RICHMOND, VA –
Roughly a thousand people packed the Frank P. Lotts Conference Center on Defense Supply Center Richmond, Virginia, as Defense Logistics Agency Aviation Commander Air Force Brig. Gen. David Sanford held a town hall Oct. 1. This was his first time addressing a mass gathering of the workforce since taking command in July.
The event kicked off on an upbeat note with Sanford thanking the workforce for all their hard work and dedication. He then drew plenty of applauses by authorizing an hour off for their efforts.
The event then moved into an awards ceremony recognizing Melissa O’Kelly, integrated supplier team Chief lead, AVN Engines and Airframes Division, Supplier Operations Commodities Directorates, Defense Logistics Agency Aviation; Kenya Allamby, corporate contract specialist, Strategic Acquisition Programs Directorate; and Brian Kovach, chief, Army Customer Facing Division Weapon Systems Support Branch, Customer Operations Directorate who were awarded the DLA Meritorious Civilian Service Award for their exceptional contributions to the warfighter. Both O’Kelly and Allamby were recognized for their work while deployed to Kuwait as a DLA Support Team member. Kovach’s award covered the time he served as the weapon systems program manager for the Army AH-64 helicopter.
Katrina Leverette, sexual assault response coordinator, then addressed the crowd about the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Program, laying out the program’s mission and the definition of sexual assault, as defined by the Department of Defense.
David Gibson, director, DLA Installation Management Richmond, was next. He gave a quick update about three projects his organization is overseeing: Phase 2 of the DLA Aviation Operations Center, East Gate construction, which is scheduled to be complete April 2020 and the latest on parking lot renovations to the gravel lot at Lotts Center and the widening of H Road.
After Gibson, Vonya Lofties, chief, Occupational Safety and Health Division, Command Support Directorate, gave the workforce a safety briefing as well as some important milestones, including the Voluntary Protection Program recertification, which was moved from March to April 2020 due to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration not having enough team leaders.
A chronological timeline of upcoming events and remaining 2019 federal holidays was presented before Sanford made his way to the stage to give his remarks.
He started out by telling stories about his Air Force career, growing up in Georgia and how he met his wife.
Sanford then turned his attention to discussing Aviation’s responsibility in supporting the DLA Strategic Plan 2018-2026, set forth by DLA Director Army Lt. Gen. Darrell Williams.
He strongly encouraged everyone in attendance to make sure they are familiar with the aspects of the plan.
“This document helps move the organization. It’s important to understand where the organization wants to go. All of our efforts should be nested with these efforts and we’re driving towards that goal,” Sanford said.
Sanford ended his first of what is sure to be a few more town halls, before his time as DLA Aviation commander comes to an end in a couple of years, with a question-and-answer session.