PHILADELPHIA –
Defense Logistics Agency Vice Director Brad Bunn visited DLA Philadelphia for the first time in his current role Sept. 1, and hosted a town hall, attended by employees in-person and virtually.
Bunn credited his previous role as director of DLA Human Resources for his vast understanding of the work employees and senior leaders do across the agency.
“One of the things that equipped me for this role was really getting a good understanding of what the workforce does,” Bunn said. “Of all the organizations I’ve been associated with in my 30-year career, I’ve never been with one that put so much focus and investment on its people. Really seeing what the leaders in this agency do, from the senior military leadership to first line supervisors and every level in between, to cultivate a workforce and culture: that inspires excellence.”
During the town hall Bunn emphasized DLA’s priorities within the Strategic Plan 2021-2026 and the overarching theme of “Transforming Global Logistics” to effectively support stakeholders.
“The number one effort remains the warfighter, in what we call ‘Warfighter Always,’” Bunn said. “It’s a refresh and a re-doubling of our effort to ensure we’re fully nested in operating plans of the [U.S.] commandant commands.”
Bunn also addressed continued mission success in the current virtual environment and the “Future of Work” as one of the strategic lines of effort.
“The future work models and the future skill sets are going to ask those critical questions about, what is the way that we work?” Bunn asked. “Can you break those tasks and activities down and build out a model that has a hybrid approach to presence versus virtual capacities?”
During the visit Bunn also received a senior leader briefing on DLA Troop Support’s efforts towards “Digital Business Transformation” within three of its supply chains.
This project, a critical capability, Bunn said, emphasizes modernizing DLA’s information technology capabilities, analytics and automation, cybersecurity, and technology governance.
“Great partnership with DLA Information Operations, J6 Support, that is part of an overarching strategy that is essentially DLA business investing in itself, improving the way we do things,” Bunn said.
Another critical capability Bunn highlighted was “People & Culture,” as he addressed some of the challenges employees have experienced since the onset of COVID-19.
“We set high expectations at DLA,” Bunn said. “We’re hard on ourselves, and we expect our people to deliver. We also know that you’re at your best when you’re resilient - personally and professionally. We recognize, for the most part, our workforce has challenges outside of the workplace. So really, what I want to do is say: thanks for the work you do.”
Bunn encouraged employees to continue to do their respective jobs to the best of their abilities, support teammates and look for ways to connect with the Strategic Plan objectives.
Bunn also acknowledged the kickoff of DLA’s 60th Anniversary and recognized several employees with vice director coins.