Team honored for aiding with strategic goals

BATTLE CREEK, Michigan –

The team that devised and executed the first wall-to-wall inventory for Defense Logistics Agency Disposition Services was recently honored with a Strategic Goals Award from DLA Director Army Lt. Gen. Darrell Williams.

Rodney Baumgarden (left), Jeff Dixon (center) and Cynthia Hineline (right) check items on-site at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, in the first wall-to-wall inventory of all DLA Disposition Services sites.

Mark Engelby, Krista Hebner, Doug Mulvaney, Michael Rogers, Brian Thompson and Gregory Zipparo were honored in the “Always Accountable” category for completing an analysis of inventory in the first quarter, ahead of planned milestones. Their award nomination said the early results helped create a consolidated inventory strategy that led to the development of the Excess-toDisposal process. The new process will streamline operations and support an auditable process for the disposal mission.

The data analyzed came from 13 time zones, 17 countries and 112 locations that collected 112,861 total disposal turn-in documents with wide-ranging numbers of items on each document. The inventory also featured 1,583 second or third counts, 1,988 total adjustments, and an overall inventory accuracy rating of 98%

“As with any extra-large project of this proportion, there were numerous preplanning milestones that impacted several cross-functional areas,” said Nina Ekblad, in her nomination for the team. “The individuals on this team demonstrated outstanding leadership in their areas of expertise and … provided leadership and guidance to their peers.”

Doug Mulvaney said it was humbling to learn about the award. He credited the way the team collaborated early and often with its ability to overcome challenges.

Tommy Martorana (left), Lucas Grant (left center) and Robert Repasi (right center) check through items in a container at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, as Sharon “Cher” Burke (right) tracks the information during the first wall-to-wall inventory of all DLA Disposition Services sites.

“From my foxhole, [challenges] were addressed with communication early, often and at many levels,” Mulvaney said. “The communication started with making a quality plan with this great team and trying to anticipate what could happen.”

Mulvaney added that the team embraced the project and committed to making it successful with “action and energy.”

Williams’ announcement about first quarter awardees from across DLA said recipients’ efforts showed “true dedication to our agency's core values of leadership, professionalism, and technical knowledge through dedication to duty, integrity, ethics, honor, courage and loyalty.”