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News | Sept. 3, 2021

Exceptional leader leads by example

By Dominique J. Shelton

Jason Elliott, chief of the Contracting Division in the Strategic Acquisition Programs Directorate at Defense Logistics Agency Aviation in Richmond, Virginia, was awarded the Defense Logistics Agency Aviation Leadership Award for the month of May.

This award recognizes DLA Aviation leaders that exemplify the four leadership traits deemed by the agency as the characteristics needed to be a good leader. These traits are referred to as the four dimensions of transformative leadership: idealized influence, inspirational motivation, intellectual stimulation and individualized consideration. 

Randall Dortch, deputy director for the Strategic Acquisition Programs Directorate nominated Elliott for the award, stating he is the ideal candidate because he is an exceptional leader who leads by example.

“Jason includes his team on complex assignments to allow them to learn from him as they complete the tasks together,” Dortch said. “He practices individualized consideration with his team as he coaches them to tackle initiatives with limited oversight.”

“I am extremely humbled and honored to receive this award,” Elliott said.

Elliott manages the Navy and Corpus Christi Army Depot Industrial Product Support Vendor Programs, which support more than 40,000 national stock numbers, collectively. The current performance of both programs exceed the 99% Bin Fill Rate metrics currently in place.

Elliott’s team also manages all strategic contracts for Pratt & Whitney (P&W), along with other long-term contracting actions associated with P&W military engines.

According to the award nomination, Elliott demonstrated the four dimensions of transformative leadership through a streamlined acquisition process which helped mitigate administrative workload, cost, and time aspects of working source approval requests for the customer.

Elliott interacted directly with the U.S. Air Force on numerous efforts supporting the TF33 aircraft engine, used on B-52 bombers and E-3 aircraft. Many of these efforts focused on contractual actions to improve sole source support. 

“Jason was instrumental in crafting competitive support contract structures to create competition and improve material availability,” Dortch said. 

One of these efforts included the solicitation of the TF33 tubes. TF33 tubes are the consumable metal tubing and metal tube assemblies used in the engine for a variety of purposes including fuel delivery, fire suppression and drain lines. This effort, developed in direct coordination with U.S. Air Force engineering, covers 356 TF33 tubes and tube assemblies. 

“I am thankful for a tremendous team of dedicated, self-starters, who all provide significant contributions to our team's mission,” Elliott said.  “It is a privilege to be in a position to lead such a team, and each of them truly make my job a joy.”