DLA Troop Support News

DLA Director Army Lt. Gen. Darrell Williams, left, DLA Troop Support Commander Army Brig. Gen. Mark Simerly, center, and Navy Command Master Chief Shaun Brahmsteadt (far right) present Roberto Santana Irizarry, second left, contracting officer representative, DLA Troop Support Subsistence supply chain, with the DLA Leader of the Year award during the 51st Annual Employee Recognition Awards Ceremony, Dec. 13, 2018 at the McNamara Headquarters Complex Auditorium, Ft. Belvoir, Va. Santana Irizarry received the award for his significant achievements in providing logistical support to the Warfighter throughout Afghanistan.

Jan. 10, 2019

Subsistence employee’s hard decision ultimately earns him 2018 Employee Leader of the Year recognition

PHILADELPHIA — Having to convince your wife and five kids to leave a familiar place to go to an unfamiliar place may seem like a daunting task. For one Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support employee this one decision led to one of his most gratifying experiences being selected as the 2018 Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support Leader of the Year.

Rebecca Oduba, left, grandmother of Army Lt. Col. Thomas E. Wooden Jr., receives an American flag in honor of her grandson's retirement Jan. 4, 2018 in Philadelphia.

Jan. 7, 2019

Troop Support honors Army reservist’s retirement

PHILADELPHIA — Army Lt. Col. Thomas Wooden Jr. was honored for 29 years of service to his nation at a retirement ceremony held Jan. 4 at the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support in Philadelphia where he spent the last 29 years of his military career as an Army reservist. During the ceremony, presiding official and DLA Troop Support Commander Army Brig. Gen. Mark Simerly thanked Wooden and his more than 20 family members in attendance for their support to the Army and to the nation. “We know that serving in the armed services poses challenges for our soldiers that many civilians and their families cannot appreciate, but you all can,” Simerly said. “And your support to [Wooden] has been essential in his success.”

Team members from DLA Troop Support Subsistence and Continuous Process Improvement Offices hold the process map created for the UGR-A process improvement project Sept. 19, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Jan. 3, 2019

Process Improvement helps get food to troops overseas faster

PHILADELPHIA — Napoleon Bonaparte has been credited with saying that “an Army marches on its stomach.” As key players in making sure the military has the food they need to literally sustain America’s armed forces, employees from the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support’s Subsistence supply chain understand the importance of that concept. And when they saw potential to improve their process to feed the warfighter faster, they called in the Continuous Process Improvement Office to assist.

Craig Fischer (left), program manager with the Department of the Treasury’s Financial Innovation and Transformation Office, shares lessons learned from a blockchain pilot with DLA Troop Support leaders including Product Test Center-Analytical supervisor Jamie Hieber (right) at a meeting Dec. 3 in Philadelphia.

Dec. 21, 2018

Troop Support event poses question: How and where can blockchain help?

PHILADELPHIA — The Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support provided approximately 41,000 power poles, 88.1 million meals and 1,264 generators in partnership with the Federal Emergency Management Agency during the 2017 hurricane season. Responding to three major hurricanes was a record undertaking for DLA, and the mission was a success. But could the use of blockchain technology improve DLA’s support even more?

Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support Industrial Hardware Director Air Force Col. Adrian Crowley is addressed by Santa, played by contract specialist Craig Singleton, in a presentation from IH as part of their entry in the 2018 holiday decorating contest in Philadelphia Dec. 20, 2018.

Dec. 21, 2018

Troop Support brings cheer to workforce with 2018 holiday decorating contest

PHILADELPHIA — Employees of Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support supply chain and staff offices participated in a holiday decorating contest in Philadelphia Dec. 20. Employees created holiday “postage stamp” themed scenes depicting their piece of the agency’s Warfighter support mission, and entries were judged by Troop Support’s senior leadership team. Congratulations to 2018’s winners: 1st Place – Industrial Hardware; 2nd Place – Clothing and Textiles; 3rd Place – Command Support.

Army Brig. Gen. Mark Simerly, DLA Troop Support commander, poses with 11 employees during a retirement ceremony at DLA Troop Support Dec. 17, 2018 in Philadelphia.

Dec. 20, 2018

DLA Troop Support recognizes four centuries of service during retirement ceremony

PHILADELPHIA — DLA Troop Support honored 11 civilian employees for their federal service during a retirement ceremony Dec. 17.

Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support commander Army Brig. Gen. Mark Simerly presents the DLA Troop Support Declaration of Innovation to Rob Fagan during a Town Hall in Philadelphia, Nov.11, 2018. Fagan, a junior contract specialist on the heraldic team in DLA Troop Support’s Clothing and Textile supply chain, was instrumental in standardizing and developing a new material to be used in flags for the military. (Photo by Alexandria Brimage-Gray/DLA Troop Support)

Dec. 18, 2018

Commander launches innovation award ‘to meet dynamic, emerging warfighter requirements of the future’

PHILADELPHIA — On July 4, 1776, the Second Continental Congress convened in Philadelphia to sign the Declaration of Independence. On Dec. 11, the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support commander and supply chain directors also gathered in Philadelphia to sign the inaugural Declaration of Innovation.

DLA Director Army Lt. Gen. Darrell K. Williams (left) and DLA Troop Support Commander Brig. Gen. Mark Simerly (right) listen as Troop Support senior leaders discuss key topics during a Dynamic Operating Plan review meeting at DLA Troop Support in Philadelphia Dec. 7, 2018.

Dec. 17, 2018

DLA Director talks Troop Support operations with leaders, hosts town hall for employees

PHILADELPHIA — Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support senior leaders engaged in dialogue with DLA Director Army Lt. Gen. Darrell K. Williams about the actions they are taking to support DLA’s Strategic Plan, after which Williams held a town hall, during his visit to Philadelphia Dec. 7. Williams reviewed Troop Support’s Dynamic Operating Plan to understand how the organization’s fiscal 2019 plans connect to agency strategy. Williams also praised Troop Support’s accomplishments and later shared the praise with the workforce. “It’s clear that you are doing some very positive things at Troop Support,” Williams said. “My compliments to you.”

Rob Aptaker, the guest speaker and American Indian storyteller, speaks to the audience during a National American Indian Heritage Month program at DLA Troop Support, Dec. 11, 2018 in Philadelphia.

Dec. 14, 2018

NSA Philadelphia uses storytelling to celebrate American Indian heritage

PHILADELPHIA — Naval Support Activity Philadelphia employees celebrated National American Indian Heritage Month during a program Dec. 11.

Dec. 13, 2018

DLA Troop Support commander holds year-end town hall

PHILADELPHIA — Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support Commander Army Brig. Gen. Mark Simerly held his final town hall of the year, Dec. 11, 2018 in Philadelphia.

Troop Support director speaks at C&T industry event

Dec. 12, 2018

DLA, services, clothing and textiles vendors ‘synchronize’ warfighter support

CHERRY HILL, New Jersey — Synchronizing the Defense Logistics Agency’s warfighter support with industry and military service partners ensures readiness and lethality for future operations, DLA Troop Support’s commander said during a planning brief Nov. 28 in Cherry Hill, New Jersey.

Ryan McLeod, a DLA Troop Support Industrial Hardware branch chief and volunteer, watches students color drawings during the Children’s Holiday Party at Benjamin Franklin Elementary School Dec. 6, 2018 in Philadelphia.

Dec. 11, 2018

The season of giving: Troop Support employees donate gifts, supplies to local school during annual holiday party

PHILADELPHIA — DLA Troop Support employees donated presents and school supplies to kindergarten and first grade students at Benjamin Franklin Elementary School during its annual Children’s Holiday Party Dec. 6.

Representatives from DLA Troop Support and U.S. Forest Service discuss planning for operation support during a meeting at DLA Troop Support Nov. 6, 2018 in Philadelphia.

Dec. 7, 2018

DLA Troop Support presents new planning for wildfire support

PHILADELPHIA — With several wild fires blazing this year, DLA Troop Support and other federal agencies changed its planning approach to supporting the USDA’s Wildland Fire Protection Program.

Paul Williams, a Medical tailored vendor logistics specialist, facilitates a panel of Veterans Affairs benefits experts at DLA Troop Support Nov. 27, 2018 in Philadelphia.

Dec. 6, 2018

Employees talk benefits, programs with VA panel

PHILADELPHIA — DLA Troop Support’s Medical culture improvement team invited VA benefits representatives to talk with veteran and military employees.

Navy Cmdr. Shani LeBlanc, DLA Troop Support Pacific commander, pose with Soldiers from the Public Health Activity Hawaii, Schofield Barracks after presenting them awards for their contributions to RIMPACT 2018, Nov. 21, 2018 at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickman, Hawaii. RIMPACT is the world's largest international maritime exercise that takes place in the Hawaiian Islands every two years.

Dec. 4, 2018

Troop Support Pacific commander awards soldiers for maritime exercise contributions

JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM — The Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support Pacific commander awarded nine soldiers from the Public Health Activity Hawaii, Schofield Barracks, the Joint Service Achievement Medal and five soldiers’ certificates of achievement for their contributions to the biennial Rim of the Pacific exercise, Nov. 21, 2018 at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickman, Hawaii.