FORT BELVOIR, Va. –
The latest episode of the Defense Logistics Agency’s podcast series explores cybersecurity’s role in protecting supply chains, and why cyber resilience is essential when threats inevitably get through.
Linus Baker, director of Cybersecurity for DLA Information Operations, joined DLA Dialogues: From Factory to Foxhole to discuss how adversaries target DLA systems, what the agency is doing to strengthen readiness, and how every employee plays a role in mission assurance.
Baker emphasized that while DLA sees constant technical probing and scanning, social engineering remains one of the most common — and dangerous — ways bad actors gain access. To build everyday vigilance, he highlighted DLA’s long-running phishing awareness program, which uses realistic exercises to help employees recognize and report suspicious messages.
“The most dangerous thing is the social engineering aspect,” Baker said. “It’s the unknowing user who unwittingly gives information to a bad actor.”
The episode also connects cybersecurity to real-world logistics impacts, with an emphasis on where operational technology supports fueling and energy operations. Baker explained that older, less-monitored operational technology can create unique vulnerabilities, and that disruptions could force manual workarounds at the worst possible time.
“A bad actor could simply plug a thumb drive with malware in it on one of those gauging systems (and) bring that system down,” Baker said, noting that if gauges fail, fueling actions may need to be performed manually, adding time and operational friction.
Baker framed cybersecurity as more than prevention, pointing to a full lifecycle approach — protect, detect, respond, and recover — and urged the workforce to think about readiness in contested environments through both defense and continuity of operations.
He said cyber resilience deserves greater attention and resourcing because organizations must be prepared to operate even if an adversary is already inside the network boundary.
As part of a proactive posture, Baker described establishing a Cyber-Integrated Planning Element to bring cyber considerations into contingency operations and future operations. He also underscored the scale of day-to-day defense, noting DLA’s 24/7 operations and the reality that stopping most attacks isn’t the same as stopping all attacks.
“In a month, we stop millions of attacks externally, but all it takes is one,” Baker said.
In a lighter moment, Baker shared that he’s also a college baseball umpire who worked the 2024 College World Series. He credited that experience with strengthening clear communication under pressure.
The podcast series will continue with a fifth episode featuring Joseph Brooks, executive director for Regional Sustainment for the Office of the Secretary of War, and DLA Historian Colin Williams. They explore the Regional Sustainment Framework, why partnerships matter for resilient sustainment and how foreign military sales support coalition readiness.
Episodes of “DLA Dialogues: From Factory to Foxhole” are available on the employee Campaign of Learning portal (a DLA common access card is required), the Campaign of Learning website, DVIDS and YouTube.