FORT BELVOIR, Va., Fort Belvoir, Va. –
Defense Logistics Agency’s Chief Information Officer is spearheading the effort to recruit talent to the agency by bridging the gap between the Department of Defense and higher institutions.
As part of DoD’s Taking the Pentagon to the People initiative, Adarryl Roberts is engaged in an educational outreach program that enlightens students on employment, internships, scholarships and the vast opportunities within DLA and Information Operations.
Roberts and James Johnson, DLA’s program executive officer, paid a visit to Hampton University and former DLA Director Lt. Gen. Darrell K. Williams on May 6. Williams is the current president at Hampton. After a tour of the historic campus, the leaders signed a partnership agreement between DLA/J6 and the school. This memorandum of understanding provides access to the bright and talented young students at Hampton University who express the desire to serve the Warfighter and become a DLA teammate.
Williams stated he was proud to say as the former DLA director that the DLA employees are the "secret sauce” and he now includes his students at the school as part of that secret sauce needed to carry on this proud tradition.
In addition to Hampton, Roberts has signed agreements with Tuskegee Univ.; Alabama State Univ.; Claflin Univ.; Arizona State Univ.; and New Mexico State Univ.. He is working with the Univ. of California-Riverside in establishing a pilot program to educate, motivate and encourage the students to consider DLA/J6 and the federal government as a career opportunity.
DoD’s Taking the Pentagon to the People initiative is carried out through the DoD’s Office for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ODEI) and provides:
- Information about student opportunities for employment, internships, and scholarships.
- Information on DoD’s current & future opportunities in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, business, education, language, arts, and many other fields.
- A pathway to connect students and graduates directly to DoD Senior leaders, executives, and recruiters.
- Information for faculty and staff on research, fellowships, sabbaticals, contract, and grants.