BATTLE CREEK, Mich. –
The pandemic created a lot of challenges and opportunities for Defense Logistics Agency Disposition Services, especially how the workforce interacted with its customers as most were face-to-face pre-pandemic.
DLA Disposition Services Law Enforcement Support Office, also known as the 1033 program, was just one of many programs that had to adjust how it interacted with its customers and also how it hosted its annual national training seminar.
Annual LESO conferences are mandated by law and have been held virtually since the pandemic, but as positive COVID rates continue to decrease around the United States, the LESO program was fortunate to host its first in-person annual conference this August in Battle Creek, Michigan.
“This year was very successful - we had 95 participants attend the conference,” said LESO Branch Chief Brett Johnson. “Hosting the annual conference virtually is possible but it is not as conducive as an in-person event.”
LESO allows participating Law Enforcement Agencies the ability to acquire certain excess Department of Defense property that would otherwise be destroyed. LEAs review DOD inventories online and submit requests.
To facilitate this program, governors appoint coordinators who oversee program participation. Those state coordinators then assign LEA points-of-contacts, those individuals oversee their respective law enforcement agency’s program participation.
An annual seminar, geared especially towards these select individuals, helps review the aspects of the program to ensure guidelines are properly understood and followed by participating agencies.
A main topic for this year’s conference was Executive Order 14074 – Advancing Effective, Accountable Policing and Criminal Justice Practices to Enhance Public Trust and Public Safety, and how it affects the LESO program.
“An important takeaway from this year is implementing the requirements under Executive Order 14074 and refreshing the state coordinators on the proper procedures and functionality of the program,” said Johnson.
Other topics covered included how to enroll in the 1033 program, account management and provisioning system website overview, inventory adjustments, modifications, change of status and how to return property to DLA, and more.
Around the nation, there are more than 7,000 federal, state and local LEAs enrolled in the LESO program. For more information about the LESO program, visit the
LESO homepage.