COLUMBUS, Ohio –
Secretary of Defense James Mattis announced Defense Supply Center Columbus as a 2017 recipient of the Commander in Chief’s Annual Award for Installation Excellence on May 8.
The award recognizes the outstanding and innovative efforts of the people who operate and maintain U.S. military installations. The five recipients of this highly competitive Presidential award represent the highest standards of Department of Defense mission support.
Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime has operational control over DSCC and is the installation’s largest tenant organization. DLA Land and Maritime employs more than 2,500 workers and manages approximately 1.9 million items in support of nearly 15,000 customers throughout the military services, civil agencies and other DoD organizations.
Other commands on the installation include the Defense Finance & Accounting Service (DFAS), the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA), the Armed Forces Reserve Center and the Navy Recruiting District of Ohio office.
“This is the highest award we can receive as an installation, but it’s really a testament to the quality of our team across the board,” said DLA Land and Maritime Commander Navy Rear Adm. Michelle Skubic. “With more than 8,000 Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and civilians at DSCC – we truly are a community. And as a community, we're committed to working together to make this installation a great place to serve and carry out our mission of warfighter support.”
Installations competed on how well they achieved departmental objectives in several areas of installation management that included quality of life, unit morale, energy conservation, environmental stewardship, safety and mission support.
DSCC’s notable accomplishments in 2016 included its second recertification as a Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) Star Site; a successful Feds Feed Families donation program that generated 30,475 lbs. of food items; enhanced gate security initiatives and a year-over-year reduction in installation energy consumption.
Dan Bell, installation site director, said this year’s energy reduction and conservation efforts were the best year for efficiency on record, surpassing the previous best year for energy reduction set in 2015. He said the installation consumed less energy due to several factors, including the use of light emitting diode (LED) fixtures in parking lots and structurally updated buildings.
“I give credit to our Installation Support employees who take pride in providing security, safety and quality of life programs at DSCC,” said Bell. “Our team of professionals continues to be good stewards of our environmental and financial responsibilities.”
This marks the third time in the past six years DSCC has received recognition in the Installation Excellence Awards, previously winning in 2013 and 2012.
Other 2017 recipients included U.S. Army Garrison Stuttgart, Germany, Marine Corps Base, Camp Lejeune, N.C., Naval Base Kitsap, Wash., and Barksdale Air Force Base, La.
Each winning installation will receive a commemorative Commander in Chief's Award trophy and flag, along with a congratulatory letter from the President of the United States.