PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii –
What began as a tribute hike to honor a distinguished Defense Department colleague became an endurance milestone for one of the Defense Logistics Agency’s Pacific region leaders – and a powerful reminder of the strength found in shared goals, grit, and preparation.
In early May, three DOD professionals took on one of the nation’s most iconic natural challenges: the Grand Canyon Rim-to-Rim-to-Rim (R2R2R) Hike.
The hiking team included DLA Disposition Services Pacific Region Director Faron Cordrey, Scot Davenport, DLA’s Director Enterprise Service Delivery Indo-Pacific Scot Davenport, and Victor Pugliano, the recently retired Deputy Director for Manufacturing Technology within the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering. The trio’s endeavor spanned more than 48 miles and 22,000 feet of elevation change in under 22 hours, starting at the South Rim, reaching the North Rim summit, and then returning to the South Rim.
For Cordrey, the hike represented a colleague’s send off and the completion of a full R2R2R endurance challenge. The double crossing pushed the team’s physical and mental limits and represented the culmination of two years of focused training.
“This ranks at the top for difficulty,” said Cordrey. “Once you begin, there’s only one option – you finish. There’s no out. The North Rim doesn’t open until mid-May, so quitting simply isn’t part of the plan.”
The route involved navigating steep descents and ascents, extreme temperature swings, and variable terrain. The team had access to just two water refill stations, consuming more than 6 liters each and approximately 4,000 calories of energy from go-to trail favorites like peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, beef jerky, salted cashews, stroopwafels, and Maui onion kettle chips. Although the total elapsed time of the event was just over 21 hours, it was completed with 17.5 hours of movement.
Cordrey said the challenge was driven by a desire to push themselves beyond their known limits.
“My goal was to target something beyond my current capabilities,” he said. “Doing what you already know you can do doesn’t offer real satisfaction. Stretching your boundaries – that’s where growth happens. And I never use age as an excuse. I use it as fuel.”
The hike was organized as a send-off for Pugliano, who retired May 2 after decades of service supporting defense materials and manufacturing research. His recent leadership helped advance critical materials development for the Emerging Technologies Directorate. The celebratory adventure took place just three days after his retirement.
“For me, this was a chance to celebrate with colleagues and find ways to push myself, both physically and mentally in a challenge that very few people attempt,” Pugliano said. “Preparation and physical training are planned months in advance, but you can never predict the unexpected things that come up on a trip like this. Having solid team with different experiences and capabilities really helped to make this an amazing experience. This landscape and distance were humbling, and it gave us the space and challenge to make the moment truly meaningful.”
Davenport noted the importance of preparation, pacing, fueling, hydration, and camaraderie.
“This hike is about more than putting one foot in front of the other,” he said. “You’re managing altitude, rapidly changing weather conditions, terrain, resources, and fatigue. An amazing team can accomplish just about anything, together.”
Cordrey said the experience underscored the same values that guided daily mission success across the Pacific.
“It’s about discipline, planning, and trust,” he said. “Whether you’re supporting logistics operations or crossing a canyon, preparation and commitment make the difference.”
Cordrey reflected that the experience highlighted the same values essential to daily mission success for DLA personnel across the Indo-Pacific: discipline, planning, and trust. Like the agency’s logistics operations, the hike demanded strategic preparation, adaptability, and unified effort. Celebrating such milestones with purpose reinforces the shared belief that whether navigating rugged terrain or complex missions, success comes from resolve, clarity, and commitment.