DLA Troop Support News

Several members of DLA Troop Support’s Command Support Office contributed to a Continuous Process Improvement project to improve Defense Travel System compliance rates from 78 percent to 93 percent. From left, Hank Jansen served as the team coach, Elias Dungca served as the team sponsor, Jontell Platts served as a team member, Raymond Finch served as the project facilitator, Neil Kovnat served as the project champion, and Peter Stupak served as the team lead. Amelia McGarvey, who was unavailable for the team photo, served as the team financial representative.

Dec. 29, 2016

Travel authorizations streamlined, DTS compliance rates improved

PHILADELPHIA — last minute, overseas mission was put into jeopardy earlier this year due to errors in employees’ Defense Travel System accounts. Scenarios like this caused two Troop Support employees to peak under the hood of DTS to find out why and fix it.

Nora Steigerwalt (left), Medical supply chain director of customer operations, meets with Lt. Col. Christopher Estridge (center) and Maj. Blake Smith, both Air Force medical service corps officers from the Defense Health Agency, at DLA Troop Support in Philadelphia Nov. 16.

Dec. 28, 2016

DLA, DHA save millions on military medical materiel through ECAT

PHILADELPHIA — Anyone who has been in a big-box retailer knows two-gallon buckets of mayonnaise have lower per-unit prices than 20-ounce jars. It’s just basic bulk purchasing power at work. And as interagency collaboration within DOD is proving, it applies to more than just condiments.

Army Brig. Gen. Charles Hamilton, DLA Troop Support commander, presents Russ Brooks, Subsistence field representative, with a certificate of retirement during a ceremony Dec. 15. Brooks was accompanied by his wife Denise, whom he thanked for standing beside him during his career.

Dec. 22, 2016

Subsistence field rep, who helped introduce DoD school produce program, retires

PHILADELPHIA — Russ Brooks noticed in the early 1990s that poor quality produce was being served in the Denver public schools. He later helped user in the DOD Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program to provide produce to schools.

Soldiers enjoy Christmas dinner in Cameroon Dec. 25 with food provided by DLA Troop Support's Subsistence supply chain. U.S. service members are serving in Cameroon to enhance the capability of partner nation militaries like the Cameroonian Defense Force to promote regional security and stability.

Dec. 21, 2016

DLA delivers Christmas meals to deployed service members

PHILADELPHIA — Service members deployed this Christmas will still enjoy a traditional holiday meal, with all the trimmings, thanks to the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support.

Director Air Force Lt. Gen. Andrew Busch presents Aysu Cesembasi as one of the Outstanding 10 DLA Personnel of the Year at the 49th Annual DLA Employee Recognition Award Ceremony Dec. 15 at DLA Headquarters.

Dec. 19, 2016

Troop Support earns several annual DLA employee awards

PHILADELPHIA — Teams and individuals at DLA Troop Support earned several awards at the 49th Annual DLA Employee Recognition Award Ceremony Dec. 15.

DLA Pathways to Career Excellence Program graduate Dec. 13 during a ceremony at DLA Troop Support in Philadelphia. The 56 graduates completed the two-year training program through on-the-job assignments, cross-training, rotational assignments and formal training.

Dec. 15, 2016

Graduates on right pathway to career in warfighter support

PHILADELPHIA — More than 50 participants in DLA's Pathways to Career Excellence Program took the next step to a successful career during their graduation ceremony in Philadelphia Dec. 13.

Darnesha King, an intern with the Construction and Equipment supply chain, leads Benjamin Franklin Elementary School students in a game during the annual Children’s Holiday Party Dec. 8. Troop Support employees donated gifts for more than 200 students for the party.

Dec. 14, 2016

Employees bring holiday joy to local schoolchildren

PHILADELPHIA — Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support employees, known for providing critical supplies to warfighters, supplied gifts, games and cheer to local students during the annual Children’s Holiday Party Dec. 8.

Navy Capt. Gerald Raia, Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support Procurement Process Support Director, explains the importance of federal contracts to 185 acquisition professionals from more than a dozen federal agencies at the Mid-Atlantic Acquisition Council Training Symposium. Raia, who spent more than four years serving in a combat zone, said that strong acquisition practices are critical to an agency’s mission accomplishment.

Dec. 7, 2016

Strength in numbers: acquisition professionals gather for interagency meeting

PHILADELPHIA — Local acquisition professionals from more than a dozen federal agencies, including Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, attended the Mid-Atlantic Acquisition Council Training Symposium in Philadelphia Nov. 30.

Peter Stupak (left), a management and program analyst with the Continuous Process Improvement office, and David Mourar (right), a contracting officer with the Medical supply chain, were certified as Lean Six Sigma green belts after successfully completing LSS projects that saved DLA Troop Support thousands of dollars and dozens of hours.

Dec. 6, 2016

Newest green belts chop reporting times, save money

PHILADELPHIA — Time and money will be saved thanks to process improvement projects that led two employees at Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support to earn their Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certifications.

Navy Lt. Anthony Meyer speaks with an employee working at One Liberty Place in downtown Philadelphia Nov. 8. Meyer, a contract specialist with Subsistence, gave her a handful of cards for her co-workers to sign and include in care packages for warfighters as part of Operation Gratitude.

Dec. 5, 2016

Operation Gratitude collects donations to deliver delight to deployed warfighters

PHILADELPHIA — Military personnel from the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support and other local organizations joined together to collect donations for deployed service members during an annual drive in November. Service members from all branches of the military set up areas in downtown Philadelphia office building lobbies to collect monetary donations, gift cards and small items in support of Operation Gratitude.

Sailors greet one another during a commissioning ceremony Nov. 10, 2016 in San Diego. DLA Troop Support led a Joint Clothing and Textiles Governance Board meeting Nov. 17 with Department of Defense senior logistics leaders to discuss management of clothing and textiles, such as the Navy Working Uniform shown here, during an executive board in Alexandria, Virginia.

Dec. 5, 2016

Senior DOD leaders discuss clothing and textiles support

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Senior logistics leaders from the Department of Defense, including Defense Logistics Agency and military services, discussed clothing and textiles management during an executive board meeting Nov. 17.

Army Brig. Gen. Charles Hamilton, DLA Troop Support commander, congratulates Mara Bailey, John McAndrews and Gary Shute during the DLA Troop Support Hall of Fame induction ceremony Nov. 29.

Dec. 5, 2016

Four new inductees honored at DLA Troop Support Hall of Fame ceremony

PHILADELPHIA — Four individuals were added to the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support Hall of Fame and join the exclusive ranks of some of the organization’s finest former employees. The contributions of Mara Bailey, John McAndrews, Gary Shute and Army Col. John Smith to the agency and the workforce were honored during an induction ceremony Nov. 29.

Small Tribes of Western Washington, based in Lakewood, is one of 125 Native American organizations with members whose fruits and vegetables are delivered by regional produce companies working on DLA Troop Support contracts as part of the USDA Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations.

Nov. 29, 2016

DLA Troop Support, USDA help Native American tribes provide fresh fruits, vegetables

For more than 20 years, DLA Troop Support has partnered with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to help Native American tribes provide fresh fruits and vegetables to people living on or near Indian reservations.

Army Brig. Gen. Charles Hamilton, DLA Troop Support commander, discusses the impact of standardization at the Military Medical Enterprise Standardization Office Training Workshop in Philadelphia Nov. 15. In fiscal 2015, standardization of medical supplies and equipment saved more than $16 million

Nov. 23, 2016

DLA, DHA, services collaborate to improve military healthcare through standardization

PHILADELPHIA — Medical standardization across DOD improves clinical outcomes, enhances readiness and training, controls costs and improves DOD-wide interoperability, a DHA official said as more than 100 military medical professionals gathered in Philadelphia recently for a standardization workshop.

John Sheehan (right), director of customer operations in Subsistence, and Air Force Col. Glenn Chadwick, Industrial Hardware director, judge chili entries for the fifth annual Chili Cook-Off Nov. 15. The cook-off was part of a fundraising event for the 2016 Combined Federal Campaign.

Nov. 22, 2016

Troop Support 'Shows Some Love' during week of CFC fundraising

PHILADELPHIA — DLA Troop Support employees got into the season of giving by participating in several Combined Federal Campaign events the week of Nov. 14-18.