FORT BELVOIR, Va. –
A Defense Logistics Agency leader is the first in the agency to earn a departmentwide award for removing barriers for small businesses across the War Department marketplace.
DLA Office of Small Business Programs Executive Director Daniele Kurze earned the Revolutionary Leadership Award from the DOW’s Small Business Vanguard Awards Program during the department’s Small Business Training Week in New Orleans June 17.
Kurze said that by being recognized for the award she felt she was representing professionals from across the agency and the progress DLA continues to make in building a resilient defense industrial base.
“DLA is a truly remarkable agency because it actively fosters a culture of innovation at every single level,” she said. “From our newest specialists to our senior leadership, we are empowered to challenge the status quo, bring forward new ideas, and rethink how we integrate small businesses into the defense industrial base.
“This award is a direct reflection of that environment and the tireless dedication of the entire team at DLA,” she added.
Kurze emphasized the role that teamwork throughout DLA played in getting the agency to the point where it was worthy of this recognition. Teams across the agency identify gaps where more small businesses are needed and come together to provide supportive resources and training.
“One of the things I'm most proud about the team is initiating the supplier pathway program,” Kurze said, noting the role organizations across DLA played in assembling each pathway to bridge gaps between DLA and its small-business partners. “The program outlines steps, common and unique, for each of our supply chains, that I think personally brings clarity and accessibility for new entrants and non-traditional companies.”
With a leadership style centered around encouraging team members to run with new ideas and share best practices, Kurze empowered her team to embrace new technologies, like artificial intelligence.
“I'm really excited because we had one of our team members put together our first AI agent,” she said. “It opens up an opportunity for the team members to really be innovative. We have great digital tools and now we are really focusing in on the new AI element of those tools to make it even easier, both from an internal and external perspective.”
These tools are in service of breaking down barriers for small businesses, an emphasis for the Revolutionary Leadership Award. Kurze explained barriers can come in many phases depending on a small business’s level of experience and stage in the award process.
New entrants may have difficulty finding the right entry into an appropriate agency for their product or service within the federal government, she said.
Compliance and certification are also barriers, especially for non-traditional companies aligning to military standards and specifications. Similarly, cybersecurity certifications can be a barrier across the board.
“I always use the example of Class IX repair parts, where companies sometimes need higher-level quality certifications to make more complex items,” Kurze said.
Even after a contract has been awarded there can be barriers, Kurze said. New companies can struggle in the post-award execution phase.
“They spend a lot of time chasing the award, and often miss the critical knowledge that they need to manage all the different supply chain challenges once they get the award,” she said. “It's about getting a quality product to the warfighter. If they don't deliver, it could impact their future opportunities.”
Despite the focus on digital tools to address these barriers, Kurze said that the core of DLA’s success lies in its people. She advised future leaders to be mindful of working well with others across the organization.
“I would say things can't happen in a silo,” she said. “We talk about barriers, and I think there can be barriers even in leadership. You have to ensure you're fully integrated in every functional area. No matter where you sit within the agency, whether you're a contract specialist or in the Small Business area, it really requires teamwork and working at all levels with your teammates.”
Building these relationships has inspired Kurze’s work.
“I look at my team members at DLA, and I look at my leadership at DLA,” she said. “There is a genuine willingness to collaborate and help each other succeed for the sake of the mission. It’s these people in the government that inspire me every day.”
Kurze said the award fuels her commitment to continue to lead the team, to keep innovating for the warfighter, and to continue to champion DLA’s small-business community.