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News | May 25, 2022

Employee Spotlight: Steven Brandt

By DLA Aviation Public Affairs Office

Employee spotlight regularly features outstanding non-supervisory personnel from throughout the Defense Logistics Agency Aviation and other DLA employees on Defense Supply Center Richmond, Virginia. Organizational directors may submit names of employees they wish to feature in this column to DLA Aviation Public Affairs. For more information, call (804) 279-3139. 

Name: Steven Brandt

Organization: DLA Aviation at Cherry Point, North Carolina

Years of Service: 22 years

What is your job title, and what do you do, specifically? I’m a customer support specialist. I am responsible for managing orders, providing order management support to the industrial customer for a wide range of issues involving both DLA and non-DLA managed items.  I support our customers’ needs by reducing unfilled orders through research, expedited requests, and using all available resources. I provide a DLA face to the industrial customer by providing order status information and actions taken to ensure timely support.

What do you like most about your job? I have always been a behind the scenes guy. The satisfaction of knowing I am part of a team, that does the research and digging to get “that part” to the artesian and will get the aircraft in the air. The metrics people only know that the plane is flying, not what it took to get it off the ground.

What kind(s) of training and education helps your work performance in your current role? Hands-on training provided by the ‘old timers.’ The experienced people that have done the job and adapted over the years to provide me with the most efficient means to get the job done correctly.

What aspect(s) of your current job gives you the most personal satisfaction? Why? Being part of a team that really does care about what we do for the warfighter, today and tomorrow.

What advice would you have given yourself 10 years ago? I would tell myself to prepare for retirement! It is not too soon! Do not tell yourself “I have time.” You cannot get time back to change what you did not do then. It’s not just money. Planning on how you want to live is just as important.

What’s your biggest pet peeve? People who think they can do multiple things while driving. Cell phone, texting, eating, smoking… everything but driving…

What’s the most thrilling/adventurous thing you have ever done? My honeymoon started in Germany and then we took a 10-day motorcycle tour of Scandinavia to North Cape, Norway.

If you had a theme song, what would it be and why? My theme song would be Lee Marvin’s “Born under a wand’rin’ star.”  After buying my first motorcycle, I have ridden through 43 states and 19 countries.

Who is your favorite actor or actress and why? My favorite actor is Alan Alda. The man has a passion for his acting like no other.

What is your proudest accomplishment? Serving in the Army for 20 years.