An official website of the United States government         Here's how you know         
**Official websites use .mil**
A **.mil** website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
**Secure .mil websites use HTTPS**
 A **lock (lock )** or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Skip to main content (Press Enter).

Defense Logistics AgencyThe Nation's Combat Logistics Support Agency

Search
Search

Search

-  Home		 
-  What DLA Offers    -  Excess Property Disposal             
  -  Document Services             
  -  Products             
  -  Services             
  -  Programs 
-  Working With DLA    -  Applications             
  -  Small Business             
  -  Federal and International Cataloging             
  -  Defense Data Standards             
  -  Events             
  -  Procurement Policies             
  -  Government Programs             
  -  Forms 
-  Organizations    -  DLA Headquarters             
  -  DLA Aviation             
  -  DLA Disposition Services             
  -  DLA Distribution             
  -  DLA Energy             
  -  DLA Land and Maritime             
  -  DLA Troop Support             
  -  DLA CENTCOM & SOCOM             
  -  DLA Europe & Africa             
  -  DLA Indo-Pacific 
-  Customer Support    -  Self Help Tools             
  -  How to Order             
  -  Find Your Order             
  -  Customer Facing Offices             
  -  Training             
  -  Brochures             
  -  Warfighter Support             
  -  Customer Service Management 
-  Careers		 
-  About DLA    -  Contact Us             
  -  Locations             
  -  Leaders             
  -  News             
  -  History             
  -  Media Gallery             
  -  DLA Campaigns 

HomeAbout DLANewsNews Article View

# Leaders conclude Battle Creek summit

By Jeff LandenbergerDLA Disposition Services

                BATTLE CREEK, Mich  –              
Defense Logistics Agency Disposition Services Director Mike Cannon opened the final day of his command’s annual Senior Leadership Summit with a simple question: “Was it worth it?” 

“Yes,” was the response he got back from the leadership team that had gathered in Battle Creek, Michigan, for a five-day reflection on the previous business year and a chance to map the way forward.

**Attendees of DLA Disposition Services Senior Leadership Summit gather for a group photo on the last day of the summit.                            Senior Leadership Summit                            Attendees of DLA Disposition Services Senior Leadership Summit gather for a group photo on the last day of the summit.            SHARE IMAGE:Download ImageImage DetailsPhoto By: Jeff LandenbergerVIRIN: 221028-D-YU183-053 **As part of his closing address, Cannon took time to recognize longtime employees Shery Underwood and Mark Aicher, who are both retiring from senior leadership positions soon. While he lamented on the loss of their experience and leadership, he praised them for their service to DLA and to the country.  

“Two outstanding leaders in this organization – they will be missed,” Cannon said.

One quirk to the summit was a shuffling of daily seating assignments each day.

“That was planned,” Cannon said. “When we mixed it up a little bit, who met someone they didn’t know before?” Most attendees in the room raised a hand. “That’s why we do that. Now your phone-a-friend list just got longer.”

He encouraged attendees to use the connections they made during the summit. He explained that when they face a challenge, reach out and ask someone for advice, others have faced the same or similar issues and will have guidance. 

Cannon said he had a call the day before from the Army G4 Director of Logistics. He then related what the G4 had said. “We never have an issue where you guys don’t step up and support us,” Cannon quoted. “We never have a problem.”

“So, thank you on behalf of the United States Army for supporting our soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines, but especially directly from the Army, on our responsiveness, and our resiliency, and our creativity,” Cannon said. “But just our desire to always help and always be part of the solution, and never part of the problem.”

Terri Rutland, lead resource analyst for the Mid-America region attended the summit and said that she and other RAs have committed to meeting regularly on Microsoft Teams.

“It’s been very beneficial, just speaking for this short week, we can clearly take this to another level if we get together more often,” Rutland said.

**                    SHARE                

**                    PRINT                

## Related Stories

Senior Leader Summit underway

Disposition Services leaders meet for second day of Strategic Leadership Summit

Contracting and command culture take center stage during Disposition Services Senior Leadership Summit 

Culture innovations a main focus at leadership summit

Culture DSPeople and Culture DSLeadership DS