# Employee Spotlight: Nicole Smith

/ Published March 7, 2018
Richmond, Va., 
Employee spotlight regularly features outstanding non-supervisory personnel from throughout the Defense Logistics Agency Aviation and other DLA employees on Defense Supply Center Richmond, Virginia. Organizational directors may submit names of employees they wish to feature in this column to DLA Aviation Public Affairs. For more information, call (804) 279-3139.

**Name:** Nicole Smith   

**Organization:** DLA Aviation-Cherry Point, Material Management Division, Components Material Support Branch, Material Requisition Section

**Years of Service:** two

**What is your job title, and what do you do, specifically?**
As a customer support specialist, I research and determine the most effective process to fill customer backorders to prevent production delays.  I use various programs to request status of purchase requisitions being awarded to contract, request expedites for contract deliveries and locate approved, alternate sources of supply to satisfy unfilled requirements.  
**What do you like most about your job?**

What I like most about my job is knowing I was able to do my part in supporting the warfighter and our Fleet Readiness Center East customer.

**What kind(s) of training and education helps your work performance in your current role?**
The training that has helped my work performance the most are weekly training sessions within our cell. They provide the necessary tools needed to effectively perform our daily tasks.
**What aspect(s) of your current job gives you the most personal satisfaction? Why?**

Knowing that all my day-to-day efforts do make a difference and being able to form a relationship with various FRC-E employees because they know that I will do everything in my power to get the material they need to continue production and support the warfighters.
**What was your first job?**
****My first job was working at the movie theater in Atlantic Beach, North Carolina.  I ran the ticket counter, worked in the concession stand and operated the projectors.  After a year, I was promoted to assistant manager.  ****

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****What’s your biggest pet peeve?****
 My biggest pet peeve is deceitfulness.  
**What’s the most thrilling/adventurous thing you have ever done?**

When I was in fourth grade, my parents received orders to go to Germany for three years.  During our time there, I took a field trip to France, took a class ski trip to Berchtesgaden and participated in volksmarches.  Later, during a trip with my mom’s unit, we discovered that the hotel my class stayed in while in Berchtesgaden was once owned by Hitler.

**If you could start your life over again, what would you do differently?**

Other than a few teenage shenanigans, absolutely nothing.  I am proud of my journey, who I have become and the wonderful family I was blessed with. 

**Have you had a mentor that helped you grow in your career?****If so who, and how did they help?**

Throughout my career, I have had numerous influential people from various positions within DLA, i.e., customer support, contracting and equipment, sustainment, and resolution specialists, that it would be hard to name them all.  No matter what their area of expertise, they went out of their way to explain the different programs and processes regarding order fulfillment.  I am grateful to be working with such a supportive and encouraging group of people.