PHILADELPHIA –
Karen Goodburlet was honored by the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support for 31 years of federal service at a retirement ceremony March 28 in Philadelphia.
The ceremony was presided over by DLA Troop Support Deputy Commander Richard Ellis, who thanked Goodburlet for her dedication to the warfighter and highlighted her impact as a purchasing agent in the Medical supply chain.
“Service members around the world know that they’ll want for nothing…,” Ellis said. “They may not know how it gets there, but we do. It’s provided by outstanding employees like you.”
Goodburlet started her federal career in 1988 with the U.S. Postal Service, eventually moving to the Department of Veteran Affairs, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and finally to Troop Support. She was proud of her federal career and her support to the nation.
“Since my dad was a veteran, I felt like I was giving back” Goodburlet said. “My whole [federal] career, I’ve felt like there was a purpose to what I was doing in life.”
Goodburlet fondly recalled 12-hour shifts with the Post Office’s processing and delivery department after 9/11, working to ensure postal services were uninterrupted despite a national emergency and air traffic stoppage. After joining Troop Support, her history as a contracting officer and dedication to duty became an asset to her team and the warfighter when one day she stepped up...
“Two of my coworkers were out, and some [contract] awards weren’t going through,” Goodburlet said. “So I went to my boss and asked, ‘Is there something I can do to help the team?’”
Because of Goodburlet’s proactive effort, she was able to get the certification needed to aid the award process and get medical supplies to the warfighter on time, she said.
“Throughout my whole 31 year career, I felt like I’ve made a difference,” Goodburlet said. “Not alone, but as a team. It always takes a team effort to do what we [federal employees] do.”
Goodburlet looks forward to traveling and spending time with friends and family in her retirement. She also intends on putting her contract negotiation skills to work in her personal life as she and her husband do “market research” into moving.