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# Black History Month Employee Spotlight: Keith Dodley

By Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime African American Employment Program

                COLUMBUS, Ohio  –              
The Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime recognizes Black History Month in February. This year’s national theme is Inspiring Change. The African American Employment Program highlights employees throughout the month in honor of their enduring contributions to the agency’s global mission of logistics support to America’s warfighters.

**What is your position title, role and responsibilities?**

I’m a customer account specialist.  I work with many customers and disciplines throughout DLA. We provide Warfighter Logistics Excellence through accountability, teamwork, urgency, agility, and innovation built upon a commitment to integrity, diversity, and mutual trust and respect.

**How long have you worked with DLA Land and Maritime?**

I started working with DLA after I retired from the Army in October of 2016 as a police officer. Two years later, I was hired as a customer account specialist through the Pathways to Career Excellence Program. Once I completed the program, I was assigned to work with Land Customer Operations at DLA Land and Maritime.

**Black History Month was created to give not only respect, but a voice to the community.  What does Black History Month mean to you?**

To me, Black History Month means more than just black history. It also means American history, and the accomplishments that African Americans have provided to the United States. All that we have worked for and accomplished has improved the quality of life as well as the growth and prosperity of this country. Black History Month also gives us an opportunity to showcase our many talents and teach our amazing and colorful history to our community.

**Tell us about a moment in African American history which has influenced or shaped your life and career.**

When I joined the Army, my grandmother told me the stories about how my grandfather had served in the Korean War. She also informed me that my great uncle served in World War II and another uncle served in Vietnam. I served 30 years and was deployed to Iraq and other conflicts, that makes three generations of my family that served in wars for this country. African Americans have been fighting for this country since it was founded. My son and grandchildren are proud that their parents and grandparents served this country in Iraq and Afghanistan. As well as all the other family members and generations before them who have also served in combat.

**How would you describe the change that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. inspired though his involvement in the civil rights movement?**

Think about all the sacrifice, struggles, hardship and suffering that happened during the civil rights movement and going back to the founding of this country. You have service members and civilians working for this government to be a beacon of light for this world. But here at home, all the hatred for one another just because of our skin tone, language barrier, or the appearance of certain individuals. People harm or harass people for no particular reason other than racism.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. preached nonviolence and love for all people. He was then murdered to silence him and many others during the movement. This country as a whole needs to find a way to become a united country that cares about all of its citizens. If this country would be willing to help citizens in all fashions, we would be a much better nation. I believe that this is what Dr. Martin Luther King believed in and fought so hard for. He wanted everyone to be equal and given the same opportunities to be successful and happy. He wanted freedom for every citizen. He wanted each citizen to be considered equal, knowing that all men are not perfect, but everyone should have the same God-given rights.

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Black History Month 2023People & Culture L&M