Photo By Photos DOD | DLA Director Navy Vice Adm. Mark Harnitchek presents Twila C. Gonzales with the DLA...... read more read more
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BATTLE CREEK, Mich. - Promising to always to be the organization’s advocate, Defense Logistics Agency Disposition Services Director Twila C. Gonzales passed the leadership of her organization to Army Col. Richard Bezold, who accepted responsibility as the interim director from DLA Director Navy Vice Adm. Mark Harnitchek during a ceremony Nov. 26.
Gonzales had served as director since March 2008 and is returning to DLA Distribution to serve as deputy commander. During the ceremony, Harnitchek praised her tenure for not only supporting warfighters, but also her workforce’s efforts in providing disaster relief services after Hurricane Sandy and her staff’s oversight of the Law Enforcement Support Office
“We put a lot of demands on this place, and Twila always answers the call,” Harnitchek said. “Under Twila’s expert leadership, this organization has saved … more than $10 billion through its reverse logistics missions. You make sure things don’t go to waste … and you make it look easy.”
Harnitchek presented Gonzales with the DLA Exceptional Civilian Service Award in recognition of her accomplishments. Another tribute to Gonzales’ leadership came in the form of remarks from Mary Judnich, representing Sen. Debbie Stabenow and Battle Creek, Mich., Mayor Dave Walters.
Before departing, Gonzales commented on the many changes to her organization since she arrived and how well her workforce adapted. Organizations can be measured by how well they respond to such changes, she said, noting the importance of knowledge in managing change.
“Our horizon is ripe with challenges and opportunities, and I know that this workforce, this team, will not only rise to meet these opportunities, but will conquer them as well,” Gonzales said. “An organization is all about the collective capacity of its people to create value, which you all do every single day.”
After accepting the organizational colors from Gonzales, Bezold thanked her for her leadership, which he said “challenged people to think differently about how disposition services are provided around the world.”
Bezold credited that approach to helping commanders achieve their missions with reduced risks through processing items at forward bases instead of risking lives in convoys to take the material to a rear area for disposal.
“But disposition services isn’t just support to the [area of operations],” Bezold said. “It’s the people we have working every day throughout the world from Gimcheon, Korea, to Germersheim, Germany, and all points in between.” Praising those “dedicated men and women,” he complimented their role in receiving, storing and disposing of property, always making sure it is done properly.
“I can’t say enough about the commitment of this hard-working group of professionals, and I am honored to be part of this great organization,” Bezold said.
Bezold first joined the DLA Disposition Services leadership team in August as Gonzales’ deputy. During the ceremony, Harnitchek said he was looking forward to the great things Bezold is going to do leading DLA Disposition Services until a new civilian director is hired. Bezold came to DLA Disposition Services from the U.S. Army Pacific Logistics’ chief of plans, exercises, programs, policy and multinational branch. His three decades of military experience include various command and operations officer experience at the detachment, platoon and company level. Other previous assignments have included duties as logistics officer, Iceland Defense Force, Naval Air Station Keflavik, Iceland; and commander, 2nd Forward Support Battalion, Camp Hovey, Korea. Bezold deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom in August 2004. Bezold was later assigned as the 19th Expeditionary Sustainment Command chief of staff in June 2008 and as the 8th Theater Sustainment Command operations officer from July 2010 to September 2012.
| Date Taken: | 11.26.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 12.02.2013 13:53 |
| Story ID: | 117610 |
| Location: | BATTLE CREEK, MI, US |
| Web Views: | 197 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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