FORT BELVOIR, Va. –
Getting fuel to the right place at the right time for contingency operations, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions was Defense Logistics Agency Energy Pacific Command Planner Paul Dupoise’s daily job.
As a result of his dedicated 50 years of federal and military fuel service, Dupoise was inducted in the DLA Energy Hall of Fame in the McNamara Headquarters Complex auditorium on Fort Belvoir, Virginia, Oct. 31.
“Paul championed the development of information technology tools that are still in use today,” said DLA Energy Commander Air Force Brig. Gen. Jimmy Canlas during the ceremony. “His contributions helped improve the processes for determining worldwide war reserve fuel requirements to better support the warfighter.”
Dupoise began his fuel journey by joining the Air Force in 1960 serving 25 years, retiring as a chief master sergeant. While serving as the USAF fuels functional manager, Chief Master Sgt. Dupoise established elite professional development programs that have endured for over 25 years and was honored by President Ronald Reagan as one of “12 Outstanding Airman.”
Taking that knowledge, passion and significant fuel experience, Dupoise joined DLA Energy in 1987. For 24 years, he served as a logistics management specialist traveling to multiple world theaters in response to Operation Joint Endeavor (Bosnia), Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm (Kuwait), Operations Iraqi Freedom and New Dawn (Iraq) and Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan).
“Dupoise is part of a storied legacy that built this organization,” Canlas said. “He is fundamentally recognized as an expert in his field, and for 50 years has been a mainstay in the Department of Defense. A consummate professional in every aspect of his duties.”
Whether it was serving as the U.S. Air Force fuels functional manager or as a logistics management specialist traveling to multiple world theaters, Dupoise’s fuel expertise was valued.
“Paul was very surprised and honored,” said DLA Energy Deputy Chief of Plans Rick Vanschoor. “He never thought in a million years he would get nominated for this award.”
Vanschoor met Dupoise at DLA headquarters in 2004 as an active-duty airman with the Air Force Petroleum Office. Later, they worked together in the DLA Energy Plans Office from 2007 to 2011.
In addition to being an outstanding mentor, Dupoise was highly regarded as an honorable and compassionate leader, a catalyst for driving innovation, Vanschoor said.
“The biggest thing I got from Paul, was his humbleness and how he treated others,” Vanschoor said. “It didn’t matter if you were his boss, peer, subordinate; regardless, you were treated in the same professional manner and that meant a lot and stuck with me.”
Vanschoor shared a story about Dupoise, which may account for his 50 years of federal service.
“Besides coffee in the morning, Paul would subsist on a spoonful of peanut butter, every day, and he kept that same spoon in the top drawer of his desk…That’s all he ate, and he swore by it.”
In his remarks during the ceremony, Dupoise said how proud he was to be included with the other DLA Energy Hall of Fame inductees.
“I remain grateful for the 24 years I’ve had with this organization,” he said.
Two other former DLA Energy employees were also inducted into the Class of 2022 Hall of Fame. Learn more about all of the inductees on the DLA Energy Hall of Fame webpage.