FORT BELVOIR, Va. –
After a two year pause due to COVID-19, four former employees were inducted into Defense Logistics Agency Energy Hall of Fame in a ceremony at McNamara Headquarters Complex, Fort Belvoir, Virginia, March 22.
Michael Broderick, former Business Process Support Directorate director, and Lula Manley, former Small Business associate director, were inducted into the class of 2020. Former DLA Energy Counsel Martin Harty and former DLA Energy Quality Technical Deputy Director Lee Oppenheim were inducted into the class of 2021.
“This is a special day for us here at Energy where we honor the lives and legacy of the best among us – who continually went above and beyond the call of duty and made sacrifices to the Energy mission and its people,” said DLA Energy Deputy Commander David Kless who presided at the ceremony. “Many of these inductees pioneered the practices and systems that impact the way we do business today.”
The four inductees join the previous 20 distinguished members of the DLA Energy Hall of Fame. Collectively, these four newest members served a total of 111 years Federal service and 99 years of service to the Warfighter in DLA.
Michael Broderick served in various capacities over the course of his 42-year military and federal civilian career with the U.S. government, 12 years of which were with DLA Energy as a civilian. Broderick played a critical role in moving the DLA Energy supply chain into the DLA Business Systems Modernization Enterprise. He successfully oversaw the Energy Convergence project, which provided unprecedented integration of two Business Enterprise solutions that will sustain DLA Energy’s expert management of the petroleum supply chain for years to come.
“A big thank you to all those I worked with over 17 years at DLA Energy,” Broderick said. “I would like to thank all those who were of the Energy Convergence Office, especially the core members. For these people to lend their support to that mission is something I will be eternally grateful for.”
Lula Manley was the associate director of the Office of Small Business Programs. She helped develop and implement the Paperless Ordering Receipt Transactions Screen System and was instrumental in the transfer of ownership of DLA Energy assets under the capitalization process. She planned and hosted Small Business Networking and Training Conferences, designed to increase offerings and competition across all programs. Her coworkers described her as a patient and knowledgeable leader, mentor and teacher who believed it was imperative that all her employees and protégés learn everything they could about the acquisition process, policies, and procedures from the ground up.
Theodore “Ted” Jones worked for Manley for many years and holds her in high esteem.
“Several of Ms. Manley’s employees attended the hall of fame ceremony, which is a testament to her extraordinary work ethic, her ability to train, mentor and encourage her employees to excel in all aspects of their endeavors,” Jones said. “She encouraged us not just to excel in work but also in life. We were truly honored to share this moment with Ms. Manley.”
Martin Harty served as the chief counsel for DLA Energy from 1975 through 1988 and was later appointed to a prestigious position, as a Judge on the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals in 1990. Harty was responsible for hiring attorneys who later became leaders in DLA Counsel for Energy, including three former Chief Counsels, two former Deputy Chief Counsels, one Supply Chain Counsel, and one senior employment counsel.
“Mr. Harty’s leadership created a legal office that epitomized DLA’s values of diversity and inclusivity,” said retired DLA Energy Supply Chain Counsel Howard Kaufer. “Mr. Harty was an excellent mentor and ensured that attorneys received the training needed to practice law and serve the Agency in a practical and ethical manner.”
Lee Oppenheim’s distinguished 42-year career was spent entirely with DLA from 1976 to 2018. His years spent as a chemist and quality assurance representative provided the creditability and experience to offer educated opinions and recommendations for solving problematic issues. As the Quality Technical deputy director, Oppenheim led the way through conversion from JP-8 to commercial jet fuel and overcame emergent global challenges like the “Apple Jelly” phenomenon, an issue with filtration and additives affecting jet fuel availability and readiness. As a chemist himself, he always displayed keen technical understanding of product specification requirements and the consequences of non-conforming product effects on operations.
“Lee met the hard challenge for earning industry’s respect through his valuable contributions,” said Steve Sturgeon, deputy director of DLA Energy Quality Technical Directorate. “In conferences and symposiums, such as the American Petroleum Institute, Lee was regularly sought out by attendees for his expertise.”
Although in person attendance for the ceremony was limited due to COVID protocols and restrictions, nearly 50 colleagues, family members and friends attended. Three previous Hall of Fame members were also in the audience including inaugural members of the 2016 DLA Energy Hall of Fame, Don Peschka and Bill Robinson, and Kay Bushman a member of class of 2019.
The DLA Energy Hall of Fame was established to honor and preserve the memory of past associates for their exceptional leadership, service, dedication to duty and contributions in supporting the DLA mission.