COLUMBUS, Ohio –
Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime acquisition personnel at Procurement Process Support and Land Supplier Operations received enterprise-wide recognition at the 53rd Annual Employee Recognition Awards. This week features two award profiles as part of ongoing coverage of Columbus’ award recipients:
DLA Acquisition Workforce Individual Achievement Award: Linda Allensworth
Linda Allensworth is a first line Supervisory Contract Specialist in the Supplier Support Division within DLA Land and Maritime’s Land Supplier Operations. For her efforts, Allensworth received DLA’s Acquisition Workforce Individual Achievement Award.
As the leader of the E-Buy team, which consists of acquisition professionals located at DLA Land, as well as embedded at four different U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps industrial sites, Allensworth “strives daily to understand the urgent requirements of the Warfighter and works to develop timely acquisition solutions to address and alleviate shortcomings in their overall readiness posture,” her nomination stated.
A few key contributions during the nomination period included the acquisition of T-107 track parts for Red River Army Depot, tow bars and shock absorbers to support the M1 Abrams Main Battle Tank, as well as numerous buys to support the M88 HERCULES Recovery Vehicle Engine program at Anniston Army Depot. Her efforts contributed to increasing fleet readiness and ensured a steady flow of parts to these programs.
Allensworth was credited with leading her team to excellence. Her team completed over 2,800 Customer Direct requirements of an emergency nature within DLA Land and Maritime. Allensworth individually supported various initiatives to include inventory buy-back from a major distributor to satisfy fleet non-mission capable requirements in support of the Warfighter. She led her team to award manual buys to prevent production line shutdowns at the Army and Marine Corps Depots. In addition to her emergency buy team focus, Allensworth was a key player in processing hundreds of delivery order modifications within the Price Pending team. She provided revised processes, which allowed the team to process modifications in a prompt, and more efficient manner. Her individual contributions resulted in a reduction of delivery order processing time. Finally, Allensworth was a key player in a Continuous Process Improvement event to map the start to finish process for Industrial Depot Support. Through the mapping, she identified items that culminated into a final out-brief resulting in improving overall support, material availability and predictability to all the depots.
“Linda has also proven to be an excellent steward of the taxpayer’s dollars with her sound judgement in managing and controlling expenses, which is truly an art form when immediate need often comes at a premium price/cost,” her nominator noted. “As a routine practice, Linda strives to partner with industry with the desired goal of ensuring DLA obtains the right part, at the right time, for a fair and reasonable price, while also ensuring that her industry counterpart receives an appropriate profit for their efforts.”
DLA Acquisition Support Professional of the Year: Lilli Hopson
Lilli Hopson is the Chief of the Contract Review Branch within DLA Land and Maritime’s Procurement Process Support Directorate. In this role, Hopson works in an organization that is responsible for a variety of programs, initiatives, and special projects. Her contributions and leadership had a significant impact on acquisition mission success. For her efforts, Hopson received DLA’s Acquisition Support Professional of the Year Award at the 53rd DLA Annual Awards released virtually in January.
“Hopson has diligently worked, over her 36-year career, to become an expert in the contracting field and has earned her highly regarded reputation,” her nomination stated. “She has also done an excellent job of building strong relationships and networking effectively…She is always ready to break through roadblocks to resolve issues and does so with diplomacy and professionalism; maintaining her poise even when facing a difficult situation. Lilli has demonstrated that she is a strong and effective leader at Land and Maritime.”
Among her accomplishments, Hopson’s knowledge in procurement policy and contracting strategies enabled her to consult directly with the acquisition community. She is also committed to continued process improvement and constantly looking for more effective ways to support the acquisition workforce and ultimately the warfighter.
Hopson’s focus on providing support to the acquisition workforce through developing innovative solutions to immediate challenges, while preserving the integrity of the contracting process has led to exceptional mission accomplishment. Her nominator credited her support to the General Dynamics Land Systems Integrated Platform Support contract which led to developing a multifaceted approach to ensure long-term coverage of sole source items, as well as her role on the Interconnection Equipment Contract.
Another key accomplishment was related to obtaining quotes for items supported through Maritime Customer Operations Nuclear Enterprise Support Office using an existing contract type. “DLA Land and Maritime needed a comprehensive knowledge of the contract in order to determine the feasibility of and mechanics involved in ordering,” her nomination said. “Ms. Hopson meticulously reviewed the contract and the supporting guidance document and, with the help of her team, developed four courses of action regarding the challenges.” When the courses of action didn’t pan out, Hopson went back to the drawing board and engaged with key players to set up an agreement to support the purchase of spare parts. The effort spanned many months and countless hours of research and coordination and Hopson’s nomination stated it will streamline future purchases of this type and allow Land and Maritime to more efficiently support the Warfighter.
Hopson is also responsible for the Land and Maritime Contracting Officer Warrant Program which establishes a standard framework for the selection, appointment, termination and reinstatement of contracting officers. The program currently manages 657 warrants and is on track to complete 242 warrant actions this year. Lilli ensures compliance with all Enterprise requirements and actively provides feedback to the headquarters program manager. “Hopson uses her expert knowledge in procurement policy, contracting and data management to execute a successful program,” her write-up noted. “Through training, mentoring, and sharing best practices she strives to enhance the success of each member of the greater acquisition community.”