MCNAMARA HEADQUARTERS COMPLEX, Va. - A new partnership between the Defense Logistics Agency and the National Industries for the Blind will provide job opportunities for people who are blind or vision impaired. The partnership was cemented with an Oct. 16 memo signing by leaders of the two organizations.
Creating opportunities for people with disabilities is a win-win situation, DLA Director Navy Vice Adm. Mark Harnitchek said during the memo signing event at the McNamara Headquarters Complex.
“You get a great team when everybody gets to play; [NIB allows] folks that might not have an opportunity to be on the team and play on the team,” he said.
The new agreement calls for DLA and NIB to work together to increase the pool of applicants with disabilities for positions at DLA. NIB will work to ensure DLA receives resumes from personnel qualified in contract support through NIB’s Contract Management Support program. As part of the CMS program, individuals who are blind can receive contract management training through the AbilityOne Program and the Defense Department’s Defense Acquisition University. The AbilityOne Program coordinates with organizations across the country to employ individuals who are blind.
“DLA will ensure that NIB is aware of opportunities in the agency’s Corporate Intern and Pathways Intern Programs, and identify openings in series that align with the skills and experiences of NIB and CMS program participants,” the memo states.
NIB Chief Executive Officer Kevin Lynch thanked Harnitchek and all of DLA for the agency’s support in expanding opportunities for people who are blind.
“The thing that is really outstanding of this is that this is [in addition to opportunities through] the AbilityOne Program,” he said at the memo signing. “This is something that we have been able to really reap from what … was started under the AbilityOne program, and that is to train individuals who are blind to be contract closeout specialists.
“And now the opportunity for those individuals to have a chance to have a job, which really is a career track for them, we think … is outstanding,” he continued. “And with three individuals currently employed, it’s really a life-changing event for them. We couldn’t do that without your support.”
Lynch noted his organization is gearing up to celebrate its 75th anniversary and the 75th anniversary of its defining legislation, the Javits-Wagner-O’Day Act, which was signed by President Franklin R. Roosevelt in 1938.
“We do recognize that it’s a team effort. It’s a team effort on your part, and it’s a team effort on our part to make something like this happen,” he said. “We look forward to going on and continuing to build on our partnership and look forward to the next 75 years.”