Hilario “Ben” Benavides, Jr.
Area Manager
DLA Disposition Services Eglin, Florida
Can you tell us about yourself?
I was born in Corpus Christi, Texas. I served in the U.S. Army from August 1976 to August 1996 and had an assignment with the 2nd COSCOM in Desert Storm/Desert Shield in Iraq. I earned a Bachelor of Business Management degree from the University of Maryland. I am married to Anneliese C. Dann of Munich, Germany.
I have 45 years of government/military service. I began my civil service career in August 1997 as a property disposal technician with the Defense Reutilization Marketing Office in Germany. My overseas assignments with DRMS were in the following positions: Property Disposal Technician (1997 - 1998); Property Management Branch Chief at DRMO Kastel, Germany (1999 - 2000); DRMO Chief Grafenwoehr/Nuernberg (2000 - 2002); DRMO Chief at Okinawa, Japan (2002 – 2006); DRMO Chief Al Asad, Al Basrah Iraq (June 2006 - November 2006); Disposal Service Representative Supervisor for the Central Region (2006 - 2007); Area Manager Kaiserslautern/Germesheim Hub (2007 - 2011); Operations Monitor/Special Project/Accountability Officer DLA Disposition Services Mid-America (2011 - 2013); Area Manager DLA Disposition Services Red River Texarkana, Texas (March 2013 - December 2013); Operation Monitor/Special Project/Accountability Officer Mid-America (2013 - 2018); Lead Environmental Protection Specialist DLA Disposition Services Eglin (2018 - 2019); Area Manager DLA Disposition Services Eglin, Florida (October 2019 - present).
Describe your job in a sentence or two. What do you do specifically?
I direct, manage and account for the entire successful operation of DLA Disposition Services Eglin. I’m responsible for the merchandising, marketing and financial management of property sales. This includes the management and promotion of reutilization, transfer and donation programs, foreign governments through FMS in compliance with local, state and federal regulations and abandonment and destruction or removal via service contracts.
How long have you worked for the federal government including military service?
45 years
How long have you worked for DLA Disposition Services?
25 years
What is your favorite memory with DLA Disposition Services?
When I deployed to Iraq joining my brothers and sisters and providing the best service I could.
What aspect(s) of your current job gives you the most personal satisfaction and why?
Personnel – understanding their wants and needs.
What is the best piece of advice someone has given you?
Never give up.
What kind(s) of training and education helps your work performance in your current role?
Metals identification, operation procedures, environmental procedures and completing my degree.
What would you say has been your major contributions to your organization this year in your job?
Hard work and always moving forward, don’t look back.
If you could speak directly to the warfighters you support, what would you tell them?
I am here for you 24/7 and don’t shy away. Let your fingers do walking “Call”.
Where do you see yourself five years from now?
Hopefully retiring.
Tell us something that most people might not know about you or your directorate?
I am animal person.
What is your best memory of working here?
Making changes for the better.
What was your first job?
Working at McDonalds.
Who’s your biggest influence?
My wife
Name your favorite/recent book(s) you have read.
“Who moved my cheese?” by Spencer Johnson.
What is your favorite quote?
One team, one focus!
What did you want to be when you grew up?
Lawyer
Who is your hero?
My wife
If you could choose to do anything for a day, what would it be?
President of the United States
What’s the most thrilling/adventurous thing you have ever done?
Sky diving