DLA CENTCOM and SOCOM News

Head and shoulders image of a man wearing camo uniform with patches outdoors.

Feb. 14, 2022

TAMPA, Fla. — Blending industrial and tactical safety principles into operations is paramount to success in military operations, and a DLA Support Team-Middle East safety and occupational health specialist is helping to do just that.

Dec. 22, 2021

DLA CENTCOM & SOCOM commander visits DLA Distribution Bahrain

NEW CUMBERLAND, Pa. — U.S. Army Col. Gerard Acosta, commander Defense Logistics Agency Central Command and Southern Command, visited DLA Distribution, Bahrain Nov. 3, to receive a tour of DLA Distribution Bahrain facilities and learn more of what the distribution center offers, specifically to DLA CENTCOM & SOCOM.

One woman and two men stand in front of a white wall with plaques behind them.

Nov. 29, 2021

Tribute to heroes display honors DLA employees lost, injured in war on terror

FORT BELVOIR, Va. — A new Tribute to DLA Heroes display honors one current and three former employees who were injured or killed in the war on terror.

Nov. 5, 2021

WWII veteran’s grave rediscovered thanks to DLA Land and Maritime associate’s efforts

COLUMBUS, Ohio — A Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime employee is generating a lot of buzz around the world this week. Army veteran and DLA Land and Maritime Customer Account Specialist Nathan Reynolds is being lauded across the globe for his instrumental efforts to rediscover the gravesite of World War II veteran Arthur Lewis and ensure the delivery of a proper gravestone marking his service.

A group of men and women in BDUs pose in front of a tank in Afghanistan.

Nov. 1, 2021

DLA CENTCOM & SOCOM celebrates 18 years of warfighter support

TAMPA, Fla. — DLA CENTCOM & SOCOM celebrated 18 years of support to warfighters in the Middle East and U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. The regional command is recognized as a battle-hardened organization with a combined workforce of joint warfighters and expeditionary civilians working alongside CENTCOM and SOCOM staff in a complex environment.

Variety of naval vessels in the Arabian Gulf

Aug. 6, 2021

Disposition Services refuses to let the pandemic sink its naval support

BATTLE CREEK, Mich. — Defense Logistics Agency Disposition Services recently partnered with the U.S. Navy to provide disposal requirements for current operations on multiple vessels in the Central region even through a global pandemic.

June 16, 2021

Disposition Services Central director wraps up tour of duty

BATTLE CREEK, Mich — Lt. Col. Jason Logan’s tour as Disposition Services Director of Central Region comes to an end.

Smiling family of four with one young girl and young boy look at the camera.

May 5, 2021

DLA CENTCOM & SOCOM employee champions women’s causes through pageantry

FORT BELVOIR, Va. — Andrea Forester from DLA CENTCOM & SOCOM will compete for the Mrs. U.S. Continental title in June with the goal of helping women gain economic independence and personal growth through nonprofits like Dress for Success and EmpowHERment.

Contractor employees at DLA Disposition Services' Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, site work together as one manages the hoses supplying the cutting torch used by his colleague as they demilitarize a large mine-resistant, ambush protected vehicle.

March 16, 2021

New approach helps avoid backlogs

CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait — The Defense Logistics Agency Disposition Services site at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, cleared a hurdle Feb. 28 when the last two mine-resistant ambush protected vehicles from a large backlog were cut up for disposal.

Pieces of excess building materials arrive at the DLA Disposition Services site at Bagram, Afghanistan.

Feb. 22, 2021

Afghan operations making milestones

Defense Logistics Agency Disposition Services employees have been serving in Afghanistan in support of U.S. forces deployed there and noted significant milestones for DLA in the past few weeks.

Teresa Cowell operates a rough terrain container handler to move a container that arrived Jan. 27 at the Battle Creek Michigan Air National Guard Base.

Feb. 15, 2021

Battle Creek team helps equip Central operations

BATTLE CREEK, Michigan — Defense Logistics Agency Disposition Services employees at global sites often count on colleagues in Battle Creek, Michigan, to ensure essential equipment they need like the team who helps keep the specialized equipment site staffs rely on getting to where it is needed.

Jan. 15, 2021

Leadership change at DLA Support Team Kuwait – Distribution’s Rozzell accomplishments lauded

NEW CUMBERLAND, Pa. — Navy Cmdr. Mark Rozzell relinquished command of Defense Logistics Agency Support Team-Kuwait to Navy Cmdr. Chris Thompson in a virtual change of command ceremony Dec. 10.

Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Samson McLester lead a Jan. 6 team meeting at DLA Disposition Services in Qatar to discuss an upcoming professional development seminar/morale & team building event.

Jan. 12, 2021

Senior enlisted leader honored by Defense Logistics Agency

BATTLE CREEK, Mich. — A Defense Logistics Agency award has gone out to Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Samson McLester, a senior enlisted leader, for his service in 2020.

Nov. 30, 2020

Kuwait-based disposal representative named employee of quarter

BATTLE CREEK, Mich. — Honner Raul Carbajal-Sanchez was recently honored for his contributions to the agency’s property disposal operations in the Middle East.

The commander presents the honoree with a departure plaque.

Sept. 1, 2020

DLA CENTCOM & SOCOM, DLA Energy Middle East bids Cruz farewell

MACDILL AFB, FL — DLA CENTCOM & SOCOM and DLA Energy Middle East bids farewell to Edwin J. Cruz during a retirement ceremony July 31 at MacDill AFB. Cruz retired after 34 years of federal service.

As the sun sets, airmen from the Air Force’s 48th Rescue Squadron get the chance to practice their extrication skills in the dark during a July 31 training session at the DLA Disposition Services yard at Kandahar, Afghanistan.

Aug. 10, 2020

Vehicles offer final service as rescue trainers

KHANDAHAR, Afghanistan — Defense Logistics Agency employees at Kandahar, Afghanistan, combined their roles of supporting the warfighter and ensuring the proper disposal of excess equipment to host recent field training for a local Air Force unit.

July 16, 2020

McBeath is appointed first civilian acting commander of DLA Support Team — Afghanistan

NEW CUMBERLAND, Pa. — Defense Logistics Agency Distribution’s Debra McBeath was appointed acting commander, DLA Support Team — Afghanistan, by Army Col. Hattie L. Richardson, commander, DLA CENTCOM & SOCOM, June 26.

Ten NATO bulk fuel carriers received at DLA Disposition Services' Kandahar site await their end.

June 17, 2020

Agency aids NATO disposal needs

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan — Defense Logistics Agency personnel in Afghanistan not only support the equipment disposal needs for U.S. forces, but they also answer the call for NATO items.

Navy Petty Officer Second Class Jhunar Medenilla, a new PACE member, performs an ammo abatement inspection on a vehicle during his recent deployment to DLA Disposition Services site at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan.

Dec. 30, 2019

Keeping disposal safe with inspections

Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan — Some things you absolutely have to get right because mistakes can be too costly. Making sure vehicles turned-in for disposal do not contain any hidden surprises is one of those things.

Navy Cmdr. Robert Kurkjian (center), commander of the DLA Support Team – Afghanistan, listens as Navy Lt. Cmdr. Steve Harrell, officer in in charge of DLA Disposition Services-Afghanistan; briefs Army Maj. Gen. John Sullivan, new commander of the 1st Theater Sustainment Command.

Aug. 9, 2019

New commander tours Bagram site

Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan — Defense Logistics Agency employees at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, recently welcomed the new commander of the 1st Theater Sustainment Command for a visit.

A variety of chairs await transport from the DLA Disposition Services site in Bahrain to the local Red Crescent Society where they will help those in need.

May 6, 2019

Excess items avoid landfill to help people in need

Naval Support Activity Bahrain — It took more than luck to complete a long and challenging donation process to provide excess items to Bahrain’s Red Crescent Society, but the charity’s local leaders recently wished good fortune on Defense Logistics Agency employees there for extra efforts from agency employees to provide support.

Robert Helgeson (left), U.S. Central Command’s deputy director for logistics and engineering, listens as LaTanya Callahan (center), area manager, and Navy Cmdr. Max Becker, officer in charge of DLA Disposition Services in Afghanistan, explain yard operations.

Jan. 10, 2019

Bagram staff shares mission info with senior logistics leader

Bagram, Afghanistan — Defense Logistics Agency employees serving in Bagram, Afghanistan, had the chance to enhance warfighter trust and get their New Year off to a good start with a visit from a senior logistician on the U.S. Central Command staff.

DLA Disposition Services materials examiner and identifier Jeremy Liehr was named Defense Logistics Agency Employee of the Quarter in October for serving as agency equipment manager in Afghanistan.

Oct. 12, 2018

Liehr named DLA Employee of Quarter

JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. — Jeremy Liehr, a materials examiner and identifier for the DLA Disposition Services at Lewis site, was recently named one of three Defense Logistics Agency Employees of the Quarter.

U.S. service members board a C-130H at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia. The 386th moved an average of nearly 8,000 passengers a month throughout the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility in support of Operation Inherent Resolve.

Aug. 28, 2018

DLA CENTCOM & SOCOM ensures warfighter support to those with the toughest missions

Fort Belvoir, Virginia — DLA CENTCOM & SOCOM ensures warfighter support to those with the toughest missions.

Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician 3rd Class Ben Holden, left, assigned to Task Group 56.1, and a member of the Royal Navy of Oman prepare explosives during Exercise Safe Handling 2017. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Sean Furey)

Dec. 28, 2017

DLA expands Middle East vendor pool with workshop for Omani businesses

To help local businesses in Oman learn how to work with the U.S. government, DLA joined U.S. Central Command and the State Department in hosting a workshop for potential vendors.