FORT BELVOIR, Va. –
The Defense Logistics Agency recognized the accomplishments of the workforce during an awards ceremony at the McNamara Headquarters Complex Jan. 20.
“2025 stands as another remarkable year in DLA's history, one defined by meeting the needs of our warfighting partners and carrying forward the tradition of excellence that shapes our agency's proud legacy,” said DLA Director Army Lt. Gen. Mark Simerly, who presided over the event.
More than 200 employees earned 61 individual and team awards across 12 categories.
This year’s ceremony featured two new awards. The Innovation Excellence Award recognizes individuals and teams who embody the spirit of bold thinking and creative problem-solving. The agency also introduced the Finance Excellence Award to honor financial management professionals whose contributions drive efficiency, stewardship and mission success.
Simerly placed the individual achievements in the context of a remarkable year for the agency, which managed a record $55.8 billion in obligations and surpassed its small business goals for the 13th consecutive year. He also highlighted the agency’s ongoing transformation efforts, including merging the major subordinate commands of DLA Aviation and DLA Land and Maritime into DLA Weapons Support.
“All over DLA's global enterprise, I witness teammates who embody one common quality: a steadfast dedication to ensuring our warfighters receive the very best support,” Simerly said. “Today, we celebrate teammates who truly embody the best of this agency. Our honorees reflect the full range of excellence, from steady mastery of core responsibilities to bold innovation that redefines what's possible.”
The 2025 winners were:
DLA Enterprise Awards
Top 10: Category A
— Air Force Tech. Sgt. Garon Facemyer, DLA Aviation
— Samantha Marshall, DLA Land and Maritime
Top 10: Category B
— Daniel Janansky, DLA Aviation
— Jill Marchky, DLA Land and Maritime
— Larry Mattson, DLA Energy
Top 10: Category C
— Army Lt. Col. Dennis Bernacki, DLA Troop Support
— Navy Cmdr. Edwin Jimenez, DLA Aviation
— Luis Marroquin, DLA Disposition Services
— Charles Mielke II, DLA Land and Maritime
Leader of the Year
— Level 1: Christine Davis, DLA Land and Maritime
— Level 2: Rebecca Farris, DLA Logistics Operations
— Level 3: Carmen Pillitteri, DLA Land and Maritime
— Level 4: John Fafara, DLA Troop Support
Employee of the Quarter
— Category A: Jared Midavaine, DLA Aviation
— Category B: Timothy Livingston Jr., DLA Energy
— Category C: William Huttemann, DLA Aviation
Team Awards
— Small: Executive Order Task Force, DLA Human Resources
— Medium: Border Wall Disposal Team, DLA Disposition Services
— Large: Ground Combat Vehicle Team, DLA Land and Maritime
Innovation Excellence Awards
— Individual: Bryar Courneya, DLA Disposition Services
— Team: Robotic Process Automation BOTs Team, DLA Aviation
Joint Reserve Force Military Personnel Awards
— Field Grade Officer of the Year: Air Force Lt. Col. Manuel Hauck, DLA Energy
— Company Grade Officer of the Year: Army Capt. Shantoya Wiley, DLA Energy
— Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year: Air Force Master Sgt. Jeffrey Halda, DLA Energy
— Junior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year: Army Staff Sgt. Zachary Davies, DLA Distribution
— Joint Reserve Force Field Grade Officer of the Year: Marine Corps Maj. Devon Pozek, DLA Energy
— Joint Reserve Force Company Grade Officer of the Year: Army Capt. Christopher Brogger, DLA Energy
— Joint Reserve Force Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year: Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer Andrew Nieves, DLA Distribution
— Joint Reserve Force Junior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year: Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Abbie Green, DLA Land and Maritime
Installation Management Excellence Awards
— Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation Non-Managerial Employee of the Year: Elizabeth "Betsy" Cisek, DLA Installation Management at Columbus
— Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation Managerial Employee of the Year: Nathan Dickerson, DLA Installation Management at Richmond
— Child & Youth and Family Programs Non-Managerial Employee of the Year: Besaly Santiago-Cardona, DLA Installation Management at Susquehanna
— Child Youth Program Managerial Employee of the Year: Jennifer Scott, DLA Installation Management at Richmond
— Program Process Improvement: Red Brick Fitness Center, DLA Installation Management at Richmond
— Program of the Year: Information, Ticketing and Registration Office, DLA Installation Management at San Joaquin
— DLA Police Officer of the Year: Police Officer Marc MacLain, DLA Installation Management at Susquehanna
— DLA Lead Police Officer of the Year: Police Sgt. Mikhael Medina, DLA Installation Management at San Joaquin
— DLA Supervisory Police Officer of the Year: Police Capt. Nicholas Avignone, DLA Installation Management at San Joaquin
— Outstanding Police Activity of the Year: DLA Installation Management at Susquehanna
— DLA Firefighter of the Year: Firefighter Medic Harry Turner III, DLA Installation Management at Richmond
— DLA Fire Officer of the Year: Assistant Fire Chief Paul Alexander Jr., DLA Installation Management at Columbus
— DLA Fire Service Instructor of the Year: Firefighter Christopher Loyd, DLA Installation Management at San Joaquin
— DLA Fire Prevention Program of the Year: DLA Installation Management at Susquehanna
— DLA Emergency Communication Center Dispatcher of the Year: Cheryl Emig, DLA Installation Management at Susquehanna
— DLA Fire Department of the Year: DLA Installation Management at Susquehanna
Enterprise Safety Excellence Awards
— Safety Professional of the Year: Marlon Gomez, DLA Logistics Operations
— DLA Safety Champion of the Year: Kimberly Donhauser, DLA Land and Maritime
— Management System Achievement: DLA Land and Maritime Safety & DLA Training, DLA Land and Maritime
Security Professionals Awards
— DLA Junior Security Professional of the Year: Tiffany Lindke, DLA Intelligence & Security
— DLA Senior Security Professional of the Year: William Butters, DLA Installation
Acquisition Excellence Awards
— Excellence in Acquisition: Brandy Warner, DLA Land and Maritime
— Acquisition Support Professional of the Year: Cullen Powers, DLA Distribution
— Acquisition Workforce Individual Achievement: Charles Fitzsimmons Jr., DLA Acquisition
— Acquisition Workforce Team Achievement: Acquisition Efficiencies Team, DLA Land and Maritime
Information Technology Excellence Awards
— Information Technology Program Manager of the Year: Patrick Knepper, DLA Information Operations
— Information Assurance Professional of the Year: Matthew Pugliese, DLA Information Operations
— Information Technology Person of the Year: Martina Johnson, DLA Information Operations
— Information Technology Small Team of the Year: Defense Agencies Initiatives, DLA Information Operations
— Information Technology Medium Team of the Year: Information Technology Operations Center, DLA Information Operations
— Information Technology Large Team of the Year: Platform Technical & Application Support Team, DLA Information Operations
Finance Excellence Awards
— Financial Professional of the Year: Ian Goodman, DLA Finance
— Financial Excellence Team Achievement Award: Program and Process Support Team, DLA Finance
The recording of the ceremony can be viewed here.