# First quarter of fiscal 2017 Employees of the Quarter announced

/ Published March 14, 2017
FORT BELVOIR, Virginia, 
The accomplishments of two Defense Logistics Agency Energy employees in the first quarter of fiscal year 2017 earned them DLA Energy Employee of the Quarter Awards.

Matt Delles from DLA Energy Middle East earned the award in the GS 7-12 category and Aybike Arslan from DLA Energy Europe and Africa earned the award in the GS 13-15 category.

Employees can earn the award at GS/WG/WL-1 through 6 level, the GS-7 through 12 level and the GS-13 through 15 level categories. 

DLA Energy Commander Air Force Brig. Gen. Martin Chapin recognized the two awardees for their outstanding performance.

“A huge thanks to Aybike and Matt for their truly exemplary performance and teamwork,”

Chapin said. “We wish them the best of luck at the next level of competition.” 

Delles’ work as a supply planner was invaluable working closely with the DLA Energy Supplier Operations Bulk Division action officers to resolve high visibility unliquidated obligations. His perseverance in resolving these issues resulted in the release of $4.3 million for payment to a vendor in one evening. 

“This issue had been pending for months and thanks to Delles’ efforts, the result was a successful payment to the vendor,” said DLA Energy Middle East Inventory Supervisor Andrew Trask.

Delles served as the sole supply planner for all 17 Defense Fuel Support Points and took responsibility for overseeing and coordinating the changeover of fuel for both DFSP Kabul and DFSP Bagram in Afghanistan. He orchestrated the systematic drawdown of 5.8 million gallons of TS1 stock utilizing one of the transportation services contracts to move fuel from Kabul to Bagram. His workload increased to monitoring control limits for 59 product accounts totaling more than 290 million gallons.

“Delles championed the inventory management process by coordinating with the DFSPs, to update outdated tank data,” Trask said. “Although the painstaking process took weeks, Delles was essential in the accurate data inputs updating current facility data for 185 tanks and fuel bladders.” 

The other Employee of the Quarter, Arslan, was recognized for her role as the DLA Energy liaison officer to U.S. Africa Command, as well as her support to AFRICOM’s 2017 Theater Campaign Plan Lines of Effort.

Bill Brennan, deputy director for DLA Energy Europe & Africa, cited Arslan’s LNO performance as exceptional for supporting the African Union Mission in Somalia.

“She ensured DLA Energy Direct Delivery vendors performed as required and overcame multiple challenges at Camp Lemonnier and in Somalia,” Brennan said. “She was instrumental in managing the first ever DLA Energy post, camp and station contracts for six locations in Somalia. Given the fact Somalia is widely regarded as a failed state with a very tenuous security situation, one cannot underestimate the difficulty and complexity of managing these supply chains from affair with no ‘boots on the ground’ supply chain surveillance.”

In support of the line of effort “Containment of Boko Haram in Nigeria,” Arslan expertly managed an increase of supply chains providing fuel to special operations forces at five sites in Niger, two sites in Chad and two sites in Cameroon. 

“Boko Haram is a terrorist group that threatens regional stability in Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Cameroon,” Brennan said. “The containment and eventual defeat of Boko Haram are key to maintaining regional stability and the emergence of fledgling democracies in the region. This mission is difficult and complex given the vastness of the area to cover, the elusiveness of the terrorists, the weakness of the respective militaries and the wide variety of terrains.”

Further support at Camp Lemonnier involved ensuring a delayed liquid oxygen shipment made its way to the location on time despite a complex supply chain that originated in Abu Dubai, United Arab Emirates and required third party logistics to load, transport and deliver to the Port of Djibouti.

“Arslan’s efforts were key to maintaining clear messaging at the strategic combatant command level to promote the understanding of a complex supply chain,” Brennan said. “One cannot underestimate the difficulty of managing this supply chain and clearing Djiboutian customs, which is an uncertain gambit at best, while also ensuring the safe transportation, handling and delivery of a highly flammable, hazardous product.”

In recognition of the Energy Employees of the Quarter Awards, Chapin acknowledged the efforts of the employees who were nominated and not selected.

“In addition to Matt and Aybike, I would like to recognize the following employees who were also nominated,” Chapin said. “Each individual performed in an outstanding manner and deserves to be recognized for their extra ordinary efforts toward the DLA Energy mission.”

Michael Blankenship - Aerospace (QEM)

Nikki Bournes - Public Affairs (CAG)

Jonathan Lucas - Pacific (JA)

Nathan Nichols - Americas East (ID)

Christopher Ricketson - Americas East (ID) 

Tonya Williams - Pacific (JAK)

Consondra Davis - Commander's Action Group (CAG) 

John Fantasia - Installation Energy (FEA) 

David Friedler - Business Process Support (BPSD) 

Charlie McCoy - Installation Energy (FEA) 

Kirk Moats - Pacific (JAO) 

Cynthia Obermeyer - Installation Energy (FEA) 

Reynaldo Santos - Middle East (JD) 

Tony Selby - Quality Tech (DQ) 

Bo Swenson - Americas West (IE) 

“If you see these outstanding team players in the halls, at meetings or just going about your daily business, please stop and thank them for being truly amazing,” Chapin said. “As we all know, no one succeeds alone, so my personal thanks to everyone for supporting our ‘no fail‘ mission to supply Energy to the warfighter.”