins-Nuñez. “I especially enjoyed hearing the leaders share what they do to motivate and inspire their teams to improve metrics and warfighter support, as evidenced when looking at the Disposition Services dashboard.”

Two people have a discussion in a warehouse
Kathy Atkins-Nuñez, DLA Disposition Services Southeast Region director and the next director of Mid-America discusses operations with Arthur Welsh, director of operations. The two were on a tour of facilities at DLA Disposition Services at Red River Army Depot, Texas. Photo by Jeff Landenberger
Two people have a discussion in a warehouse
Mid-America Leadership Summit
Kathy Atkins-Nuñez, DLA Disposition Services Southeast Region director and the next director of Mid-America discusses operations with Arthur Welsh, director of operations. The two were on a tour of facilities at DLA Disposition Services at Red River Army Depot, Texas. Photo by Jeff Landenberger
Photo By: Jeff Landenberger
VIRIN: 200226-D-YU183-510

“We exist to serve our customers,” Arnold said. ”We understand that they rely on Mid-America to convert their logistical requirements into efficient, innovative and responsive solutions.”

The summit offered a wide range of topics, including human resources, safety, business support, contracting and a Culture Action Team brief.

During the summit, Mid-America leaders and visitors from command headquarters discussed challenges the region faced. Summit attendees also toured Red River facilities including the warehouses and yard.

“We are just wrapping up a project that upgraded our warehouses,” said Cody Raley, the area manager for DLA Disposition Services at Red River. “They are now more secure, safer and energy efficient. This will allow us to support the warfighter in a safer manner and save taxpayers money.”

Two people set at a desk and listen to leadership summit
Joe Arnold, DLA Disposition Services Mid America director, in the green, and Kathy Atkins-Nuñez, DLA Disposition Services Southeast Region director and the next director of Mid-America, listen to one of the presenters at the Mid-America Leadership Summit. Photo by Jeff Landenberger
Two people set at a desk and listen to leadership summit
Mid-America Leadership Summit
Joe Arnold, DLA Disposition Services Mid America director, in the green, and Kathy Atkins-Nuñez, DLA Disposition Services Southeast Region director and the next director of Mid-America, listen to one of the presenters at the Mid-America Leadership Summit. Photo by Jeff Landenberger
Photo By: Jeff Landenberger
VIRIN: 200224-D-YU183-317
In addition to the DLA footprint, participants toured Red River facilities that flushed fluids from vehicles and demilitarized items.

“Mid-America’s team has developed many noteworthy processes and products to assist sites in meeting and exceeding mandatory taskers, deadlines, and metrics that are definitely best business practices to share and implement elsewhere,” Atkins-Nuñez said. “Meeting the leadership team was great, but the icing on the cake was getting a tour of Disposition Services’ Red River site, contractor-run operations and meeting the personnel who make it all run like clockwork for area manager Cody Raley. He’s got a great crew!”