DLA Aviation Hall of Fame

2019 Honoree


Janet "Jan" Price
Bellwood Service  
1985 - 2015

Janet “Jan” Price began her federal service career in 1985 as a Contracting Specialist. She retired in October 2015 as the Director of Procurement Process Support.

Janet F. Price retired in October 2015 as Director of Procurement Process Support for DLA Aviation, a field activity of Defense Logistics Agency, Fort Belvoir, Virginia. She returned to this previously held position after serving as Acting Deputy Commander, DLA Aviation, from May to November 2012. A Richmond, Virginia native, Ms. Price began her federal service career in 1985 as a Contracting Specialist. She has also served as a Contract Administrator, Contracting Officer, Procurement Analyst, Supervisory Systems Analyst and Product Operations Manager. Throughout her 30-year career, Ms. Price held Director positions in Procurement Process Support and Business Process Support. She advised DLA Aviation’s commander, deputy commander and head of the contracting activity on procurement-related matters as they related to acquisition policy and support, and on procedural support for all material management processes to include review and analysis of operational procedures, and sales and operations planning.

Additional positions she held included Deputy Director of Aviation Supplier Operations from October 2006 until March 2010, where under her leadership, Supplier Operations managed procurement acquisitions totaling $3.4 billion annually; Chief, Original Equipment Manufacturer Division, Aviation Supplier Operations Directorate, where she was responsible for sole-source items for major OEM suppliers using long-term contracting arrangements; and Chief, Emergency Supply Operations Branch, where she performed cradle to grave emergency procurements in support of the Warfighter. Finally, Ms. Price played a critical role in the establishment of the Product Center Team concept in Supplier Operations in 1993.

During her career, Ms. Price was a member of the Defense Acquisition Corps and was Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act Level III certified. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from James Madison University and a Master of Science in Business Administration from Central Michigan University.

Ms. Price’s service was marked by excellence in leadership, an unwavering work ethic and a fierce dedication to tasks and teams.

Because of her achievements and outstanding commitment to maintaining the highest standards as a DLA Aviation employee and leader, Ms. Price was honored with the DLA Distinguished Career Service Award upon her retirement.

2018 Honoree
 

Benjamin "Gil" Perkins
Bellwood Service
1981 - 2015

Gil Perkins began his career at DLA Aviation as a Law Clerk in 1981 while in law school at the T.C. Williams School of Law at the University of Richmond. He retired in 2015 as Chief Counsel for DLA Counsel Aviation.
Benjamin “Gil” Perkins retired in October 2015 as Chief Counsel for DLA Counsel Aviation.
He assumed this position in April 2006.
In his role as Chief Counsel, he also served as the principal legal advisor to DLA Aviation on matters of acquisition law, personnel and labor law, ethics, fraud, and operations law. His office managed the Freedom of Information Act program and all congressional inquiries.

Prior to serving as Chief Counsel, he was Associate Counsel for Special Acquisitions and was the principal legal advisor for DLA Aviation’s strategic and complex acquisitions. He led a team of government contract attorneys practicing in what was then DLA Aviation’s Commodities Division and Strategic Material Sourcing Group Division, both in the Customer Operations Directorate. He also served as the legal advisor for the Supplier Relations Management Group and Business Development Office.

Mr. Perkins began his work at DLA Aviation as a law clerk in 1981 while in law school at the T.C. Williams School of Law at the University of Richmond, where he received his Juris Doctor in 1983. Mr. Perkins also has a bachelor's degree in political science from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

He served as an attorney-advisor at DLA Aviation from 1984 until his retirement. As an attorney-advisor, he advised clients on a broad range of supply and service contracting, contract policy, fiscal and personnel matters; represented the agency in bid protests before the Government Accountability Office and served a temporary assignment as an agency trial attorney where he litigated cases before the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals.

In 2002, Mr. Perkins was a member of the DLA Aluminum Products Quality Team that led a DoD-wide investigation into the effects of potential safety and quality issues growing out of a subcontractor’s fraudulent misrepresentations. The team identified potentially affected items in the DoD inventory, alleviated concerns that safety critical parts were at risk, and developed recommendations to prevent and address similar issues in the future.

From 2002-2003, Mr. Perkins participated in a rotational assignment as Business Manager for the Packaged Petroleum, Chemicals, Gases and Rings, Shims and Spacers Product Center, a $120 million business center.

In 2003, the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs and the DoD General Counsel recognized Mr. Perkins for successfully assisting the TRICARE Management Activity in representing that activity before the U.S Government Accountability Office on a protest against an award under the TRICARE program, which provides health coverage for DoD service members, their dependents and service retirees.

Through 33 years of federal service, Mr. Perkins gained a reputation for thorough work and fair, beneficial results while acting in various legal capacities on behalf of DLA Aviation. It is because of his contributions to and tireless efforts on behalf of the installation that, upon his retirement, Mr. Perkins received the DLA Distinguished Career Service Award.
 

2017 Honoree
 

Carolynn Michel
Bellwood Service
1977 - 2015

Carolynn Michel began her career in 1977 as a rotational General Schedule (GS)-2 Clerk Typist in Supplier Operations, Storage and Transportation. She retired in January 2015 as the Deputy Director of the Business Process Support Directorate.
Carolynn Michel began her career in 1977 as a rotational General Schedule (GS)-2 Clerk Typist in Supplier Operations, Storage and Transportation. She retired in January 2015 as the Deputy Director of the Business Process Support Directorate for Defense Logistics Agency Aviation, a major subordinate command of Defense Logistics Agency.

Mrs. Michel oversaw the performance of the Enterprise Business System processes (Order Fulfillment, Planning and Technical Quality) by coordinating, consolidating and reporting the overall performance results. She also identified and assessed operations performance issues, and developed viable solutions to resolve cross-process issues in coordination with DLA’s process owners.

She also served as the DLA Aviation Field Command Team Lead for audit readiness and was responsible for implementation and sustained compliance. Prior to serving as the Deputy Director, she was the Division Chief of the directorate’s Research, Review and Analysis Division. She served as the Defense Supply Center Richmond Transitional Program Manager responsible for monitoring activities related to implementation and transition of items from the legacy system, Standard Automated Materiel Management System to Business Systems Modernization, the precursor to the Enterprise Business System.

Mrs. Michel successfully led the implementation of major systems that positively impacted DLA Aviation’s workforce. Those systems included the Automated Time, Attendance and Production System mainframe, Defense Civilian Personnel Data Systems and the Defense Civilian Pay System. She also oversaw the reorganization effort referred to as “Big Bang,” which moved 2,700 employees and their respective workload into the customer and supplier team construct as a precursor to Business Systems Modernization implementation.

She worked directly for DLA Headquarters on two occasions. First, she worked on the DLA Aluminum Parts Quality Assurance Group to determine whether a supplier improperly heat treated aluminum parts, thus putting DLA’s military customer at risk. Under her leadership, the team’s work led to the successful criminal prosecution of the company. Second, she was responsible for DLA’s migration to ATAAPS Graphics User Interface and recognized for the successful implementation affecting 27,000 employees across all DLA locations.

After 37 years of federal service, Mrs. Michel is well respected for her knowledge, experience, dedication and “can do” attitude. Her many contributions as a leader have been invaluable to DLA and DLA Aviation. Upon her retirement, Mrs. Michel received the DLA Distinguished Career Service Award.
 

2016 Honoree
 

Mary Studevant
Bellwood Service
1966 - 2003

Mary Studevant served the Department of Defense in a career spanning more than thirty years. She began as a secretary in 1966 and retired in 2003 as the Deputy Director of Support Services.
In 1972, she moved into the procurement field and held positions as a Procurement Clerk, Agent and Analyst until 1974, when she took an eight-year break in service to raise her children.

In 1982, Ms. Studevant re-entered the workforce as a Procurement Agent Intern. In 1986,
she became a Supervisory Contract Specialist. In 1988, she became a Procurement Analyst Training
Coordinator. In 1994, she was promoted to Defense Supply Center Richmond’s Executive Staff
Officer (now the Defense Logistics Agency Aviation Chief of Staff) where she served for four flaglevel
officers and was supervisor of the command staff for seven years. In this position, she helped
develop and implement a seven-year action plan, which included training and organizational changes
for DSCR and Defense Distribution Depot, Richmond, Virginia, employees. The plan incorporated the
agency’s Total Quality Management philosophies and continuous process improvement concepts.
In 2001, she became the Deputy Director of Support Services (now DLA Installation Support at
Richmond) until her retirement in 2003.

Ms. Studevant’s many contributions include developing of the Strategic Management System for
the enterprise, developing the agency’s first Balanced Scorecard, and developing and implementing the
first DLA contracting intern program at DSCR.

Upon retirement from DSCR in 2003, Ms. Studevant managed the Virginia Executive Institute at
Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, for 11 years.

She has held a number of professional memberships including those in the Richmond Rotary;
Chesterfield Business Council; Richmond Chamber of Commerce; Federal Executive Association; and
Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society. Ms. Studevant currently serves as a mentor and works in the
Lunch Buddy Program for Henrico County Schools and serves as a substitute teacher. She is also a
regular volunteer for WWBT TV’s NBC-12-On-Your-Side.

Ms. Studevant is a native of Kenbridge, Virginia, and a graduate of Smith-Madden Business
College where she earned the executive commercial diploma. She holds a Bachelor of Science in
business administration and management (Magna Cum Laude) from VCU, where during her senior year
she also received a pre-graduate fellowship at the University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia. She
has a Master of Business Administration from the University of Richmond, Virginia, and completed the
Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government Program for Senior Executive Fellows.
 

2015 Honoree

Glenn Petrina
Bellwood Service
1967 - 2012

Glenn J. Petrina served the Department of Defense in a career spanning forty-two years. He served his last twenty-six years on Defense Supply Center Richmond (DSCR). During this time, he held leadership positions in both a military and civilian capacity.
Mr. Petrina’s career with Defense Logistics Agency began in 1986 as a major in the U.S. Army. He was an Army Corps of Engineers Project Manager, working with DLA Operations Support Office (DOSO) at DSCR. He retired with 22 years of service as a lieutenant colonel in 1992 and returned to DOSO to begin his civil service career as DOSO’s Chief of Engineering, then Deputy Director, and in 1995 became its Director. In December 1997, Mr. Petrina served as the Director of Installation Services, managing facility engineering, equipment maintenance, and administrative services. His accomplishments included: managing the re-internment of human remains discovered during the construction of the Bettye Ackerman-Cobb Child Development Center; serving as the principal transition manager for the map mission transfer fr om the National Imagery and Mapping Agency to DSCR; approving and implementing military construction projects; and in conjunction with Chesterfield County and Army Materiel Command, successfully coordinating the construction of a radio tower enabling emergency services to communicate throughout the county and DSCR. He also provided oversight of the Ground Water and Soil Contamination Program.

In March 2001, Mr. Petrina became the Director of Information Resources and Chief Information Officer for DSCR. He was instrumental in the development and implementation of the Executive Information System and enhancing the Web Customer Account Tracking System. These systems expanded beyond DLA Aviation and served several agency supply chains. He also oversaw the migration of DLA Aviation Mapping Division’s outdated inventory systems into the agency’s current supply and distribution systems.

In August 2002, Mr. Petrina became the Director of the DLA Office of Operations Research and Resource Analysis (DORRA). During his 10-year tenure, he provided DLA with over one million hours of analytical support, specializing in benchmarking, modeling, simulation and supply chain management. Under his direction, DORRA’s analytical products included: Vendor Stock Retention Model; System of Integrated Metrics Analysis Model [used by DLA Aviation to determine the required inventory for weapons systems such as the B1, F-15, KC-135, F-100, F-110]; and acquisition business case analyses. He oversaw the Weapon System Re-investment Initiative which led to the Office of the Secretary of Defense providing $500 million for needed safety stock investment to improve support for critical weapon system items. Also under Mr. Petrina’s tenure, DORRA played a key role in sentencing a former DLA Aviation supplier who created a multi-year, multi-million dollar fraud scheme. Mr. Petrina retired from DLA in 2012.

Mr. Petrina’s accomplishments have served DLA Aviation, its predecessors, and all employees working onsite. His contributions improved supply chain operations and management, and his installation-related endeavors improved the physical facilities, landscape, safety, and environmental compliance. His cooperative working relationships between local, state, and federal agencies enhanced DSCR’s stature in the community. Center employees continue to reap the benefits of his contributions today.
 

2014 Honoree

 Dorothy Jean Lohr
Bellwood Service
1967 - 2012

Dorothy Lohr served Defense Logistics Agency Aviation in a career spanning forty-five years. She consistently led implementation of innovative acquisition procedures, forging the way for acquisition reform at DLA Aviation and throughout DLA.
Dorothy Jean Lohr a resident of Chester, Virginia, was recognized for her significant and enduring contributions to the DLA Aviation mission, the workforce, and the nation’s defense.
Lohr served the Defense Logistics Agency Aviation in a career spanning forty-five years.  She consistently led implementation of innovative acquisition procedures, forging the way for acquisition reform at DLA Aviation and throughout DLA.  Affectionately known as the “Wizard of Policy,” she was one of DLA’s foremost experts in federal, Department of Defense (DoD), and DLA acquisition policy. She was known as a trailblazer, charting unknown territory, and always finding a balanced solution to extremely complex, often multifunctional, impacting issues.

Lohr began her career in 1967 as a secretary, General Schedule (GS)-4, in Special Purchases Division (SPUR) at what was then the Defense General Supply Center and served in several branch and division secretary positions through 1980.  Changing career fields in 1981, she was promoted to a buyer in the Educational Supplies Division supporting DoD Dependent Schools (DoDDS). She was promoted to a procurement (systems) analyst in the Management Support Office, Systems and Procedures Branch in 1984 as the BOSS subject matter expert.  In 1986 she was promoted to a procurement (policy) analyst.  Promoted to procurement policy chief in 2004, she transitioned to special projects in 2006 to focus her expertise on Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC).  She retired in 2007 and was asked to return as a retired annuitant to continue working BRAC issues, best (procurement) practices, procurement process support organization realignment, and DoD Activity Address Code synchronization.  She finalized her career in 2012.

Her abilities benefited DLA through improvements to DLA’s Pre-Award Contracting System and the design, development, and roll-out of Legacy Procurement Automated Contract Evaluation. She was a key member of the team that developed Business Systems Modernization Procurement Desktop Defense functionality; Solicitation Response/Offer Evaluation automated solicitation and award capability; and a senior policy member for the eProcurement Development Team.

Lohr was awarded the Meritorious Civilian Service Award in 2007 for outstanding contributions to the Procurement Process Support Directorate and recognized at the 2009 DLA 42nd Annual Recognition Program for excellence in procurement analysis.
 

2013 Honoree

Pamela Day
Bellwood Service
2008 - 2009

Pamela Day served as director of DLR Procurement Operations organization at Hill Air Force Base, Ogden, Utah in 2008. She worked tirelessly to assure that the stand-up of DLA Ogden was accomplished without complications.
Pamela Day served as director of DLR Procurement Operations organization at Hill Air Force Base, Ogden, Utah in 2008. She worked tirelessly to assure that the stand-up of DLA Ogden was accomplished without complications. Largely due to Day’s management and procurement expertise, the Base Realignment and Closure directed organization stood up with minimal difficulty and without impact to customers or employees. Day believed it was important to not only build a basic organizational understanding of the BRAC changes, but to translate that into what it means for the organization and for the people and then communicate it throughout the organization.

Among her numerous successes, she recognized the importance of ensuring the necessary resources were in place to make this (BRAC Change) not only a successful transfer, but a successful organization in the future, ensuring continued support to DLA customers. Day brokered a deal with the Air Force to perform a detailed workforce study and was able to get buy-in from both DLA and the Air Force to transfer the necessary number of positions required to perform the required mission.

Without her expertise and leadership the new operation could not have achieved the success it enjoyed in integrating the BRAC vision of improved strategic performance.  Ms. Day’s untiring work ethic, and her commitment to the mission of the DLA Enterprise, coupled with her astute stewardship of resources, guaranteed the recurring pattern of success exhibited by every organization she had led or been affiliated.
 

2012 Honorees

Charles Carrell
Bellwood Service
1989 - 2011

Charles Carrell served as director of Quality Assurance (now Aviation Engineering) from February 1989 to July 2001 and as site director, DLA Installation Support at Richmond from July 2001 until January 2011.
Charles Carrell served as director of Quality Assurance (now Aviation Engineering) from February 1989 to July 2001 and as site director, DLA Installation Support at Richmond from July 2001 until January 2011.  Mr. Carrell's long-term contributions and foresight have had a lasting and positive impact on DLA Aviation and DLA Installation Support.
He championed excellence across DLA in engineering and other technical areas to include aligning recruiting and personnel practices to increase the percentages of minority engineers within the organization, establishing a workflow system and transitioning to the electronic transmission of technical data packages (TDPs).  His efforts ensured that the agency was able to handle a dramatic increase in the demand of TDPs.  Under his superb leadership, DLA generated over $50 million of reported savings annually via Value Management Programs which resulted in the agency’s multiple selections as the overall winner of the DoD Logistics Life Cycle Cost Reduction Award.

As site director, DLA Installation Support at Richmond, Mr. Carrell provided leadership and guidance to the newly formed organization (formerly DLA Enterprise Support).  He was responsible for a multitude of functions including special projects, installation management, administrative support, safety and environmental, security and fire and quality of life.  Mr. Carrell was instrumental in directing the functions throughout various reorganizations and developed metrics and other improved methods to enhance the "operationalization" of the organization with a budget of over $60 million.  He championed numerous initiatives relating to military construction projects, most notably the Headquarters Building, the Security and Emergency Services Building, and the enhanced Vehicle Registration and Mail Facility.  Mr. Carrell passed away in Richmond on March 1, 2011, but his legacy and impact will live on forever.
 

2011 Honorees

Lillie Mae Brown
Bellwood Service
1967 - 1994

Lillie Mae Brown served as a systems analyst with the Logistics Applications of Automated Marking (LOGMARS) Division of DLA Aviation, formerly the Defense General Supply Center.
Ms. Brown's courage and stand for equality for all minorities in the 1970s led to affirmative changes in hiring, training, awards, and promotion practices that were fair for all employees and ultimately created better appreciation and understanding of the value of diversity in the work force.In a period when minority groups faced real challenges in the labor force, Ms. Brown took a stand. Her courage and willingness to face those practices led to better opportunities for all minority groups.
Women now represent 51 percent of the DLA Aviation work force – and of these women  - 21 percent are African American. Women now represent 53 percent GS grades 11 thru 15, and there have been many significant changes in the representation and appreciation of diversity in our work force.

Ms. Brown also made significant accomplishments within her technical field.  As a systems analyst in the Defense Mechanization Support Office from 1982 through 1986, Ms. Brown worked to develop a standard bar code symbology for DoD, referred to as the LOGMARS project.

Lillie Mae Brown retired Oct. 9, 1994 as a GS-13 after 27 years of service. Ms. Brown, a "true leader" died in Richmond on February 6, 2006, but her legacy and impact will live forever.

Phil Eckert, Jr.
Bellwood Service
1987 - 2006

Philip Eckert, Jr. served as chief counsel at Defense Supply Center Richmond from July 1987 through July 2006. His long-term contributions and foresight have had a lasting and positive impact on DSCR and the DLA Aviation mission and business practices.
As chief counsel, Mr. Eckert served as DSCR's primary legal
counsel and as the leader of a staff of 13 lawyers and four support personnel.

His almost 20-year tenure as chief counsel spanned a time period that included not only major changes in DSCR's mission, but also occurred against a backdrop of unprecedented legislative and regulatory transition affecting acquisition, ethics, personnel law and policy.

As a member of the DLA Office of General Counsel's Senior Leadership Team, Mr. Eckert played a lead role in implementing changes to the organization of field activity counsel offices necessitated by DLA's transition to supply chain management, and by the addition of new missions and personnel mandated by Base Realignment and Closure or BRAC. He created teams within the DSCR Office of Counsel organized by supply chain and led by senior attorneys.

He also led the way in creating the new position of supply chain counsel, who is responsible for managing legal services to Aviation Supply Storage and Distribution sites and depot level repairables detachments and the attorneys assigned to those field offices.
 

2010 Honorees

VADM Keith Lippert, USN (retired)
Bellwood Service
1993 - 1995

Vice Adm. Keith Lippert, U.S. Navy (Retired) served as commander, Defense Supply Center Richmond from June 1993 to June 1995 when the center was known as Defense General Supply Center.
Vice Adm. Lippert was also instrumental in managing increased workload through Phase II Consumable Item Transfer and the 1993 Base and Realignment Closure law. His visionary leadership made him a primary force in moving the organization forward through reengineering and motivation. Many of the programs he introduced had significant long-term contributions to the way Defense Supply Center Richmond continues to operate today.

Some of his notable contributions included: introducing a Continuous Improvement Cycle at Defense General Supply Center, establishing customer-focused and -driven metrics, creating the Business Development Office, which was a forerunner to Customer Relationship Management; establishing the Customer Call Center, which evolved into a world class operation; championing initiatives to align operational goals in the center’s business plans with those of the product centers and customer-driven measures; being a strong advocate for union involvement and forming a total quality partnership with American Federation of Government Employee Local 1992; expanding the school partnership program from two to four schools; and establishing the Inventory Control Point Academy, known today as the Aviation Academy. The core values of Defense General Supply Center under the command of Vice Adm. Lippert are still in place today. The focus on people, integrity, customers, teamwork, quality, excellence and responsible stewardship continue due to his leadership.

After serving as commander of Defense General Supply Center, he went on to serve as Defense Logistics Agency director from July 2001 until his retirement in July 2006.
 

Toni Norton
Bellwood Service
1991 - 2007

Toni Norton retired in 2007 as the Defense Supply Center Richmond site transition and culture manager after 16 years of service here, with 32 total years in federal government.
Her service and contributions had an immediate and enduring impact on the Defense Supply Center Richmond and the Defense Logistics Agency Aviation.

She was instrumental in moving the center from transition to full operational capacity within the Business Systems Modernization, with minimum disruption to the workflow processes. This conversion fundamentally changed the way Defense Logistics Agency Aviation manages and conducts its business.

Her notable contributions included: making recommendations that supported the agency strategy, implementation, design, test, and the actual deployment of the Business Systems Modernization which included developing town halls, sponsor meetings, open forums, and subject matter expert meetings so the work force could confidently transition from the legacy system to Business Systems Modernization; leading in supporting and facilitating the implementation of the supply chain concept with the rollout of the Maritime Detachment, Aviation Commodities, Air Frames and Engines, other supported aviation items and the aviation detachment rollouts at Defense Supply Centers in Columbus, Ohio and Philadelphia.

Ms. Norton also played a pivotal role as DSCR’s culture manager. She presented action plans to command with specific focus areas based on her analysis of survey results, incorporated focus groups to target specific areas, and provided feedback on actions taken to measure progress. Many of her initiatives, such as the Mutual Expectation Agreement, a two-way communication tool, have had a lasting impact on the work force.

2009 Honorees

Verona McLeod
Bellwood Service
1976 - 2006

Verona McLeod retired in 2006 as director of financial operations after more than 30 years of service. Her dedication to mission effectiveness and program management served as a model for all. Ms. McLeod began her career with the federal government in 1965.  
Her distinguished accomplishments while at Defense Logistics Agency included serving as the project officer for the implementation of the Appropriated Accounting System. That integrated accounting system was used for all operational funds. The implementation was successful and Ms. McLeod’s oversight, training and follow-up were commendable.

Ms. McLeod also established the Supply Chain Management Office, which served as the center’s focal point for external customers, Headquarters and internal customers for supply chain management support. The office became a model within the Defense Logistics Agency. Her leadership was instrumental in the development of the Premium Pricing System for the Emergency Supply Operations Center. The system was finalized and significantly improved service to customers. By streamlining data call processes, budgetary staffs across center benefited tremendously from a productivity standpoint.

Ms. McLeod received many awards and honors for her service to Defense Logistics Agency and Defense Supply Center Richmond. She received the Defense Logistics Agency Meritorious Civilian Service Award and the Distinguished Career Service Award. Ms. McLeod was a talented, dedicated, leader who led by example. Her selfless service to the work force, customers and the agency are her legacy.
 

Brenda Longest
Bellwood Service
1961 - 2007

Brenda Longest retired in September 2007 as the pillar lead for 2005 Base Realignment and Closure supply, storage and distribution management reconfiguration after 45 years of federal service with Defense Supply Center Richmond.
During her career, she led many logistics programs resulting in innovative and successful advancements for Defense Logistics Agency.
She played a key role in the transition of Defense Supply Center Richmond through the age of automation, beginning with the depot Mechanization of Warehouse and Shipping Procedures system to the Defense Logistics Agency supply center Standard Automated Material Management System, and ultimately, she also spearheaded implementation of the Enterprise Business System applications.

One of Ms. Longest’s best known roles was as chief marketing officer in the 1990s, during which she helped increase sales for Defense Supply Center Richmond product lines and services. She was instrumental in educating customers and suppliers worldwide on Defense Logistics Agency capabilities. Ms. Longest was directly responsible for the center’s increased sales of energy efficient lighting products, while saving DoD and other federal agencies millions of dollars in energy costs.

Ms. Longest served as acting deputy commander of Defense Supply Center Richmond in 2000, and later as the supply lead for the supply, storage, and distribution reconfiguration pillar of the Base Realignment and Closure Implementation Team. As director of customer operations, Ms. Longest led the establishment of legacy customer teams in 2002. The teams prepared the organization for systems and process changes that shifted from a commodity-based supply chain orientation to a customer-facing demand chain approach. Her customer support organization extended outside Defense Supply Center Richmond boundaries to Defense Logistics Agency Europe, Defense Logistics Agency Pacific, and key customer sites.

In her last career assignment, from October 2005 through August 2006, Ms. Longest worked an aggressive schedule to establish an execution plan for Defense Logistics Agency to assume management of military service distribution operations. During her tenure, Ms. Longest facilitated multiple Defense Logistics Agency data sharing arrangements with the military services. She pioneered use of war rooms in customer team operations to drill down to specific critical requirements of military customers.

Ms. Longest is best known for is her superb mentorship and leadership abilities. She always made extraordinary efforts to ensure communication flowed to all employees. Her outstanding achievements as a leader made her the ultimate role model. She also helped advance the role of women in the executive ranks and cultivated diversity within the workplace.
 

Richard J. (Jim) Bailey
Bellwood Service
1986 - 2007

Richard J. (Jim) Bailey retired in July 2007 as deputy commander of Defense Supply Center Richmond. He came to Defense Supply Center Richmond in 1986, to serve as the chief of the Requirements Systems Management Branch of the Supply Operations Directorate.
As deputy commander, he provided oversight for the aviation supply and demand chain that managed more than 25 percent of Defense Logistics Agency’s four million consumable items. He provided leadership to more than 2,900 civilian and military personnel at 11 locations, performing logistics support management for more than 1.25 million national stock numbers. This translated to greater than $3.3 billion in annual sales and the processing of more than 4.4 million requisitions annually.

One of Mr. Bailey’s noteworthy accomplishments was as a “plank-owner” of the Business Systems Modernization transformation initiative. His efforts throughout its implementation were continually recognized both in and outside of the agency. Mr. Bailey was a critical sponsor for the successful transition to Business Systems Modernization, transferring approximately 900,000 items of supply from legacy systems, with a demand value of $2.73 billion. Mr. Bailey continually led the charge to increase business relationships with small vendors, with awards to small business firms exceeding $1 billion. Under his leadership, Defense Supply Center Richmond successfully implemented the Service Disabled Veteran owned Small Business Program, with awards increasing from $8 million in fiscal 2004 to $26 million in 2006.

Focusing on process improvements, Mr. Bailey was instrumental in the initiation of the Defense Supply Center Richmond Lean-Six Sigma office in 2005. This resulted in Defense Supply Center Richmond having the highest number of black belts and green belts in Defense Logistics Agency. His focus on growing the business with industry partners was highly successful. He championed 25 new partnering agreements with commercial aerospace industries, increasing sales by more than $30 million.

Mr. Bailey also demonstrated exceptional environment stewardship. Under his guidance, Defense Supply Center Richmond received International Organization for Standardization 14001 accreditation in the environmental management system, was accepted into the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s National Performance Track Program and was recognized by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality as an Extraordinary Environmental Enterprise participant in the Virginia Environmental Excellence Program.
 

Pat James
Bellwood Service
1993 - 2006

Pat James retired in September 2006 as director of the Richmond Land and Maritime Detachment after 37 years of federal service. He served three years in the Marine Corps, and 35 years as a federal civil servant, 13 of them were at DSCR.
Early in his career at Defense Supply Center Richmond, he was chief of the Operations Division. He administered and directed implementation of plans, objectives and programs for Industrial Plant Equipment field services. With the operating site in Pennsylvania, Mr. James maintained close communications and coordination of all policies, procedures and guidance. Due to his exceptional knowledge of the Industrial Plant Equipment world, Mr. James was made deputy leader of Product Center 8, and was responsible for the activities of three branches: Customer Requirements; Production Scheduling; and Commodity Management. He represented DLA on a Joint Service Depot Maintenance Group, providing workload breakdowns and performance metrics reporting for all services.

He was also property program manager for all Department of Defense and federal agencies regarding Industrial Plant Equipment.. As Product Center Leader for three Defense Supply Center Richmond product centers, Mr. James directed, planned, coordinated, and organized complex professional and administrative functional areas to meet customer expectations. He was tasked with merging two product centers to consolidate resources and freed up supervisory and manager positions for a new business model. As a testament to his leadership skills and capabilities, he was temporarily promoted to deputy of Business Operations at Defense Supply Center Richmond. During that time, he served as joint chair on the Material Obligations Committee and Resource Management, controlling and setting guidance on material expenditures.

In November 2004, the Land and Maritime Detachment was established at Defense Supply Center Richmond with Mr. James as the director. The reorganization established integrated supplier teams supporting two distinct supply chains. Every employee affected was faced with uncertainty, and in most cases, wholesale changes in their daily work. In addition, the Land Division assumed management of the high-visibility, high-dollar battery population from the U.S Army. In the first year, the division reduced backorders transferred by 99 percent. Mr. James met all these challenges and excelled.

Mr. James was a professional logistics manager, respected for his knowledge, experience, dedication, and enthusiastic approach to work. His many contributions as a leader and business manager were invaluable to Defense Logistics Agency and Defense Supply Center Richmond.
 

2008 Honorees

Mary Kay Cyrus
Bellwood Service
1980 - 2005

Mary Kay Cyrus retired after 25 years of federal service.Some of her notable contributions that have had a sustained impact on DSCR and the Defense Logistics Agency include expanding use of the Enterprise Linked Logistics Information Source and concept development of a supportability analysis model.
Most of that service was spent at Defense Supply Center Richmond, where she served in a variety of positions, including director of planning and resource management, comptroller, business operations deputy director, director of information systems, and, at the time of her retirement, director of legacy systems support.
Some of her notable contributions that have had a sustained impact on DSCR and the Defense Logistics Agency include expanding use of the Enterprise Linked Logistics Information Source and concept development of a supportability analysis model. Mrs. Cyrus also facilitated the development of a mapping national stock number hierarchy, which set the stage for the successful transition of items into the current supply chain hierarchy. She was the advocate and chief designer of Aviation Investment Strategy, a $500 million effort that improved support on critical weapon system items by 47 percent in three years.

During DSCR's transformation from the aviation lead center to the aviation supply chain, Mrs. Cyrus was assigned as the lead for the "Big Bang" effort. Big Bang was the name of DSCR's transformation from an inventory control point-centric organizational structure to the business system modernization organizational structure. Big Bang was the largest reorganization of people and workload in DSCR's history, impacting over 2,000 personnel. It is directly a result of her planning, organization, analytical skills and broad knowledge of our business, that DSCR successfully implemented this major transformation. She retired from DSCR in June 2005.

Darius Lantz
Bellwood Service
1969 - 2002

Darius Lantz began his civilian career at the Defense Depot Richmond in 1969 after serving three years in the United States Army. He transferred to Defense Supply Center Richmond in 1971 and worked a variety of clerical assignments until his promotion to procurement agent in 1977.

Under his leadership, the division was one of the first acquisition offices in DLA to use formal source selection procedures under newly published Federal Acquisition Regulations. Through his guidance and tutoring, the division developed and executed new practices and procedures for selecting contractors through formal evaluation and source selection involving complex technical and contracting proposals. In fact, much of his work formed the baseline for formal source selections and best value procurements now accepted as standard practice. In the mid 1990s, Mr. Lantz led the transformation of the Virtual Prime Vendor Program from the Philadelphia retail model to supporting entire weapon systems and subsystems. This transition represented an entirely different approach to VPV and to how DLA supported weapon systems. His efforts with VPV led to DSCR's current supplier engagements in strategic supplier alliances and performance-based logistics initiatives.

Mr. Lantz also directed the base support effort for the center for the 12 years before his retirement. Under his tutelage, DSCR established the Wellness Program, which has been instrumental in developing a culture of wellness across the center, but more importantly, in the individual lifestyles and lives of the center's employees. His efforts in the base support area were instrumental in DSCR receiving the Commander in Chief's Installation Excellence Award on five separate occasions.
He retired from DSCR in May 2002 and died March 18, 2008.
 

2007 Honorees

David J. Gay
Bellwood Service
1995 - 2005

David J. Gay began his career at Defense Supply Center Richmond in November 1995 as a collaboration business process analyst working with the Enterprise Business System, formerly known as Business Systems Modernization.
One of his most significant accomplishments was the conception, development and deployment of the Web Customer Account Tracking System.
WebCATS revolutionized and simplified the way DLA's logistics employees, customers and suppliers interacted with Defense Logistics Agency inventory control and provided an enterprise-owned, easy-to-use, self-service, Web-based application to retrieve supply logistics information. Mr. Gay's idea was to have access to one system that reflected summary information on any DLA national stock number either one-at-a-time or on multiple NSNs, in a report format, using "point-and-click" query technology.

It is impossible to quantify the impact that WebCATS has had on the thousands of DLA customers, employees, and suppliers or to quantify the benefits they received. WebCATS was so successful that it had more than 13,000 user accounts worldwide, not counting the thousands of individual DLA employees across the globe with account access. As part of EBS, WebCATS functionality is being replicated in the eMall Customer Account Tracking System. The functionality perpetuated in eMall CATS that resulted from Mr. Gay’s simple idea will continue to provide the warfighter the best DLA logistics supply data.

Mr. Gay will long be remember at DSCR for his imagination, innovation and vision that simplified the ability of his fellow co-workers, and DLA’s suppliers and customers to more efficiently perform their jobs providing world-class DLA support.
 

2006 Honorees

Maj. Gen. Rufus L. Billups, USAF (ret.)
Bellwood Service
1975 - 1978

Air Force Maj. Gen. Rufus Billups (ret.) was known as the “people’s general” because of his unwavering efforts to enhance the self development and promotional opportunities for women and minorities as well as improve the working conditions for all employees.
Upon his arrival as commander, the center was immersed in a federal class action suit and he was adamant about fulfilling the terms of the agreement by increasing the number of women and minorities in trainee, middle- and high-grade positions.

General Billups was the first to institute the upward mobility program to allow wage-grade employees to be converted to and/or compete for general schedule positions. Because of his commitment to enhancing the educational and skill levels of the work force, he was the first to offer a 100 percent tuition reimbursable program and to have college courses offered at the center.

In addition, it was under his leadership that the first master’s degree program was offered here.  His contributions to the center are evident throughout DSCR today because he laid the foundation for diversity and employee development.

He retired from the Air Force on April 1, 1980. He passed away on January 30, 1996.
 

2005 Honorees

Cecelia L. Becker
Bellwood Service
1966 - 2003

Cecelia L. Becker, known by friends and coworkers as “C.B.,” was the first woman to hold the position of Equal Employment Manager at Defense Supply Center Richmond. Under her leadership, this office was recognized as the DLA EEO Activity of the Year in 1997, 1998, and 2000.
As program manager of the Federal Women’s Program Committee, she led the initiative for a child care development center which officially opened November 2000 as the Bettye Ackerman-Cobb Child Development Center. C. B. is remembered for her enthusiasm, energy and dedication in the field of Equal Employment Opportunity.

Richard Marino
Bellwood Service
1970 - 1997

Richard Marino was an innovator focused on moving DSCR into the future. As a systems and procedures manager, he played a key role in coordinating the requirements of many unique automated systems, critical initiatives and projects which provided enhanced support to the DSCR mission.
 

During his tenure, to name a few of his major projects, Mr. Marino headed a DLA team responsible for automating the procurement process; introduced the concept of configuration management; brought Video Teleconferencing Capability to DSCR; and, facilitated the transfer of the National Imagery and Mapping Agency mission. He was selected as one of the 10 Outstanding Personnel of DLA in 1977 and nominated again for that honor in 1991. Mr. Marino set the standard for professionalism, integrity, leadership and excellence.

2004 Honorees

Elizabeth Ackerman-Cobb
Bellwood Service
1956 - 1993

Elizabeth H. Ackerman set the standard for professionalism, integrity, leadership and excellence. Her extraordinary logistics knowledge bettered the performance of Bellwood and the people she contacted throughout her career.
Her dedication to duty, personal sacrifice and unwavering commitment to excellence set a standard that few can hope to achieve but to which many can aspire.