Editor’s note: The Defense Logistics Agency recognizes May as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. In honor of their contributions to the agency’s global mission, DLA is highlighting Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders who work day in and day out to provide logistics support to America’s warfighters.
My name is: Howard G. DeMotta
I am: A management support officer
Describe your job in a sentence: I provide support to the men and women assigned to DLA Indo-Pacific.
How long have you worked at DLA? I started my journey with DLA in 2010 as a business analyst.
What is your favorite thing about working for DLA? The excitement of coming to work each day and working with a diverse group of professionals, especially my fellow Business Management Office colleagues.
What are your best memories of working here? Taking part in our annual DLA Indo-Pacific Ohana (family in Hawaiian) Picnic and witnessing the diversity and culture of the various people assigned to our organization.
How do you make a difference? Doing my best each day and by seeking ways to make a difference to allow our customer-facing personnel to be able to meet the demands of supporting the warfighter.
What is one thing you’d like others to know about your heritage? My home state is Hawaii. Before the annexation of Hawaii by the United States in 1898 and Hawaii becoming the 50th state in 1959, native Hawaiians had a well-established culture and long history of self-governance through its traditional Hawaiian monarchy. Through time, Hawaii witnessed the influx of various ethnics groups (Europeans and Asians) to support the growing agricultural industry. To this day, Hawaii remains one of the most ethnically diverse places in the world. I am proud of my Hawaiian, Chinese and Portuguese heritage along with growing up in Hawaii.
Why is it important to you that we celebrate Asian Pacific Islander’s Heritage Month? I am honored by the history of my Asian American and Pacific Islander ancestors and the sacrifices and suffering they went through in the building of our great nation. As such, it is equally important that we, as a nation of immigrants, continue to acknowledge and build the awareness of the significance of the contributions, culture, traditions and history of Asian American and Pacific Islanders in the United States.