Tell us about your job.
I research property that lands on the Controlled Property List that needs to be verified. I perform site visits to assist customers with their property disposal needs and assist with on-site training for our customers on proper disposal procedures.
How long as a fed, including military service?
I have worked for the federal government for a total of 42 years.
How long with DLA Disposition Services?
I have worked for DLA Disposition Services for 38 years.
Any noteworthy memories with DLA?
So many! One that immediately comes to mind happened while I was in Italy. The DLA director was visiting, and it just so happened that he was the subject of an article in the DLA magazine. He very graciously autographed it for me. Cheesy, but memorable.
What about the job gives you personal satisfaction?
In my current position, as well as all the other jobs I’ve held in DLA Disposition Services, it has always been being able to exceed the customer’s expectations of what we can do for them.
What prior training helps in your current role?
Familiarizing myself with the SOPs, DTMs, SCMs, etc., that come down from Battle Creek is a big plus, because what I learned when I first started with DLA has transitioned into “smarter, faster, easier.”
What would you like to tell warfighters directly?
The warfighters know I support them. I’ve got “Thank You” cards stuck to my office window for any military person that comes to the office. It’s the families of the warfighters I would speak to – I would like them to know that their husbands, wives, sons, daughters, nieces and nephews and any other family member are able to perform their duty because of the removal of outdated, inadequate, and unsafe equipment.
Where do you see yourself five years from now?
In five years, I hope to be travelling to other countries that have been off-limits because of the pandemic.
Best work memories?
My best memories are of all the wonderful co-workers that I have had the privilege of working with, both in the past and in the present.
What was your first job?
Working in the cloakroom of our local roller-skating rink and issuing skates – the four-wheel kind, not the in-line type.
Your biggest influence?
It’s cliché, but my biggest influence(s) were my parents. My father taught me patience and understanding in the face of pre-conceived notions about race and prejudice of our nationality. This was before there was any discrimination with being Asian-American. My mother taught me my work ethic. She was a working mother that exemplified giving of yourself without expecting rewards. Her reward(s) were raising three children that continue to give – to their jobs and their families.
Any recent or favorite reads worth sharing?
Steve Berry’s The Warsaw Protocol is my most recent and Joanne Fluke’s Chocolate Cream Pie.
Any favorite quotes?
Most recently, I was reminded of a tag line from quite a few years ago – “From buttons to battleships, DLA has it all!”
What did you want to be when you grew up?
I had the most interesting and amazing English teacher, and I was determined to be just like her.
Any heroes?
My heroes are my parents and the soldiers, sailors, Marines and Coast Guard that put their lives on the line daily to ensure our freedom.
If you could choose to do anything for a day, what would it be?
We’ve all seen the videos that come down from Mr. Cannon, but I think for one day I would like to shadow him. I’ve heard that those that have had the opportunity, have come away with a deeper appreciation for the position he holds and respect for the job he is doing for us.
What’s the most thrilling/adventurous thing you have ever done?
The most thrilling and adventurous thing I have ever done was to walk across a narrow foot bridge that connected areas in Cinque Terra, Italy. This bridge was swaying with the foot traffic both ahead of me and behind me.