NEW CUMBERLAND, Pennsylvania –
DLA Distribution’s outgoing Future Operations deputy director Navy Supply Corps Cmdr. Steve Macdonald was honored with the Defense Meritorious Service Medal for his accomplishments from May 2014 to June 2017 on June 6.
Before presenting him with the award, Perry Knight, DLA Distribution chief of staff, highlighted some of the qualities that he admired in Macdonald, citing his volunteer work and willingness to get any job done. “Steve, I’ve always admired your loyalty and dedication. You have always been steady.”
While serving as deputy, Macdonald led an integrated team of 100 civilian and military personnel through numerous transformational projects that ensured the accountability of a 2.5 billion-item inventory worth $111 billion dollars.
He also directed daily activities to provide prompt warfighter support and ensure shipment of 8.5 million doses of flu vaccines to Department of Defense installations and ships to assure force readiness across all services.
He consistently empowered personnel to seek innovative solutions and focus their efforts on simplifying processes to improve both efficiency and accuracy. For example, he led his team to better define emerging technology requirements to automate distribution operations for strategic distribution platforms in the future.
A native of Arlington, Virginia, Macdonald enlisted in the Navy in 1985. Upon completion of his initial enlisted commitment, he transferred to the United States Navy Reserve. He graduated from The University of Texas at Arlington, Texas, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism/Public Relations. In 1996, he was commissioned an ensign in the Supply Corps, United States Navy Reserve.
Macdonald was recalled to active duty during Operation Allied Force in 1999, and served as assistant logistics officer, Commander for Air Mediterranean, Naples, Italy. He requested to stay on active duty and served as stock control officer and customer service officer on the submarine tender USS Emory S. Land, home-ported in La Maddalena, Italy. He reported to Program Executive Office, Submarines, Naval Sea Systems Command in 2002, and was assigned as assistant financial officer to the Virginia Submarine Program.
In 2002, he completed Business Financial Management Level II Acquisition certification and Program Management Level I certification and augmented from United States Navy Reserve to the United States Navy.
As supply officer aboard the guided missile destroyer USS Porter, Macdonald’s supply department earned three consecutive Supply Blue “E”s, contributing to two Battle “E”s. He extended his sea tour to make a Mediterranean deployment.
In 2008, he earned a master’s degree in Business Administration with a concentration in port and maritime management from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia.
Reporting to DLA Distribution Susquehanna, Pennsylvania, in May 2008, he volunteered to deploy to Taji, Iraq to advise the Iraqi Army at their national supply and distribution center. Upon returning from Iraq, he led the Base Realignment and Closure project and Military Construction Strategic Recapitalization Plan until assignment as executive officer in September 2010.
Macdonald reported to Naval Supply Systems Command headquarters in February 2011 as deputy budget officer, also worked in pricing, performance-based logistics, and inventory management. He reported to ASN (FM&C), FMB in March 2012 and completed two budget cycles for Navy Working Capital Fund.
Upon his departure from DLA on June 23, Macdonald will report to the Naval Sea Logistics Command in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, as executive officer.