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News | Feb. 10, 2016

DLA Distribution San Joaquin’s Deep Dive Disposal Team receives Big Ideas Award

By DLA Distribution Public Affairs DLA Distribution Public Affairs

The DLA Distribution San Joaquin, Calif., Fiscal Year 2015 Deep Dive Disposal Team has been named the DLA Distribution Big Ideas Award winners in the “Small” category for the fourth quarter of FY15. 

The team consists of Abelardo “Abe” Cabrera, activity equipment program manager; Nyia Frisby, accountable property officer; and Bret Goodwin, equipment maintenance manager.

The Distribution San Joaquin FY15 Deep Dive Disposal Team has yielded tremendous results in equipment management optimization.  Demonstrating exceptional financial stewardship, the team’s resilience and focus were critical to the successful execution of DLA Distribution’s FY15 Deep Dive goals to “right size” San Joaquin’s equipment fleet while still maintaining its mission readiness in support of the Warfighter, said commander Marine Corps Col. Keith Reventlow.

When DLA Distribution San Joaquin completed its move from its Sharpe site and consolidated all stock and equipment at its Tracy site, it was faced with the issue of determining which excess equipment had passed its life expectancy and could be disposed of so that equipment replacement costs could be eliminated from DLA Distribution San Joaquin’s assets record. 

In April 2015, Cabrera began the process of reviewing approximately 700 pieces of equipment managed in the Equipment Management and Control System, line by line.  Based on that review, he identified 36 pieces of equipment that met the criteria of excessive age, high maintenance costs, or under-utilization due to excess quantity resulting from the Sharpe move.  Coordination then began with Goodwin and Frisby to develop an action plan to begin pulling and staging the equipment for disposal.

Cabrera coordinated with San Joaquin’s senior leadership and warehouse management team for the removal of the equipment and the redistribution of the remaining fleet assets as needed to ensure mission equipment priorities were not interrupted or handicapped. Once notified by Cabrera to initiate pick up of the designated equipment for disposal, Goodwin coordinated with San Joaquin’s on-site contracted maintenance service, who oversaw the process of prepping the equipment for disposal while at the maintenance shop. 

At the same time, Frisby was working closely with both Cabrera and Goodwin to maintain meticulous disposal documentation for each piece of equipment being disposed of in order to eliminate any delays during the disposal process. All of this was accomplished by the team while they still managed their primary duties.  “Their professionalism and attention to detail demonstrated their commitment to financial stewardship, effective resource management, and dedication to ensuring DLA Distribution is audit ready,” said Reventlow.

He continued, saying, “The team’s actions have had a significant financial impact on the agency.  The results of the team’s disposal actions also contributed to the modernization of San Joaquin’s forklift fleet, aiding DLA’s effort to modernize equipment across the agency.”