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# Commanding an acquisition career

By Connie BraeschDLA Energy Public Affairs

                FORT BELVOIR, Va.  –              
Taking charge of her career, Defense Logistics Agency Energy employee Callie Lake jumped at the opportunity to shadow a DLA Energy senior leader.

Shadowing the DLA Energy Acting Director of Procurement Process Support Kevin Ahern, Lake witnessed first-hand the role of a DLA Energy senior leader from Feb. 20-22. 

As the contracting officer for DLA Energy Bulk Petroleum Supply Chain Services, Lake is in charge of the $1.5 billion dollar Rocky Mountain West Division purchase program. She understands the bulk petroleum demands for the warfighter, but says she wanted to get exposure to some of the other aspects of DLA Energy.

“I chose to shadow the Procurement Process Support Division in hopes that it would give me a bigger picture of what is happening in the acquisition community at DLA Energy,” she said. “My goal is to get more of a 1,000-foot view of what our senior leaders deal with on a day-to-day basis to help me understand how my role fits into the organization.”

Lake says she found the shadowing experience to be valuable.  

“It not only helped me understand the workload that senior leaders in our organization manage every day, but it also gave me insight into whether I could see myself in that position in the future,” she said.

Her attention and inquisitiveness about issues led to beneficial follow-on discussions and mentoring opportunities, Ahern said.

Lake started her DLA career as a Pathways intern in 2010 and took charge of her career from the beginning. 

“I heard about DLA Energy through a friend and was able to apply for the Pathways program,” Lake said. “I feel so lucky that I was able to land a job as a Pathways intern over seven years ago, and I’ve stayed for the people and the mission!”

Lake spent about four years in DLA Energy Bulk Products learning the bulk petroleum supply chain before promoting to a position with DLA Energy Installation Energy working on renewable projects. She also earned her Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act Level 3 certification along the way.  

For Lake, the job shadowing opportunity wasn’t just about her future career growth but about getting a better understanding of how DLA Energy business units interact and interweave to achieve the mission.

“It allowed me to see a brief glimpse into DLA Energy’s mission as a whole, which varies immensely,” she said. “I got to see how the work that employees do at my level affects those in senior management and how appreciative they are for the work that is being performed.”

“The shadowing program can provide DLA Energy employees valuable insight into the expanse and complexity of issues addressed daily by members of senior management,” Ahern said.

This isn’t the first time Lake has taken advantage of DLA career enhancing opportunities. 

In 2015, she was selected for the DLA Executive Development Program and received her Masters of Business Administration degree and a Masters Certificate in Logistics March 2017.  

“The program was immensely helpful in my growth here at DLA,” Lake said. “After my MBA, I knew I wanted more of a leadership/supervisory role and was able to get the contracting officer position back in Bulk Products – which happily brought me back home to where it all started.”

Lake said her ultimate goal is to affect change within the acquisition and logistics community.

“I think, as a supervisor, I get to do this with my current team,” Lake said. “I hope that in the future I can reach a position that will give me a bigger platform.”  

The job shadowing experience is part of DLA Energy’s commitment to attracting, developing and retaining high-performing employees.

“The opportunity to shadow a leader is a unique experience to observe a desired career objective firsthand,” said DLA Energy Deputy Commander Guy Beougher. “Participants are not the only employees to benefit from the shadow program. DLA Energy leaders benefit by fostering a coaching culture and increase transparency of Energy’s business strategies.”

Next week, Rachel Dunlap, DLA Energy Business Process Support Directorate Reports and Analysis Division Chief, will shadow DLA Energy Commander Air Force Brig. Gen. Martin Chapin. Stay tuned to hear more about this job shadowing experience.

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