FORT BELVOIR, Va. –
Brad Bunn, Defense Logistics Agency vice director, spent the day with the DLA Energy team for a “Deep Dive” conversation about fuel and other energy commodities that support the warfighter at the Kunkel Conference Room, Fort Belvoir, Virginia, Feb. 21.
“The deep dive gives us the business side of what our Major Support Commands do,” Bunn said. “From the headquarters perspective, we don’t see the day-to-day operations of our global reach across the enterprise. This visit gives me a better understanding of the inner workings of the DLA Energy supply chain.”
As the Department of Defense global energy supply chain manager, DLA Energy has more than 4,000 worldwide customers and generated $11.7 billion in total energy revenue in 2022. Commodities include bulk petroleum, renewable energy, liquid propellants, gases and chemicals, cryogens, natural gas, electricity, and coal supplies.
DLA Energy Commander Air Force Brig. Gen. Jimmy Canlas welcomed the vice director and the opportunity to tell DLA Energy’s story.
“DLA Energy must meet the needs of our force today, we always need to have an eye towards the future,” Canlas said. “We’re excited about the opportunities ahead of us.”
Bunn focused his questions on the current inventory management plan, which postures energy resources across the combatant commands to ensure the joint force is ready to fight.
“This forum provided an opportunity for senior leaders in Energy to show the detailed work that goes into sourcing global inventory requirements through commercial and government agencies,” Canlas said. “DLA Energy works tirelessly to meet the needs of the force.”
Part of the conversation was demonstrating the development of fuel requirements from the Combatant Commands through the Joint Staff to DLA Energy. This process was highlighted using the Integrated Consumable Item Support Class III Bulk, a system managed by DLA Energy that provides planning personnel with an automated decision support tool that assess plans to identify fuel requirements and the development of Pre-Positioned War Reserve Requirement and Pre-Positioned War Reserve Stock which feeds the formation of the Inventory Management Plan.
Bunn and the senior leaders also discussed ongoing alternative fuels initiatives, and far-reaching goals for carbon pollution-free electricity at DOD installations. In October 2022, DLA Energy launched a new, comprehensive webpage to outline its CFE efforts.
The deep dive event marked the culmination of Bunn’s tour of the six DLA Major Subordinate Commands to give him a deep appreciation of the workforce and expertise that goes into providing logistics support to the nation. His next iteration of DV Deep Dives will be with the J-codes.
Bunn took the opportunity to present six DLA Energy employees with his coin to recognize their hard work and exceptional performance:
- Michael Bailey serves is the Chief of Order Management in the DLA Energy Business Process Support Directorate. He is responsible for the supervision of 15 supply systems analysts in support of all DLA Energy Order Management Customer Direct fuel ordering transactions.
- Craig Lada serves as the DLA Energy military construction coordinator and Navy section lead in the Facility Sustainment Directorate. He is responsible for coordinating the annual DLA Energy Installation Planning and Review Board to review and approve fuels infrastructure MilCon projects for DLA funding.
- Agnieszka ‘Aggie’ Mickins is a DLA Energy Utility Services contracting officer who demonstrated her support to the warfighter by volunteering for a 90-day rotational expeditionary assignment at DLA Support Team-North and was a tremendous asset to the team serving as a Polish interpreter in office and during site visits across Poland.
- Keith Mills serves as the chief of the DLA Energy Quality Technical Policy and Training Division. He is responsible for quality policy, training programs, the directorate’s audit, and automation efforts and supervises a team of four people.
- Michael Park is the program manager for the DLA Energy Fuel Card program. He was instrumental in bringing the newest fuel card, the Logistics Fuel Card, on board to support the warfighter and supervises a team of 10 in overseeing five different cards to support the warfighter.
- Doug Thomas serves as an Energy Initiatives program manager for the Strategic Policy & Programs Directorate. He is responsible for the DLA Energy Knowledge Management Program that maintains content and ensures visibility and accessibility of supply chain training opportunities. For the last 11 years, Thomas has organized, managed, and conducted the annual Joint Petroleum Seminar hosted by DLA Energy.