Richmond, Va. –
Desiree Herron and Dustin Smith are Defense Logistics Agency Aviation’s Employees of the Month for September 2022.
Employee of the Month is awarded to DLA Aviation non-supervisory civilian employees. Two recipients are selected based on individual general schedule pay levels – one from GS 1-9 (Category 1) and one from GS 10-13 (Category 2). Recipients receive a coin, a certificate of achievement from the DLA Aviation deputy commander and a cash award.
Herron is a customer support specialist within DLA Aviation at Oklahoma City’s Strategic Acquisition Programs Directorate. She received the GS 1-9 Category 1 award.
Herron supports the 568th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at Tinker Air Force Base in support of the KC-46 Pegasus aircraft programmed depot maintenance workload. Darryl Gary, chief, Aircraft Material Management Branch within the Strategic Acquisition Programs Directorate for DLA at Oklahoma City, and Herron’s nominator, said Herron achieved a 100 percent efficiency for her Aviation Process Excellence goals during the month of September.
“The most challenging aspect of my job is that since KC-46 is a new aircraft and has specific requirements, we are establishing the policies or steps on how to perform our tasks and troubleshoot any issues that develop, which at time can be overwhelming,” said Herron.
“Without my coworkers and colleagues in other departments, I know I would not be able to perform the duties required for this position. It has been and definitely is a team effort.” Herron said.
Dustin Smith, procurement analyst within DLA Aviation at Richmond’s Procurement Training Division, Procurement Process Support Directorate, received the GS 10-13 Category 2 award.
Smith recently took it upon himself to enhance foundational training, teaming up with peers and providing assistance to less seasoned instructors while volunteering to serve as a lead instructor.
Smith’s nominator, Sherry Mitchell, supervisory procurement analyst, Procurement Training Division within Procurement Process Support Directorate, said Smith’s ‘can-do’ attitude is indicative of a team player and he was received a great deal of positive feedback from training course attendees.
Smith said his personal goals are to continue to help new hires and the current workforce better understand what Procurement is responsible for, as well as to expand his own knowledge of procurement.