Agency’s culture and data opportunities highlighted at director’s town hall

FORT BELVOIR, Va.  –  

An emphasis on data and culture were common themes through Defense Logistics Agency Director Army Lt. Gen Mark Simerly’s first global town hall May 16.

From organizational surveys to overcoming challenges posed by contested logistics, the director threaded the importance of the people of the organization and the new era of warfighting throughout the first in-person town hall in nearly four years. These points were echoed by DLA Vice Director Brad Bunn and DLA Senior Enlisted Leader Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Alvin Dyer.

DLA’s people and culture-focused efforts were shown in recent Denison Culture Climate Survey results. Speaking to a packed auditorium and with DLA team members watching remotely from around the world, Simerly reflected on the change between survey periods. He noted that while the overall arc over the years has been positive, culture is fragile and needs continuous maintenance.

Investing in culture was a recurring topic addressed by Simerly and Bunn in reference to telework policies. Both senior leaders said data is still being collected to inform future decisions, but a “presence with a purpose” is having a positive impact on team building and shorter lead times that are difficult to form and maintain virtually for an agency with a mission like DLA’s.

“Why are we focused on culture? Culture always precedes performance.” Simerly said, adding that we know that with our responsibility to the nation, the only way we’re going to meet that responsibility is with a world-class workforce.

Further measurement of the organization’s culture will be gathered in the Office of Personnel Management’s Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey, open now through June 28.

Simerly set expectations for leadership, emphasizing the characteristics of trust, discipline and commitment.

“We have to have trust as a foundational aspect. I would say it’s the lifeblood of DLA,” Simerly said. He outlined his beliefs on treating all team members with dignity and respect, as well as his commitment to team excellence by noting that we win or lose as teams.

The director highlighted contested logistics by stating warfare is changing, with new challenges in all domains of logistics – from sea to air to cyber spaces.

“It’s not just contested logistics, it’s the nature of warfare that’s causing change,” Simerly said, emphasizing the military services adapting to the new setting and by extension DLA transforming to support with urgency and clarity. “The time to change is now, and it’s time to move out.”

Simerly described the changes as coming through four areas: people, precision, posture and partnership. Each element serves to prepare the organization and its workforce to anticipate, plan, and work with speed and flexibility to support evolving logistics needs. An upcoming reevaluation of the agency’s strategic plan will help the agency meet its commitments as it transforms.

“It’s time for us to think, act and operate differently in order for us to meet our commitments,” Simerly said. “Part of that will be to operate in a data-driven environment, to be able to adequately leverage data to make sound and timely decisions before we arrive at a point of need.”

The theme of data continued into the director’s initial insights during his first few months at DLA, seeing the role of data as useful for predicting and prescribing actions. Training will be assembled in the coming months for the workforce to gain data acumen and interpret data to meet missions effectively.

“This is a world-class-level agency, and we deliver world-class-level logistics with world-class-level people, and I couldn’t be prouder to be part of this team,” Simerly said when summing up his data and audit takeaways.

Other topics of the town hall included recent accomplishments like integrating employees into exercises and Warehouse Management System progress, as well as upcoming opportunities for the agency such as advanced manufacturing and carbon pollution-free electricity support. Bunn spoke on his role aligning organizations within DLA to accomplish strategic goals, while Dyer talked about safety and mental health awareness.

The director also highlighted the accomplishments of employees and teams across the agency, focused on recognition from organizations outside the agency. 

Simerly closed by emphasizing the people of DLA as its most important aspect, encouraging employees to take care of themselves and maintain a healthy balance between work and personal life. He also called on employees to see themselves as rooted in what they support.

“I want you all to embrace this idea that not only are we focused on supporting warfighters, we are warfighters. We’re part of the warfighting team,” Simerly said. “Whether you’re wearing a uniform now, wore one before, or never wore a military uniform – you are wearing the cloth of our nation when you’re doing the great work of the Defense Logistics Agency.”

---

View a captioned video of the town hall above or view the recording on DVIDS.