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# Caring, trustworthy leader receives recognition

By  Dominique J. SheltonDLA Aviation Public Affairs Office

                RICHMOND, Va.  –              
Damon Heemstra, the chief, of the Planning and Support Division in the Customer Operations Directorate at Defense Logistics Agency Aviation at Jacksonville, Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida, was awarded the Defense Logistics Agency Aviation Leadership Award for the month of March 2021.

This award recognizes DLA Aviation leaders that exemplify the four leadership traits deemed by the agency as the characteristics needed to be a good leader. These traits are referred to as the four dimensions of transformative leadership: idealized influence, inspirational motivation, intellectual stimulation and individualized consideration.   

According to David Scalf, the directorate’s deputy, Damon is an ideal candidate for this award because he cares; he cares about the retail mission; he cares about his team; and he is also loyal and trustworthy. 

“Above all, Damon knows his job well and the teams he leads respond well to his challenges for quality work, all the time and every time,” Scalf said.

 “I am honored and humbled to have received this award,” Heemstra said.

According to the award nomination, Heemstra demonstrated the four dimensions of transformative leadership through his collaboration and alignment toward mission and business centric goals that helped improve aircraft material availability as well as component and engine support for the warfighter. 

Heemstra created a purpose-driven team focused on "inventory optimization" to use excess and dormant retail stock to fill DLA enterprise unfilled orders, while at the same time reducing DLA’s distribution storage footprint.

It was this initiative, now shared with all of the DLA Aviation Navy industrial site activities, which resulted in a validation of 26,453 national item identification numbers. The net result, 307 unique NIINs, valued at $2.4 million set aside to fill DLA enterprise UFOs furthering warfighter readiness.

By challenging his team, they were able to reach and maintain the highest MA rates ever recorded at any industrial site activity.  This resulted in a 12-month MA average of 94.6%, peaking three months above 97%.

“It is a pleasure to have the opportunity to supervise such a professional and dedicated workforce here at DLA Aviation Jacksonville,” Heemstra said. “I am glad to be a member of the team.

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DLA AviationDefense Logistics Agency AviationDefense Logistics AgencyDLA Aviation at JacksonvillePeople and CultureAviation Leadership AwardDamon Heemstrawarfighter alwaysDigital Business transformation