DLA Energy celebrates newest class of PaCE graduates, connecting early development with long-term success

FORT BELVOIR, Va.  –  

After two years of rigorous training and professional development, Defense Logistics Agency Energy recognized 18 graduates of its Pathways to Career Excellence Program during a ceremony Oct. 22. 

The theme for this year’s event was “Fueling the Future, Powering the Mission.” Since its establishment roughly 25 years ago, DLA’s PaCE Program has helped more than 6,000 employees launch their careers in the federal service—nearly 300 of whom got their start in DLA Energy.

“Every person, every detail and every decision connects to something much bigger,” said DLA Energy Deputy Commander George Atwood during his keynote address.

Atwood began his own career at DLA as an intern in the Outstanding Scholars Program, a predecessor of the PaCE Program. Reflecting on his own experience, he advocated for internship programs like PaCE because they give people the foundation and the confidence to grow and contribute to the mission.

“Your accomplishments are our agency’s credentials,” Atwood told the PaCE graduates.  He went on to highlight several of the graduates’ achievements during the program and connected those individual contributions to the larger impact of DLA’s mission to support the warfighter.

Nelson Vega, a PaCE graduate and contract specialist for Aerospace Energy, saw that connection first-hand as he progressed through the program.

“Seeing how the products we procure are used in the field gave me a deeper appreciation for the mission behind the work,” Vega said. “It connected the dots between contracting and its real-world impact on the warfighter.”

Vega added that those experiences reinforced the importance of accuracy, timeliness and collaboration. Those qualities continue to shape how he approaches his role every day.

“I now see myself not just as a contract specialist, but as someone who can grow into a leadership role, mentor others and contribute to process improvements,” Vega said.

Others in the graduating class appreciated the PaCE Program’s blended immersion of classroom instruction with on-the-job training.

Ryan Bove, a PaCE graduate and contract specialist for DLA Energy’s Direct Delivery Fuels, shared how everything he’s accumulated in the program contributed to his being more knowledgeable of his duties and prepared for future challenges.

“The biggest impact on me throughout this program were the opportunities to work alongside service members and support their unique mission needs,” Bove said.

Bove recognized that unexpected situations are bound to happen, but this program has helped him keep the warfighter moving. “And that’s something worth the effort I need to make each and every day,” he said.

Sydney Kincaid, a PaCE graduate and contract specialist for DLA Energy’s Installation Energy, reflected on her professional and personal growth over the past two years.

“I’ve experienced a journey of challenges, learning and discovery,” she said. “When I began, I was eager to understand federal contracting but unsure how it all connected to DLA Energy’s mission.”

The PaCE Program prepared Kincaid to support commodity procurements for military installations and federal civilian agencies. As a PaCE graduate, she now possesses the capabilities needed to ensure electricity contracts supply power to multiple locations at cost-effective rates.

Looking back, Kincaid recognized the importance of the hands-on learning and guidance she received at every stage of the acquisition process. Those experiences helped her build technical expertise and develop the confidence to contribute meaningfully to the team.

“The PaCE Program will push you out of your comfort zone with new assignments and responsibilities, but you’ll never be alone. You will have mentors, teammates and leaders who want to see you succeed,” Kincaid said.

Graduates of the DLA Energy PaCE program include:

About the PaCE Program
PaCE participants typically enter the program at the GS-7 level and are targeted for advancement to the GS-12 level if they meet certain performance criteria during each phase of their training. PaCE participants engage in on-the-job training, rotational assignments and traditional classroom courses. Learn more about the PaCE Program, eligibility requirements, benefits and how to apply.