Photo By Mark Woodbury | Shay Assad, director of Defense Pricing, reveals a bronze plaque naming the new...... read more read more
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FORT LEE, Va. - The Defense Contract Management Agency marked the official opening and naming of its new headquarters building on Fort Lee, Va., with a ribbon cutting and building dedication ceremony Sept. 15.
The building was named Herbert Homer Hall in honor of DCMA employee Herb Homer, who was aboard United Airlines Flight 175 on Sept. 11, 2001, when the aircraft crashed into the World Trade Center.
Frank Kendall, principal deputy under secretary of defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, was the keynote speaker for the ceremony. He spoke about the importance of DCMA’s mission within the Department of Defense.
“The synergy of bringing you together and combining the workforce in one place at the headquarters level is going to pay great dividends in the future,” Kendall said. “I expect great things of you in the future just as we have in the past.”
At the beginning of the ceremony, Army Maj. Gen. James L. Hodge, commanding general of the U.S. Army Combined Arms Support Command, the Sustainment Center of Excellence and the senior mission commander for Fort Lee, welcomed DCMA personnel as the newest tenants on the post.
“Today is a special day because this day provides the opportunity to acknowledge the Defense Contract Management Agency, its leadership and its dedicated employees and their families,” said Hodge. “This day allows us to come together to witness and celebrate the ribbon cutting and dedication of your new headquarters. Hopefully, this day will also help you discover what makes Fort Lee such a tremendous place to live and work.”
He added that DCMA’s move to Fort Lee was just one of the many changes to the post as a result of the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Act, which included 56 new buildings and the complete renovation of four buildings on post. The new DCMA headquarters building previously housed the Combined Arms Support Command and was substantially updated to support DCMA’s personnel and mission.
More than 600 military and civilian personnel will occupy Herbert Homer Hall. DCMA personnel began relocating to the Fort Lee area in June 2007 from northern Virginia and other locations.
“DCMA is excited to be part of the Fort Lee team,” said Charlie E. Williams, Jr., the agency’s director. “Each day we find ourselves surrounded by the very customer we serve – the warfighters. Their service and dedication to country motivate us in our endeavor to consistently provide the highest quality contract administration to serve them.”
The ceremony culminated with the unveiling of the Herbert Homer Hall plaque. Shay Assad, the director of Defense Pricing, spoke about Homer’s dedication to his job and the American taxpayer whom he represented.
“There was never a doubt, in our minds, of whom he represented,” said Assad, a former Raytheon executive who worked closely with Homer. “Herb was incredibly smart. Herb had great strength. When he thought the best interests of the United States government weren’t being taken into account, he let us know about it in no uncertain terms.”
Assad said Homer’s greatest attribute was his humility to all he met. He said this made him the kind of person whom everyone loved. “He was everything DCMA should be all about – about the warfighter, about the taxpayer, caring and being extremely professional.”
During his remarks, Williams said the best way to honor the memory of a great person is to do great work in his name. He described Homer as a truly dedicated public servant whose exceptional leadership and outstanding performance exemplify what DCMA is all about.
“DCMA will honor Herb’s memory by continuing to provide outstanding support to our nation’s warfighters around the world and right here in this building that will bear his name,” Williams said.
| Date Taken: | 09.15.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 09.16.2011 15:32 |
| Story ID: | 77158 |
| Location: | FORT LEE, VA, US |
| Web Views: | 1,267 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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