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News | Oct. 29, 2019

New DLA Energy Deputy Commander announced

By DLA Energy Public Affairs

In an email to senior leaders, Defense Logistics Agency Director Army Lt. Gen. Darrell K. Williams announced the selection of William (Eric) Smith for the Senior Executive Service position of DLA Energy Deputy Commander.

“Eric will join DLA in the coming weeks,” Williams said. “I ask that you join me in congratulating Eric on his selection to this key executive position and welcoming him to the DLA senior leadership team.” 

In his previous position, Smith served as the Department of Energy’s deputy director for the Office of Minority Programs and Business Operations. Prior to joining the Office of Economic Impact and Diversity, Smith served as the National Nuclear Security Administration’s acting associate administrator for Emergency Operations and the deputy associate administrator for Emergency Management and Preparedness.

A former Army logistics management Colonel and DLA alumnus, Smith served as executive officer to the DLA Director in 2007 and staff director for DLA's Logistics Operations Center in 2006. 

Smith became a member of the Senior Executive Service in 2007, when he was selected to join the Federal Emergency Management Agency as the member charged with envisioning, creating, and leading the post-Katrina mandated transformation of domestic disaster logistics. With FEMA, he successfully served simultaneously as FEMA’s disaster logistics national program executive, executive lead coordinator for Emergency Support Function #7, and the executive lead of the FEMA National Response Coordination Center’s Resource Support Section.

During his seven years of leadership with the Department of Homeland Security, Smith implemented an effective and collaborative national and interagency all hazards operations support concept. He instituted a comprehensive “whole community” public and private sector resource planning and operations support capability to respond to catastrophic disasters, other national emergencies and special events.

Smith is expected to join the staff in late November relieving Bruce Blank, who has been acting deputy commander since May. “I have greatly appreciated Mr. Blank’s dedication and leadership as interim deputy commander,” said DLA Energy Commander Air Force Brig. Gen. Albert Miller. 

Regarding the announcement of the new DLA Energy deputy commander, Miller stated, “I am excited to welcome Mr. Eric Smith to DLA Energy. He brings over 30 years of diverse logistics experience, both in the public and private sectors, making him an ideal addition to the phenomenal team of professionals at DLA Energy.”