FORT BELVOIR, Virginia –
A relinquishment of command ceremony marking the transition of leadership between Defense Logistics Agency Energy Commander Air Force Brig. Gen. Martin Chapin to the DLA Energy Deputy Commander Guy Beougher was held in the Headquarters McNamara Auditorium May 1.
The DLA Director Army Lt. Gen. Darrell K. Williams hosted the ceremony. Attending the ceremony was the Honorable Robert McMahon, Assistant Secretary of Defense Logistics and Materiel Readiness.
“I think we can all agree that we want a leader who commands our respect, who takes care of the workforce and who inspires the organization and its people to new heights,” Williams said. “Without question, Brig. Gen. Chapin has been that kind of leader. Together with an incredible workforce, he has accomplished remarkable things.”
In his keynote remarks, Williams spoke of Chapin’s servant leadership and how the servant leader shares power, puts the needs of others first and helps people develop and perform to the highest levels possible.
During the ceremony, Williams presented Chapin with the Defense Superior Service Medal for exemplary service during his time as DLA Energy commander. Among many accomplishments, the award included the global delivery of more than 200 million barrels of fuel, 35 million cubic feet of helium and 13 billion kilowatt hours of electricity to military and federal customers around the world. Chapin led the best two years of sustainment, restoration and modernization with the repair of 259 fuel tanks; double the amount repaired during fiscal years 2014 and 2015.
“He reinvigorated existing partnerships and delivered unparalleled results to combatant commanders,” Williams said. “He tackled U.S. Pacific Command’s Trans-Korea Pipeline logistics system initiative to ensure guaranteed future access to this key fuel transport capability on the Korean peninsula and focused the DLA Energy staff on the development of a Global Petroleum Distribution Plan, which will provide the Department of Defense with a holistic, globally synchronized fuel concept of support.”
In his remarks, Chapin thanked the Energy workforce and his staff for their outstanding support.
“I have a great sense of gratitude for a couple of outstanding years here at DLA … and I want to say thanks to a whole host of folks,” Chapin said. “I was told once by a mentor, you can never say thanks enough, but you should absolutely try. There is no greater dedicated group of people to the warfighter than the Energy workforce.”
Chapin, who served as the DLA Energy commander since July 2014, departs Virginia for his next assignment in Kabul, Afghanistan, where he will be both the deputy to the Deputy Chief of Staff Support, Resolute Support, and director of CJ4 United States Forces-Afghanistan.
A member of the Senior Executive Service, Tier II, Beougher is filling the role of acting commander until the new commander, Air Force. Brig. Gen. Albert G. Miller arrives in the fall.