FORT BELVOIR, Va. –
The success of women in the Defense Logistics Agency workforce is built on the legacy of both recognized trailblazers and unsung heroines who have guided the course of DLA and continue to shape its future.
Women’s History Month is a celebration of women’s contributions to history, culture, and society. The National Women’s History Alliance 2023 theme is "Celebrating Women Who Tell Our Stories."
Patricia Littlejohn is a 30-year DLA Energy employee and currently the Director of DLA Energy Bulk Petroleum Supply Chain Services. She recently completed an eight-month rotational assignment with the DLA Director’s Strategic Initiatives Group from June 2022 to February 2023.
Littlejohn agreed to tell her story for Women’s History Month.
“I always said I would share my story with whomever was willing to listen,” Littlejohn said. “People see you where you are today, but they don’t know your story or the road you’ve traveled to get there.”
Littlejohn grew up in Gary, Indiana, and joined the Army at 17. She was hired as a GS-4 Office Automation Clerk at DLA in 1993 after being in the Army for eight and a half years.
“I was happy to be hired into a government job after being in the Army,” she said. “I was introduced to the acquisition career field when I became GS-5 Secretary for the Deputy Director in Contracting. During that time, I would be asked to assist the Contract Specialist with their travel orders and volunteered for events so that’s I’d have an opportunity to meet different people within the Agency.”
Later, Littlejohn took Contracting classes and when a new program was offered, she applied. She was selected for the Multifunctional Program and worked in Natural Gas as a Commodity Business Specialist (plus-one field) and then in Bulk Services as a Contract Specialist in Contracting (core field).
“After a few years, a Division Chief approached me about becoming a Supervisory Contracting Officer and I was nervous,” she said. “I didn’t know if I would meet the expectations. I always saw that role as having a lot of responsibility, and I didn’t know if I could meet those standards at the time. I never planned to be a supervisor. It just happened.” Despite her misgivings, Littlejohn discovered that she had a talent for leading and mentoring employees.
“Throughout my career, there was family, friends, and colleagues in my corner; my leadership encouraged and supported me in all the executive leadership development packages I sent forward,” Littlejohn said. “Every move I made was calculated. When I was promoted to a GS-14, that is when I realized I had to do things differently than before if I wanted to make it to GS-15. There were times when I was bumping against doors trying to move up in my career. I met someone who later became my mentor. He gave me the blueprint on how to gain the varied experience I’d need to get me over that last hurdle. What got you to a GS-14 won’t get you to GS-15. I stepped out of my comfort zone to do something other than contracting.”
Littlejohn’s career did not always proceed smoothly. At times there were setbacks and disappointments, she said.
“There were times when I didn’t always get the promotion I felt I deserved. Yes, I was disappointed, but I didn’t stay in that space,” she said. “What I could do was be ready the next time.”
The secret to achieving one’s career goals is perseverance, advance planning and never giving up, Littlejohn advised.
“Yes, I had challenges, but when I look back over my career, those challenges helped shape me into the leader I am today,” she said. “I always felt I had the potential to do more in my career. I just wanted to grow professionally and as a supervisor, help people move up in their careers.”
Littlejohn’s goal is to be an encouragement to that GS-7 who aspires to move up. As a single mother, she wanted to be an inspiration to her two sons.
“I wanted my sons to see what it means to work hard, and the effort it takes to achieve the goals you set for yourself and to show them they can do it,” Littlejohn said. “Every day is not a great day, but you need to stay focused.”
Littlejohn found her rotational experience working in the DLA Director’s SIG invaluable. She was part of a team responsible for helping the DLA Director, Vice Director, Command Sergeant Major, and Chief of Staff deliver strategic messaging to the workforce and key external partners. She was also entrusted to prepare the Director and Vice Director for engagements up to the Secretary of Defense level on global bulk fuel delivery topics.
“I thought I was on top of my game until I went to the SIG and realized I had to step my game up,” she said. “I had no idea of depth of the Agency and the support provided not only to the Warfighter, but the Nation. I did a lot of research to educate myself on initiatives the other Major Subordinates Commands were undertaking. Google became my friend.”
Recognizing her accomplishments as a member of the SIG, the DLA Director Navy Vice Admiral Michelle Skubic awarded Littlejohn the Defense Logistics Agency Superior Civilian Service Award.
“I learned so much that I want to share with my team including the importance of connecting the dots and understanding the strategic plan and how it links to what they do every day. They’re not just putting a contract in place in a location in the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, there’s a strategic reason for it.”
Littlejohn closed her story with seasoned advice. “It’s not about chasing grades or chasing money,” Littlejohn said. “It about service to others.”