FORT BELVOIR, Va. –
Members of the Defense Logistics Agency Legislative Affairs team renewed their commitment to provide timely and thorough input for Congressional inquiries that often shape policies and influence how DLA supports warfighters Feb. 4-5 at the McNamara Headquarters Complex.
The event included a review of the legislative proposals and appeals process, a panel discussion for members of several Congressional committees and a presentation from the Georgetown Government Affairs Institute on the new Congress.
DLA Director Army Lt. Gen. Mark Simerly began the two-day summit noting that the group is indispensable to the agency’s success. The team advocates DLA’s interests and ensures legislative actions align with and support DLA’s mission.
“You maintain and strengthen relationships with Congressional members and staff, fostering a collaborative environment that benefits the agency,” Simerly said.
The director thanked the group for their hard work on successes that include input to 24 Congressional reports for the Office of the Secretary of Defense, responses to over 500 Congressional inquiries, and appeals for the 2024 and 2025 National Defense Authorization Act.
Although DLA Legislative Affairs’ core team is part of DLA Headquarters, representatives from major subordinate commands and directorates contribute to responses to Congressional inquiries.
“When we’re asked to provide information on an area that involves a particular MSC or directorate, we can rely on their representative to help us because they know that MSC’s business and areas of concern,” DLA Legislative Affairs Director Mike Johnson said.
He added that the summit evolved during the creation of his team’s Annual Operating Plan as a way to bridge gaps in knowledge and understanding of legislative functions and how the team interacts with partners in Congress and OSD.
Staffers from the House and Senate Armed Services Committees and the legislative advisor to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Sustainment described how requests for information develop and how DLA’s response informs policies.
“Before they write new legislation, they ask us for our views on how our support to warfighters and industry might be impacted,” Johnson said. “If we weren’t responsive, they’d just make the decision they think best and sometimes that could be harmful, so it’s important that we take every opportunity to protect DLA equities.”
Johnson’s team also outlined business practices to help POCs at the MSCs and DLA Headquarters directorates understand expectations, especially for inquiries with tight turnaround times.
Ian Antal, a DLA program analyst who often leans on MSC and DLA Headquarters directorates for information to support Congressional inquiries, said the summit provided a valuable opportunity to network with team members who often interact only by phone or Microsoft Teams.
“These in-person conversations and discussions are a valuable tool for enhancing and bolstering our partnerships throughout the enterprise,” he said.
Deborah Smith, a participant from DLA Logistics Operations, called the event incredibly valuable and said she looks forward to attending again next year.
“Our DLA Legislative Affairs team fostered an atmosphere of collaboration, transparency and open communication among all attendees,” she said. “It was clear that DLA has a strong relationship with OSD as well as its House and Senate partners.”