NEW CUMBERLAND, Pa. –
“One of the most experienced and knowledgeable personnel, not just within Distribution, but across DLA” is how DLA Distribution deputy commander Twila Gonzales, Senior Executive Service, described deputy chief counsel John Fritz at his August 21 retirement ceremony celebrating his 39 years of service to the federal government.
This was just one of the many accolades lavished on Fritz during the ceremony, which was a small gathering consisting of his closest friends, mentors and disciples, all reminiscing on his notable career paths- both military and civilian.
Graduating from Norwich University in 1974, Fritz went on to receive his Juris Doctor degree from Syracuse University College of Law in 1977 and was admitted to practice law in the state of Pennsylvania.
He joined the United States Army Reserves in 1978, completing the Infantry Officer’s Basic Course at Fort Benning, Georgia. He served as weapons platoon leader and company executive officer in Bristol, Pennsylvania, until 1979 and was then admitted to practice law in Massachusetts and transferred to the Judge Advocate General’s Corps in 1980.
He served in an active duty capacity as assistant command judge advocate at Fort Ritchie, Maryland, from 1980 to 1983, during which he rose to the rank of Captain.
In 1983, Fritz began his career as an attorney for the federal government, serving as counsel at Letterkenny Army Depot in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, and then, in 1985, he transitioned to DLA, serving as counsel at the former Defense Depot Mechanicsburg until April 1991. He joined Defense Distribution Region East (now DLA Distribution) that same year as assistant counsel, a position he held until 1998.
Parallel to his civilian career, Fritz continued to rise through the ranks of the Army Reserves. Upon his release from active duty in 1985, he was assigned to the 315th Engineer Group in New Cumberland, Pennsylvania, as assistant staff judge advocate and, later, staff judge advocate. From 1989 to 1996, he was assigned as chief, Administrative Law at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania, and promoted to the rank of Major. This time also included a year-long special active duty assignment supporting Operation Desert Shield/Storm, during which he supervised a legal station in support of mobilizing soldiers.
In 1995, he was assigned as senior legal advisor, Office of the Staff Judge Advocate, in Fort Detrick, Maryland, where he served until his retirement from the Army Reserves in 2002 at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
Continuing to advance in his civilian career, Fritz was appointed associate counsel for Employment Law and Litigation at DLA Distribution in 1998; a position he held until 2008, when he was named deputy counsel.
For the past 10 years, he has supervised the work of DLA Distribution’s attorneys and paralegals while also managing the organization’s Labor and Employment law practices.
According to Fritz, it’s been his mentors- and mentees- along the way that have driven his career. “When I began at DLA Distribution, I worked under Jim Toms, former General Counsel. He was a great mentor to me. And I’m proud to say that I had a hand in hiring all the attorneys [currently at Distribution].”
He added that while his love for practicing law never changed throughout the years, the means by which he did so varied drastically. “It’s hard to consider all of the technological advancements throughout my career. When I started out, I was dictating into a Dictaphone and writing long hand on legal pads! Technology has certainly come a long way.”
One thing that never wavered throughout the years? Fritz’s love of music- he has a passion for playing the drums- and golf. Presenting him with a golf trophy, chief counsel John Karns joked, “[During your career] you developed a penchant for golf. Now you finally have enough time to enjoy playing golf whenever you please. But remember the wise words of Hank Aaron who said ‘It took me seventeen years to get 3,000 hits in baseball. It took one afternoon on the golf course.’”
The trophy was one of many decorations Fritz received during the ceremony. He was also presented with the Certificate for Commendable Service, signed by former DLA general counsel James Coyne; the Distinguished Career Service Medal, signed by Gonzales; a retirement certificate and plaque, honoring his 39 years of service; and a hand-sewn, personalized DLA flag.
“We were your clients, but we are also your friends,” said Gonzales. “You should be proud; not only of your many career accomplishments, but of your lasting legacy in General Counsel and across DLA Distribution.”