FORT BELVOIR, Va. –
The Defense Logistics Agency recognized past teammates who have significantly contributed towards DLA’s legacy during its Hall of Fame induction ceremony at its headquarters May 21.
DLA Director Army Lt. Gen. Mark Simerly hosted the event in which five former Defense Logistics Agency employees were inducted. In attendance were past hall of fame members, family and other distinguished guests.
Since 1998, DLA’s Hall of Fame induction ceremony aims to recognize employees who embody the agency’s values, and whose significant contributions ushered in modernization.
In his remarks, Simerly thanked the inductees for their past contributions and placed heavy emphasis on a more important reason for the agency’s ceremonial gathering.
“Another reason we gather here is to inspire. In this decisive decade, our military is challenged by adversaries who contest us in every domain, at every level of war,” Simerly said.
“When we as employees, or our warfighters, or other important customers enjoy the benefits of today’s modern capabilities, policies, processes, or other improvements, it’s because DLA teammates from the past made it happen. Today, we stand on the shoulders of these giants,” Simerly added.
To date, 148 members have been inducted into the agency’s Hall of Fame. The agency’s first Hall of Fame inductee was the agency’s first director, Army Lt. Gen. Andrew McNamara, whose impact dates to the agency’s creation in 1961.
This year’s inductees are:
Darlene Ferrante spent almost half of her 38-year federal career as DLA Human Resources’ customer account manager for DLA Distribution at Susquehanna, Pennsylvania, until she passed in April 2020. From mission expansion, inventory improvements, audit readiness, humanitarian relief and more – Ferrante’s human capital expertise enabled DLA’s success.
Ferrante was also known for taking the time to help managers and employees understand the complex HR processes that accompanied changes in DLA’s workforce and mission. Read the full article on Darlene Ferrante’s accomplishments.
A leader known for piloting Defense Logistics Agency Distribution through organizational structure changes and pushing for the modernization of aging warehouse management software is a 2024 DLA Hall of Fame member. Twila Gonzales’ 39-year career includes two tenures as deputy commander for DLA Distribution and one as director of DLA Disposition Services. She started as a clerk typist at Sharpe Army Depot, now part of DLA Distribution San Joaquin, California.
Gonzales’ technical expertise and leadership flair propelled her to Defense Distribution Region West, where she managed two rounds of Base Realignment and Closure decisions and played a central part in merging the west and east regions into one entity then known as Defense Distribution. Read the full article to learn more about Twila's trailblazing career highlights.
Carol O’Leary made a name for herself transitioning Defense Logistics Agency Energy’s business model for the military services’ bulk petroleum needs, earning her a place in the 2024 DLA Hall of Fame.
O’Leary was the financial lead and advocate for a phase of a comprehensive mission for Defense Department bulk petroleum that eased the organization from a wholesale fuel business to a retail business. This was a significant event because it meant DLA Energy owned all bulk petroleum from the point of purchase until it’s issued to the aircraft, ship or ground equipment, according to the award nomination. To learn more about Carol’s remarkable career and contributions to the agency, read the full article.
Army Lt. Gen. Darrell Williams served twice as a DLA leader – first as commanding general of DLA Land and Maritime from September 2010 to July 2012, then as DLA director from June 2017 to July 2020.
Some of the keystones of Williams’ three years as the agency’s 19th director included disaster relief, improved warfighter support, industry partnerships, and commitment to whole-of-government customers. Williams oversaw development of DLA’s Agency Synchronization Operations Center from the similarly missioned Joint Logistics Operations Center as well as the Service Readiness Dashboard. Read the full article about Lt. Gen. Williams amazing contributions to the Defense Logistics Agency.
Over the past 40-years, America’s warfighter approach to mission success via readiness has drastically changed to meet the demands of complex deployment settings. To keep pace, the Defense Logistics Agency leverages the experience and innovation of leaders like Kenneth Winslette, a 2024 DLA Hall of Fame member and legendary contractor according to his peers.
From 2008 to 2013, Winslette served as DLA’s director of procurement operations for depot-level reparable at Warner Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, and director of Strategic Acquisitions Programs for DLA Aviation at Richmond, Virginia. In these roles, he oversaw contracts for supplies and services worth over $12.5 billion. Read about this "Legendary Contractor's" amazing career contributions to the agency.
More information on the DLA Hall of Fame and its members can be found at the Hall of Fame page.
View a captioned video of the 2024 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony above or view the recording on DVIDS.