FORT BELVOIR, Va. - Defense Logistics Agency Director Navy Vice Adm. Mark Harnitchek called the agency a “world-class outfit” before recognizing outstanding employees and teams Dec. 5 at the 46th Annual Employee Recognition Ceremony at the McNamara Headquarters Complex.
The ceremony honored 39 award winners in 11 categories.
“Whenever I go out to speak or get interviewed, somebody invariably will ask me, ‘Admiral, what keeps you up at night?’” Harnitchek said. “Of course my answer is: ‘nothing.’ It’s not because I’m oblivious or not paying attention. I meant that sincerely. Any challenge that comes our way, I know you guys are going to leap over it, run through it, dig a whole under it, go around it, crush it, eat it, and somehow overcome.”
Harnitchek acknowledged that the past year was not easy for many employees, citing the unpaid furlough days civilian employees took during the summer and the potential furlough many faced during October’s government shutdown as challenging times. But he said he was proud of the way the DLA team responded.
“What I’m delighted about is how you all responded, like the professionals that you are,” he said.
The admiral said that while the agency is a large enterprise, it needs every one of its team members to make things happen. Picking the best from a long list of accomplishments was tough, he said.
“The place is really nothing without all of you, all 26,000-plus DLA superstars all over the world. … This is like trying to pick the American Idol,” he said. “I know this might sound a little trite, but you really are all winners, and I mean that in every sense of the word.”
Award winners and their categories were:
Ten Outstanding DLA Personnel of the Year:
-- Martin Breth III, DLA Distribution.
-- Army Staff Sgt. Luis Feliciano, DLA Distribution.
-- Patricia Roberts, DLA Distribution.
-- Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Nakeia Brinson, DLA Land and Maritime.
-- Constance Moore, DLA Aviation.
-- Air Force Master Sgt. Floyd Gardner, DLA Disposition Services.
-- Air Force Capt. Carissa Deeney, DLA Energy.
-- Roy Pitman, DLA Land and Maritime.
-- Thomas Reinard, DLA Installation Support.
-- Air Force Maj. Marc Torosian, DLA Logistics Operations.
-- Steven Turley, DLA Finance.
DLA Team Performance Award:
-- Okinawa Bulk Fuel Mission Transfer Team, DLA Energy.
-- DLA Distribution San Joaquin, Calif., Preservation, Packaging, Packing, and Marking Team, DLA Distribution.
-- DLA 2013 Furlough Planning Team, DLA Human Resources.
Achievement in Equal Employment Opportunity by an Organization: DLA Troop Support.
Outstanding DLA Employee with a Disability: Justin Drawbaugh, DLA Information Operations.
Achievement in Equal Employment Opportunity by a Supervisor or Manager: Robert Boggs, DLA Land and Maritime.
Achievement in Equal Employment Opportunity by an Employee: Theresa Horne, DLA Distribution.
Employee of the Quarter Annual Winner: Carolyn Liebeck, DLA Logistics Operations.
DLA Environmental Award: DLA Installation Support San Joaquin Restoration Team, DLA Installation Support.
Quality of Life Excellence Award: DLA Installation Family & Morale, Welfare and Recreation Team at Battle Creek, DLA Installation Support.
Acquisition Excellence Awards:
-- Excellence in Pre-Award Contracting: High-Value Contracts Branch I, DLA Land and Maritime.
-- Excellence in Contract Administration: Jonathan Sanders, DLA Land and Maritime.
-- Excellence in Pricing: Vicki Hahn, DLA Energy
-- Excellence in Procurement Analysis: Erica Hartman, DLA Distribution.
-- Excellence in Acquisition Management: James Washington, DLA Disposition Services.
DLA Leader of the Year Awards:
-- Donald Rodgers, Level 1, DLA Installation Support.
-- Carolyn Liebeck, Level 2, DLA Logistics Operations.
-- Tammy Munro-Reyes, Level 3, DLA Land and Maritime.
-- Richard Faso, Level 4, DLA Troop Support.
Information Technology Operational Excellence Awards:
-- Information Assurance Professional of the Year: Jeremy Winn, DLA Document Services.
-- Information Technology Team of the Year: DLA Logistics Management Standards Office, DLA Information Operations.
Service Member of the Year Awards:
-- Field-Grade Officer of the Year: Army Lt. Col. Roger Henderson, DLA Installation Support.
-- Company-Grade Officer of the Year: Air Force Capt. Roy Jefferson Jr., DLA Land and Maritime.
-- Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year: Air Force Master Sgt. Tara Thompson, DLA Troop Support.
Military Reservist of the Year Awards:
-- DLA Joint Reserve Force Senior Officer of the Year: Navy Reserve Lt. Cmdr. Charles Thompson, DLA Distribution.
-- DLA Joint Reserve Force Junior Officer of the Year: Navy Reserve Lt. j.g. William Valente, DLA Distribution.
-- DLA Joint Reserve Force Senior Enlisted Member of the Year: Army Reserve Master Sgt. Tadd Long, DLA Land and Maritime.
-- DLA Joint Reserve Force Junior Enlisted Member of the Year: Navy Reserve Petty Officer 1st Class Robert Tan, DLA Distribution.