Subscribe
Defense Logistics Agency Energy employees benefitted from the perspective and experience of former DLA director, retired Navy Vice Adm. Keith Lippert during a mentoring brown bag lunch at the McNamara Headquarters Complex, March 21.
Lippert led DLA as its director from 2001-2006 and has been its senior mentor since 2015.
“Programs like this [are] where we have an opportunity to talk to folks who have seen things and had experiences that we may not have been exposed to,” said DLA Energy Commander Air Force Brig. Gen. Martin Chapin.
The mentoring brownbag lunch with Lippert represents DLA Energy’s achievement of a command goal to incorporate key leaders throughout the DLA enterprise into its mentoring efforts.
In his role as a senior mentor, Lippert offers mentoring sessions either in person, by telephone or by Skype to DLA employees of all specialties and grades worldwide. This was his first lunch session with DLA Energy employees.
DLA Energy Mentoring Program Coordinator Adrian Hines said having a former DLA director and senior mentor available to DLA Energy employees is a valuable asset.
“As a former DLA Director, he is able to provide a broader perspective of DLA Energy's mission,” Hines said.
Lippert told attendees that many DLA employees do not take advantage of the opportunity to have a mentor assist them.
“The vast majority, 70 percent of people that I talk to, do not have a mentor,” Lippert said.
Lippert shared his own experiences with mentoring in the military and the private sector, gave advice on what qualities to seek in a mentor and pointed out the importance of learning from mentors who have faced similar challenges and been successful.
He explained the importance of setting up a meeting with a potential mentor to request them as a mentor and establishing specific objectives - such as a promotion or becoming a better leader or manager. Then, establish the frequency of the meetings, schedule them, and keep the commitment.
“[Ideally] this is a face-to-face meeting, not an email exchange,” Lippert said.
“There’s no one solution to mentoring,” Lippert emphasized. “What’s needed is a commitment [by both mentor and protégé]. When I talk to people who are very successful mentors, they tell me that it turns out to be a very good learning experience for them. It can be of equal benefit to both sides.”
Lippert answered questions from employees, using personal examples from his career, and the careers of those he has, and continues, to mentor.
“In my opinion, these opportunities for mentorship are worth the investment of time,” said Kelly Dowd, DLA Energy Procurement Process Support Directorate procurement analyst. “Having the opportunity to sit with and share ideas on the importance of mentorship with Vice Adm. Lippert was an inspiring experience.”
Dowd said she had served as a mentor, has been a protégé in the past and was seeking involvement in the program in both roles again this year.
“My associate director, Jake Moser, encouraged attendance and I'm glad he did,” Dowd said. “This type of trustworthy personal commitment shown by our leadership at all levels to our DLA Energy workforce is just another example of why DLA is such an incredible place to work.”
“I think he hit on some very key and important elements,” said James Dennis, a procurement analyst with PPSD Acquisition Support division, of Lippert’s presentation. “One of his key messages was having self-awareness to know that you need to be mentored and coached. I thought it was a very productive session with him.”
To learn more about DLA Energy’s mentoring program, contact Adrian Hines at 703-767-8456, adrian.hines@dla.mil
| Date Taken: | 03.28.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 01.30.2018 14:46 |
| Story ID: | 263961 |
| Location: | FORT BELVOIR, VIRGINIA, US |
| Web Views: | 48 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Former DLA director shares mentoring insights, by Ronald Inman, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
