RICHMOND, Va. –
Defense Logistics Agency Aviation May 2023 Employees of the Month William French and Gary Townsend overcome challenges to keep material stocked and moving.
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 and a cash award.
French is a materials expediter leader within DLA Aviation at Warner Robins Storage and Distribution Division on Robins Air Force Base, Georgia. He was selected as the Category 1 award winner for his leadership that upheld and exceeded standards while working amidst maintenance challenges in the shop service center.
Despite multiple renovations and downed equipment in the SSC, French led his team to pick 960 items and deliver the correct materials to mechanics in times averaging 70 minutes, outperforming the DLA Aviation standard of 90 minutes.
French assisted during monthly inventories of over 500 various parts belonging to the Air Force C-130 Hercules, surpassing DLA Aviation’s 95% accuracy standard with 95.90%. He also reviewed 128 actions, ensuring material being moved to another warehouse was correct.
Townsend is an inventory management specialist within DLA Aviation at Jacksonville on Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida. He is selected as the Category 2 award winner for his performance as a contracting officer representative, an advisor, and customer facing technical point of contact that resulted in long-term improvements in both material availability and customer satisfaction.
Townsend’s skill was apparent with his expert management of material in the pre-expenditure bins containing small hardware such as nuts and bolts. As a liaison between DLA contracting officers, customers, contractors, he maintained 96% material availability on 18,000 items.
In addition, when a supplier change resulted in significant delays of hazardous materials, Townsend’s guidance and coaching as an advisor to the HAZMAT contracting team dealing with the issue enabled them to exceed their goal with the on-time delivery of over 8,000 parts supporting 62 US Navy aircraft.