Wolfgang Leis, a host nation employee, was recognized for his 35 years of service – with the last 26 working as an inventory accountant with Defense Logistics Agency Energy – during a ceremony at the Ramstein Air Base, Germany, June 27.
The Length of Service Award Presentation ceremony recognizes all host nation employees who have continuously served the U.S. Armed Forces for greater than 20 years.
“We are indebted to great employees like Mr. Leis,” said DLA Energy Europe and Africa Commander Army Lt. Col. Donna Welch. “Congratulations to him and his family. Well deserved!”
The 86th Force Support Squadron at Ramstein Air Base annually recognizes the host nation employees who have served 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, or 45 years of continued service to the U.S. Armed Forces. This year’s ceremony recognized 179 host nation employees of the Air Force, DLA, and Defense Commissary Agency for service of up to 45 years.
Leis was born and raised in Kaiserslautern, Germany. He began his employment for the U.S. military in March 1984, working for the 8th Combat Equipment Company on Rhine Ordnance Barracks as a mechanic and warehouse keeper. In 1993, he moved to Pirmasens Army Depot and began working for Defense Fuels Region Europe as an inventory accountant.
Over the following 26 years, Leis has continued his employment as an inventory accountant even while the office moved between Pirmasens, Wiesbaden Army Airfield, Miesau Army Depot, Pulaski Barracks, and finally, Sembach Kaserne.
Leis’s goal is to work with DLA Energy for the next 10 years until he achieves a total of 45 years of service.
"Our Host Nation employees are the backbone of our organization,” said DLA Energy Europe and Africa Deputy Director John Phinisey. “It is with the support of employees such as Mr. Leis that we are truly a world-class organization.”