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News | March 12, 2019

Women’s History Month Spotlight: Army Col. Isabel Geiger

By DLA Public Affairs

Editor’s note: The Defense Logistics Agency recognizes March as Women’s History Month. In honor of women’s contributions to the agency’s global mission, DLA is highlighting female employees who work day in and day out to provide logistics support to America’s warfighters.

My name is:
Army Col. Isabel Geiger

I am:
The director of operations for the Joint Contingency Acquisition Support Office in DLA Logistics Operations. I’m an Army logistician with more than 23 years of service. I’m also a wife and mom to four young boys.

Describe your job in a sentence:
I oversee two deployable mission support teams located at DLA Headquarters and 16 planners embedded with combatant commands, all of whom support warfighter readiness with operational contracting support by assessing and planning commercial support for supplies and services.

How long have you worked at DLA?
Since June 2017

What is your favorite thing about working for DLA?
The people! But the global mission and ability to directly impact capability through readiness is also great.

What are your best memories of working here?
When you have an interaction with someone and get them to understand how what you do will ultimately improve their organization. Those “aha” moments really keep me going.

How do you make a difference?
I try to make a difference by caring about the team I work for. Although they might report to me, I feel it’s my responsibility to do all I can to care for my team and support a healthy work-life balance. I’d like to think that my team knows I care about them, and that I’ll do as much as possible to support the individual and also accomplish the mission.

How do you resolve conflict in the workplace and at home?
At work it’s through facilitated discussions with an end state in mind (e.g., in this discussion we want to reach a conclusion or compromise on subject XYZ). I want to show that I’m listening to what others have to say. At home, with four young children, it can be chaotic! I try to remind myself to take the important things seriously and not get too excited about those things that aren’t. I like to let my boys try and resolve their own issues, and I look to carve out individual time with everyone which, admittedly, isn’t easy.

What does Women’s History Month mean to you?
It is an occasion to recognize those trailblazers who have sacrificed to make a difference. It means that I stand on the shoulders of those pioneers who have gone before me and I’m grateful for the opportunities it has opened up. It also serves as a reminder that our purpose should be about so much more than just ourselves – we have moments in our lives where we can make a difference, small or large, and we shouldn’t let those moments go unused.