DLA CENTCOM and SOCOM News

'Big data' means going beyond lists and figures to spot trends, potential problems and opportunities. Graphic by Paul Crank.

March 1, 2018

DLA creates new office to help data drive decisions

A new office at the Defense Logistics Agency will focus on getting more value of the data collected across the agency by analyzing the information and looking for ways the data can inform management decisions.

DLA Distribution Commander Army Brig. Gen. John S. Laskodi addresses the DDXX team at ISB Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas, after visiting DLA Distribution Corpus Christi, Texas, and other DLA personnel supporting relief after the catastrophic damage caused by Hurricane Harvey.

March 1, 2018

A Conversation with ... Army Brig. Gen. John Laskodi

Fort Belvoir, VA — DLA Distribution’s commander discusses the focus on modernization, metrics and deployable capability.

Craig Gravitz, left, of the DLA Information Operations innovation team, discusses a problem statement with Bob Dunlap, director of DLA Cybersecurity Operations, at the DLA Information Operations senior leader innovation boot camp in Springfield, Virginia.

March 1, 2018

Boot Camp, Bots and Business

Fort Belvoir, Virginia — Senior leaders at DLA developed potential technology solutions at a ‘boot camp’ hosted by DLA Information Operations.

Staff Sgt. Steven Lunn approaches the drop zone during his military free fall qualification jump over Paddy’s Field in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania.

March 1, 2018

DLA NewsWire

Fort Belvoir, Virginia — News highlights from around the agency.

Members of DLA’s rapid deployment Red Team go through team-building exercises to foster trust and communication skills on an obstacle course during mobilization training at Camp Atterbury, Indiana.

March 1, 2018

Civilians on the Front Line

Fort Belvoir, Virginia — DLA civilians volunteer for tough assignments around the world to give customers immediate help ordering and tracking supplies.

DLA Human Resources Director Brad Bunn shares his thoughts on the agency's new People & Culture Plan, along with other topics, Feb. 27 at the McNamara Headquarters Complex. Photo by Teodora Mocanu

Feb. 28, 2018

HR director talks changes, touts ‘Dynamite’ workforce

Brad Bunn, director of Human Resources for the Defense Logistics Agency, clarified aspects of the new performance management system, highlighted workforce changes and urged employees to participate in the forthcoming DLA Culture/Climate Survey, in a town hall at the McNamara Headquarters Complex Feb. 27.

Feb. 28, 2018

Commentary: 10 Dynamite Lessons From Napoleon

As DLA's director of Human Resources recently noted, important lessons can be gleaned from even such a lighthearted work as the 2004 comedy Napoleon Dynamite.

Additive manufacturing, also called 3D printing, gives DLA new options for keeping certain parts available.

Feb. 21, 2018

Leaders discuss strategies at additive manufacturing summit

The Defense Strategies Institute hosted military and civilian leaders from the defense department and private industry at the second Additive Manufacturing Summit in Tampa, Florida, Feb. 1-2.

Every year, for over six weeks, Document Services employees maintain a ‘round-the-clock pace to ensure critical documents reach their recipients before the year ends.

Feb. 20, 2018

End-of-year printing completed early and on budget

The Defense Logistics Agency completed the 2017 end-of-year printing for Defense Finance and Accounting Service ahead of schedule and on budget, marking the fifth year the agency has done the job. Over 4.8 million tax and account statements, 2.6 million ACA statements, and 2 million Retired and Annuitant newsletters were produced and packaged by DLA over just six and a half weeks.

DLA's participation in the WRP has almost tripled since 2015, from 38 to 100 slots.

Feb. 15, 2018

WRP gives supervisors pool of qualified candidates to fill workforce gaps, build stronger teams

Of the 1,010 WRP interns the agency has temporarily hired since 1995, 128 have been permanently hired through the noncompetitive “Schedule A” authority or the agency’s Pathways to Career Excellence Program, a two-year program designed to train entry-level personnel for subsequent advancement.

DLA employees in Northern Virginia will soon have a new area code and DSN prefix.

Feb. 8, 2018

DLA sites in Northern Va. to have new area code, DSN prefix

Defense Logistics Agency employees in Northern Virginia will soon be converting to a new area code and DSN prefix as part of the agency’s deployment of new telephone services.

Individual winners and teams pose according to their height achievements in the HQC Climb Mount Everest challenge.

Feb. 2, 2018

Headquarters employees reach great heights in fitness challenge

Twenty teams and 11 individuals tested their intestinal fortitude and structural integrity of the McNamara Headquarters staircases as they competed in the annual Climb Mount Everest challenge from Dec. 4, 2017, to Jan. 12, 2018. The event helps promote workforce resiliency, in line with the goals of the DLA People and Culture Plan.

Sexual assault response coordinators are available by phone every day, at any hour, to provide advocacy and crisis intervention.

Jan. 29, 2018

Sexual assault sees zero tolerance at DLA; advocates available any hour, any day

Sexual violence is among the most serious trauma a person can experience, yet it’s one of the most underreported crimes in the workplace. The Department of Defense is striving to eliminate sexual assault and sexual harassment, among civilians and military members — and the Defense Logistics Agency is at the forefront thanks to a robust Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Program.

Members of DLA’s rapid deployment Red Team brave the gas chamber to conduct a functions test on personal protective equipment during nuclear, biological and chemical training at Camp Atterbury, Indiana, Jan. 16-20.

Jan. 25, 2018

Rapid deployment ‘Red Team’ completes training, ready for future missions

The Defense Logistics Agency Rapid Deployment Team that spent five weeks in Puerto Rico helping orchestrate critical support to victims of Hurricane Maria has completed mobilization training in preparation of supporting other military and humanitarian missions around the world.

Jan. 24, 2018

Session raises awareness of recruitment program’s benefits

Defense Logistics Agency Equal Employment Office officials hosted an information session at the McNamara Headquarters Complex Jan. 18 for managers and supervisors eager to learn more about the Workforce Recruitment Program.

Army Lt. Gen. Darrell Williams, the director of DLA, remarks on the impact the King's letter had on the quest for civil rights and the resonance it continues to have on the national consciousness.

Jan. 18, 2018

HQC employees honor King’s memory with focus on ‘Letter From a Birmingham Jail’

McNamara Headquarters Complex employees honored the memory and work of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Jan. 17 with a video recitation of one of his most prominent writings, the letter he wrote from a jail cell after being arrested in Birmingham, Alabama, April 12, 1963, on charges of violating laws against mass public demonstrations.

Federal law enforcement officers undergo training at FLETC in Glynco, Georgia, where DLA officers recently received several awards.

Jan. 16, 2018

DLA Police officers earn top honors in federal training

Five Defense Logistics Agency police officers received seven awards on graduating from training at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center Jan. 2, a first for DLA.

From left: Marine Corps Reserve Maj. Jamie Fleischhacker and Rogelio (Roy) Diaz, DLA liaison officer for USSOUTHCOM take part in the final planning conference for Integrated Advance 17 exercise at U.S. Southern Command headquarters.

Jan. 11, 2018

Reservists help DLA expand exercise-planning capabilities

Members of DLA's Joint Reserve Force are helping plan DLA's joint and national training exercises.

Staff sergeant in ACUs standing with gifts in office, facing viewer

Jan. 10, 2018

Parents, children grateful for DLA holiday generosity via Adopt-a-Family

Thanks to the generosity of Defense Logistics Agency employees in the McNamara Headquarters Complex, 113 children from 37 families received Christmas gifts in 2017, as part of the annual DLA Adopt-a-Family program.

Steve Sherman receives his retirement plaque from DLA Information Operations Chief Information Officer Kathy Cutler Dec. 12, after 38 years of federal service.

Jan. 4, 2018

Document Services director retires after 38 years with organization

Steve Sherman, Information Operations’ Document Services director, retired Jan. 3 after 38 years of service. He was recognized for his service Dec. 12 at the Defense Logistics Agency Executive Board meeting, where he received a Distinguished Career Service Award.

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.

Donald Bartlett (right) receives the first Security Professional of the Year Award from Patrick Wright, staff director of Security and Emergency Services at DLA HQ.

Dec. 27, 2017

Investigative analyst is first Installation Support Security Specialist of the Year

An investigative analyst at Defense Logistics Agency Aviation in Richmond recently received the first-ever award recognizing the top civilian security specialist across all of DLA Installation Support.

Army Maj. Tracy Yates and a reenactor portraying a U.S. Army soldier who fought in the Battle of the Bulge pose with a period-correct 48-star American flag, Dec. 16 near Bastogne, Belgium. (Photo courtesy DLA Europe & Africa)

Dec. 22, 2017

DLA personnel brave Belgian cold, honor WWII heroes in memorial walk

Members of the DLA Europe & Africa team braved winter weather Dec. 16 to participate in the 40th Annual Bastogne Memorial Walk in Belgium, commemorating the heroic stand made by U.S. and British forces during the Ardennes Offensive — also known as the Battle of the Bulge.

Leadership from the 407th Air Expeditionary Group serve a Christmas meal to the Airmen and Marines deployed under their charge in Southwest Asia, Dec. 25, 2016. The service members deployed here are supporting Operation Inherent Resolve.

Dec. 20, 2017

DLA Troop Support sends holiday meals to deployed service members

PHILADELPHIA — Deployed service members will be able to enjoy a traditional holiday meal this Christmas thanks to the efforts of Subsistence supply chain professionals at the DLA Troop Support.

Army Reserve Lt. Col. Josh Van Eaton (center) meets with Army Maj. Heather Herbert (left) and Michael Lunceford (right), an administrative specialist in the DLA Office of General Counsel. (Photo by Dianne Ryder.)

Dec. 20, 2017

Award-winning attorney lends talents to DLA as reservist

A Justice Department lawyer serving his Army Reserve duty at the Defense Logistics Agency was one of three people awarded Federal Employee of the Year for 2017 for their work in the government’s lawsuit against Volkswagen Group.