Troop Support commander hosts first town hall of 2020

Photo By Alexandria Brimage-Gray | DLA Troop Support employees that completed their Enterprise Leadership Development Program level three certification pose with Commander Army Brig. Gen. Gavin Lawrence during a town hall event Jan. 22, 2020, in Philadelphia. The employees were publicly recognized for their hard work and excellence. (DLA photo by Alexandria Brimage-Gray)  

PHILADELPHIA, PA, UNITED STATES

01.23.2020

Story by Alexandria Brimage-Gray 

Defense Logistics Agency   

The Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support commander congratulated employees on their accomplishments, shared the importance of the employees’ work and provided updates on projects during a town hall Jan. 22 in Philadelphia.

Army Brig. Gen. Gavin Lawrence opened the event with a slideshow presentation of employees participating in various events throughout the previous year.

“It is the hard work and dedication of the entire Troop Support workforce that makes things happen in support of the warfighter and our whole of government partners,” Lawrence said.

In his address to the workforce, Lawrence shared photos of the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division Immediate Response Force preparing for deployment as he challenged employees to consider why they do what they do.

Lawrence explained the process a soldier undertakes before executing their mission to demonstrate to the employees how their work directly impacts service member readiness.

“From repair parts to ballistic equipment, rations and barrier equipment for force protection, [their mission] could not be done without the hard work of the Troop Support workforce,” he said. “Your hard work allows our service members to be able to answer the nation’s call.”

Lawrence wanted to ensure employees were informed on the status of improvement projects throughout the organization.

Brian McWatters, the DLA Installation Support site director for Philadelphia, provided a facilities update regarding ongoing modernization efforts, the shuttle schedule, NSA Philadelphia’s parking plan and other workplace enhancement projects.

McWatters described the prioritization process that his office uses to create “short-term, mid-term and long-term plans” in coordination with host leadership at NSA Philadelphia, ensuring projects that impact “life, health and safety” are at the top of the list.

Celebrating employee accomplishments was also a highlight of the event.
Lawrence recognized recent Troop Support leadership team changes, introducing employees’ new roles to the workforce:
- John Sheehan, Acting deputy director, Subsistence
- Navy Cmdr. Scott Long, Acting director of customer operations, Subsistence
- Jay Dahlke, Acting chief counsel

He also recognized each supply chain on their key accomplishments, and congratulated employees who completed the Enterprise Leadership Development Program Level 3 certification, including:
- Nicholas Boninfante
- Kevin Burza
- Daniel Carman
- Jason Cox
- John Cuorato
- Lynn DiVincenzo
- Angela Gonzalez
- Susan Hill
- Abin Mathai
- Thomas Orlando
- Stephen Ross
- Linda Stipa
- Jason Wray

Lawrence closed the Town Hall with a “Q&A” session to address employees’ immediate concerns, ending the event with more thanks for their ongoing contributions to the Troop Support mission.

• Date Taken: 01.23.2020
• Date Posted: 01.23.2020 12:40
• Story ID: 360065
• Location: PHILADELPHIA, PA, US