# DLA employees honored with DACM Awards for service to '4th Estate'

/ Published Jan. 18, 2017

Two Defense Logistics Agency employees stood out as the only individuals to be honored at a ceremony recognizing the achievements of Department of Defense organizations not part of the military services — otherwise known as the 4th Estate — in the training and management of DoD acquisition personnel.

Rebecca Sims, an instructor in general supply systems for DLA Human Resources, received the Director of Acquisition Career Management Award for Outstanding Achievement in Travel Management. Joy Mullori, DLA Acquisition’s chief for acquisition workforce, audit and legislative affairs, is the first-ever recipient of the DACM Chairman’s Award.

DACM Robert Daugherty, as the leader in charge of talent management, training and certification for acquisition personnel, presented the awards Jan. 10 during the 4th Estate Acquisition Career Summit, at the Defense Acquisition University, Fort Belvoir, Virginia.

Daugherty commended both DLA employees’ contributions in a statement to 4th Estate senior leaders, including DLA Director Air Force Lt. Gen. Andy Busch.

“Joy demonstrates professionalism at all times and represents DLA well at Workforce Management Group and Functional Integrated Product Team meetings,” Daugherty wrote. “She often has recommendations for the 4th Estate community that lead to future improvements in processes and our online systems.”

He also had high praise for Sims’ work. “Rebecca's role in Travel Management has positively impacted the quality of DLA's DAWIA travel processing,” Daugherty wrote. “Rebecca consistently processes her LOA approvals on time, avoiding last minute scrambles to process travelers. She also maintains the highest accuracy rate when approving individuals for TDY funds versus local, an amazing 98 percent!

“Rebecca's outstanding effort has helped the 4th Estate Travel Manager in processing DLA travelers seamlessly,” he concluded.

The DACM noted both honorees’ collaboration skills and professionalism. “The DACM office enjoys collaborating with Joy. She is a consummate team player and very deserving of recognition for her outstanding contributions to the Defense Acquisition Workforce.”

He likewise commended Sims for her responsiveness and communication. “Not only is she a joy to work with, but she provides a level of professionalism and excellence that is admired,” Daugherty noted. “She communicates openly and often with the 4th Estate travel manager and provides timely responses. 

Receiving the DACM Chairman’s Award “was truly a surprise,” Mullori said. She noted DLA recently set up its own Acquisition Career Office, focused on developing DLA’s acquisition workforce. “This is the first time we have had a full time team dedicated to acquisition workforce development,” she said.

Mullori Joined DLA Energy in 1994 at the Defense Fuel Office Mediterranean, Camp Darby, Italy.  She was transferred to Fort Belvoir in 1996 as a contracting intern in the outstanding scholar program.

For Sims, the Outstanding Achievement in Travel Management Award was “a wonderful, yet unexpected, surprise,” she said. "I'm truly honored. We both have a shared goal, and that's to provide exceptional service to those we support.” Sims, also a major in the Army Reserve, started with DLA as a contractor in 2009 and worked as a general supply specialist instructor until 2014. In 2015 she joined DLA Human Resources as the DLA training DAWIA/DAU program manager.

The awards recognize DoD acquisition organizations for improvements and achievements in the training and certifications of their acquisition personnel, in accordance with the Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act. The DoD 4th Estate comprises 37 organizations, each with its own training manager, and 26,000 acquisition professionals.