FORT BELVOIR, Va. –
Fourteen Defense Logistics Agency employees returned to work with enhanced leadership skills as graduates of the 2025 Defense Civilian Emerging Leader Program Aug. 7.
DCELP is a Defense Department initiative offering a dynamic learning environment for entry-level and emerging federal leaders in grades GS-7 through GS-12 as part of the DLA Leadership Development Program at the National Center for Employee Development in Norman, Oklahoma.
The leadership development program uses a hybrid format allowing participants to complete online training and attend four week-long sessions at the NCED between June and August. During the program, participants are immersed in a variety of experiential activities that promote self-awareness, enhance oral and written communication skills, share proven team-building strategies and strengthen overall leadership capabilities.
Participants must be nominated by their supervisors before being interviewed and nominated by their respective commands.
Esther Ansah
DLA Financial Analyst Esther Ansah described herself as an introvert, who often struggled with confidence, assertiveness and showing up fully as herself in the workplace. A former supervisor recommended DCELP to her, and she saw it as an opportunity to grow both personally and professionally.
“I saw DCELP as an opportunity to build the skills I needed to lead with integrity, empathy and courage,” she said. “Having worked in a toxic work environment in my past, I wanted to learn how to foster trust, empower others and create the kind of environment where people feel safe to be themselves, show up, be vulnerable and supported to grow.”
At DCELP, Ansah said she found her voice.
“DCELP gave me tools to speak with self-assurance and lead in a way that feels true to who I am,” she said.
Ansah learned at DCELP that as an introvert, she would have to be more intentional about building relationships, something she would not have pursued before.
“That shift will help me work better with others, strengthen teamwork and make it easier to solve problems together,” she said.
Shatonna Missick
DLA Finance Accountant Shatonna Missick has been with the agency for four years and DOD for 15 years. She said she chose to attend DCELP to enhance her leadership skills and broaden her professional perspective. Missick described her experience at DCELP as both rewarding and challenging.
“Balancing the coursework with my professional responsibilities required strong time management, but the experience provided opportunities to collaborate with peers across the agency, gain exposure to different leadership styles and build lasting professional connections,” she said.
In her accountant role, Missick is responsible for researching, reconciling and ensuring the agency’s customer accounts are paid. Often faced with delays and miscommunication challenges in her role, she said DCELP strengthened her ability to lead and communicate effectively, both within her team and across the organization.
“I developed a deeper understanding of how to manage challenges, motivate others and approach problems strategically,” she said. “Instead of letting these challenges stall progress, I have worked to bridge the gaps, improve transparency and ensure accurate financial records. This not only strengthened our processes but also helped rebuild trust with customers.”
Missick said DCELP also afforded her the opportunity to grow as a leader and serve as a mentor and coach to others.
“While I don’t foresee supervision in my professional career, I recognize that I can still lead from a different perspective by influencing, supporting and guiding my peers,” she said.
Mearle Tilton
DLA Aviation Lead Inventory Management Specialist Mearle Tilton has been with the agency for five years and DOD for nine years. Tilton oversees a team providing customer service, material availability and retail supply support for critical aviation weapon systems at Hill Air Force Base, Utah. She sought DCELP to challenge herself to grow as a leader while also strengthening her ability to contribute to the DOD mission.
“The biggest challenge was stepping out of my comfort zone – whether it was DCELP Talks, which was giving an eight-minute speech in front of 80 people, collaborating with people from all over the Department of Defense, or being pushed to see leadership through new perspectives,” she said.
Tilton noted how her challenges created her greatest opportunities.
“The program gave me a chance to grow personally through many exercises, including 360 feedback, and professionally while deepening my commitment to the mission,” she said.
Tilton said she believes DCELP will help her career at DLA by giving her the tools to lead with greater confidence, adaptability and vision.
“For me, it reinforced that leadership isn’t about titles, but serving others, building trust, adapting to change, creating environments where people can succeed and finding solutions that ensure we can deliver for the warfighter,” she said.
Tilton said she highly recommends the program to other DLA employees looking to grow professionally and personally.
“Any DLA employee who wants to grow and make a bigger impact would benefit from it,” she added.
List of Graduates
The following DLA employees attended DCELP:
Aviation
Disposition
Distribution
- Abigail Hertzler
- Korey Leese
Energy
- Christopher Gabro
- Felicia Johnson
Finance
- Esther Ansah
- Shatonna Missick
Information Operations
- Brendan Lewis
- Heather Burlingham
- Linda Adams
Land and Maritime
Troop Support