DLA wins 15th DoD award for hiring people with disabilities

Photo By Teodora Mocanu | (Left to right) Ajaye’ Carter, acting deputy director, DLA EEO Office; Leo LeCompte, director, DLA EEO Office; Ted Case, DLA vice director; and Army Lt. Gen. Michael Linnington, military deputy to the undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness, pose for a photo following the DOD Disability Awards Program at the Pentagon Oct. 30. (Photo by Teodora Mocanu)  

FORT BELVOIR, VA, UNITED STATES

11.04.2013

Courtesy Story

Defense Logistics Agency   

FORT BELVOIR, Va. - The Defense Logistics Agency received the Secretary of Defense Component Award for outstanding achievements in the employment of individuals with disabilities, in a Pentagon ceremony Oct. 30. DLA Vice Director Ted Case received the agency’s 15th award in this category.

DLA competed against five mid-size components – the Army and Air Force Exchange Service, Defense Commissary Agency, Defense Contract Management Agency, Defense Finance and Accounting Service, and the Department of Defense Education Activity – in eight categories.

The 33rd Annual Department of Defense Disability Awards Ceremony was hosted at the Pentagon by Army Lt. Gen. Michael Linnington, military deputy to the undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness.

This is DLA's second victory in a row. DLA demonstrated strong performance in all categories, but the agency performed especially well in new hires of individuals with targeted or severe disabilities and in its use of the Schedule A non-competitive hiring authority. In addition, DLA hired 10 individuals under the Workforce Recruitment Program for College Students and Recent Graduates with disabilities last year with its own funding, more than any other defense agency.

DoD Director of Disability Programs Stephen King also spoke at the ceremony.

"The bottom line is America must employ the talents, skills and capabilities of incredibly bright and productive citizens -- both in and out of uniform -- who want to serve our country," he said. "People with disabilities often face unique challenges; we need that type of problem-solving ability and skill in the workplace."

In a written message for the event, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel noted that President Barack Obama has reaffirmed the government’s obligation to be a model employer of individuals with disabilities.

“Our department supports this effort in many ways, including our continual commitment to wounded warriors and our long-standing goal that people with targeted disabilities make up at least 2 percent of our civilian workforce,” Hagel wrote.

DoD always has relied on the abilities of its employees -- in and out of uniform -- to accomplish its mission, he added.

“Integrating people with disabilities not only makes for a diverse and inclusive workforce; it also provides critical problem-solving abilities, skills and perspectives that we wouldn’t have otherwise,” Hagel wrote. “This ultimately makes us more effective at defending our nation.”

This year’s theme also highlights an important point: Individuals with disabilities make organizations stronger and a person’s disability is not a boundary to the talent he or she possesses, Hagel added.

In his remarks, Linnington said people with disabilities are vital to the DoD workforce, and diversity has been part of the country’s history since the nation was founded.

“The diverse backgrounds and experiences of our people give us a strategic advantage in achieving mission success and achieving our high standard of readiness,” he said. “As the largest federal employer, many people expect DoD to lead the way in hiring individuals with disabilities, including our nation’s veterans.”

DLA was named the best mid-sized component. The other three agencies receiving awards were:

-- Best Military Department: Department of the Air Force.
-- Best Small-Sized Component: Defense Security Service.
-- Best Intelligence Component: National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency.

• Date Taken: 11.04.2013
• Date Posted: 11.14.2013 14:42
• Story ID: 116749
• Location: FORT BELVOIR, VA, US