NEW CUMBERLAND, Pa. –
In honor of Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Defense Logistics Agency Distribution spotlights Susan Bautista-Lucio, the deputy commander of DLA Distribution Puget Sound, Washington.
The Defense Department pays tribute to the generations of Asian American and Pacific Islanders who have enriched the nation’s history and who continue to be pivotal to the success of the country. Asian American and Pacific Islanders encompass a diverse group of cultures, ethnicities, races and languages. They include all Americans who can trace their ancestry back to the Asian continent and the many Pacific Islands of Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia.
Bautista-Lucio graduated from Saint Louis University in Baguio City, Philippines, with a Bachelor of Science degree in electronics and communications engineering. She began working at DLA Distribution as an information technology technician in 2006. Before becoming deputy commander at DDPW, she served as the deputy commander of DLA Distribution Sigonella, Italy.
Bautista-Lucio believes that it is extremely important to recognize Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month because it recognizes various cultures and ethnicities.
“Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month celebrates diversity and is the reflection of the world in which we live,” she said. “DLA Distribution is no different. We are a melting pot, a blend of cultural backgrounds and ethnicities. Our teams bring out innovations, fostering creativity, which brings together different perspectives, ideas and strategies.”
“Being a Pacific Islander, Filipino American in particular, means being forever tied to the Philippines. It means continuing the traditions and it means belonging to something bigger than myself. As a Filipino American, it means a reflection of a culture influenced by many cultures. Filipinos are also resilient and inherently optimistic. We always manage to rise above the challenge, and we always tend to look at the brighter side of things.”
A common misconception about Bautista-Lucio’s heritage that she would like to correct is how not all Filipinos work in health care.
“Not all Filipinos are doctors, nurses or working in health care,” she said. “You can find Filipinos in different segments of society.”
While it is important to recognize this month, it is also important to her that the DLA Distribution workforce recognizes why we are celebrating this month to begin with.
“There is strength in diversity. We need to celebrate the countless contributions our Asian American and Pacific Islander colleagues have done to make our nation great. Celebrating our differences increases our organization’s morale and creates efficiency and effectiveness in our day-to-day business.”