FORT BELVOIR, Va. –
Editor's note: This year's Department of Defense Black History month theme is "African Americans in Times of War." Throughout the month of February, DLA Energy will highlight a few employees who go to great strides to support the warfighter.
What is your job title, and what do you do? I am the commander of DLA Energy Middle East located on Naval Support Activity, Bahrain. Our organization is the forward element for DLA Energy in the Middle East Region. We provide bulk petroleum and industrial gas support to Department of Defense, Department of State, other Federal agencies, and Coalition Forces (when directed) in support of full spectrum operations within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility.
We provide "End to End Support" to our customers operating at the strategic, operational and tactical levels. On a daily basis, we maintain the bulk fuel supply chain in order to fuel the warfighter. In addition to energy-related products, DLA Energy ME provides quality and technical support services through a talented team of Quality Assurance Representatives. The QAR team inspects our sites, vendors and fuel to ensure our customer receives quality products. Lastly, our international agreement section coordinates and interacts with regional partners to develop host nation support which increases our capabilities in the region.
If you could go back in time, what would you tell yourself about the future? At the age of 18, I was in a hurry to grow up and see the world, and I was naïve to the challenges that laid ahead. I would go back and tell myself to slow down. I would encourage myself to enjoy every moment of life. Lastly, I would tell myself to relish the best of times and to learn from the worst of times while always staying positive and pushing forward when times get tough.
What advice would you give today’s workforce? Do not let race be an excuse for not achieving your goals. Although, we (America and the world) still face challenges in regards to inequality whether it is based on race, gender, financial status, and so on, there have been drastic improvements over the last 50 years. I continue to see positive change. Do the best with the things you can control. Hard work, discipline and doing the right thing have nothing to do with race. Having elected a black President should be motivation that we can achieve anything.
Have you had an influential mentor in your career? I have been very fortunate to have several mentors throughout my life. Some are in the military today, some work for Fortune 500 companies, some are retired military and some are even members of my family. Having someone to call on for advice was critical to my growth in the military and in my personal life.
How are you paying it forward? Being a mentor is part of my daily life. As a commander, I set an example to my organization at all times. Ultimately, my conduct paints a picture and can serve as a positive model for subordinates and peers to emulate. In addition, I have former employees and officers that call me for advice, recommendations or just when they need someone to vent to. Providing mentorship to others, as it was provided to me throughout the years, is very rewarding. If you don’t have a mentor get one. If you need a mentor, give me a call.
If you could have a conversation with a civil rights activist, who would it be and why? If I had a conversation with a civil rights activist, it would be Harriet Tubman. Nicknamed "Moses," most of us know her for her famous acts of bravery rescuing slaves through the Underground Railroad. However, did you know that she worked for the Union Army as a cook, a nurse, an armed scout and even a spy? Even after years of rescuing slaves, she continued to find other ways to support freedom for all. Despite the risks, she continued to put herself in harm’s way to fight for the ultimate right: freedom. Toward the later part of her life, she even promoted women’s suffrage, advocating for women’s right to vote. Harriet was a remarkable human being. If she was here today, I would thank her for setting such a high standard for future civil rights activists. I would also thank her for her for bravery and selfless service to help a great America.