# Troop Support commander delivers ‘thank you’ messages to employees during final town hall

/ Published June 22, 2017
PHILADELPHIA, 

The Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support commander pulled out all the stops during his final workforce town hall June 20 to show his thanks to employees.

Army Brig. Gen. Charles Hamilton began by making an entrance to "Turn Down for What" by DJ Snake and Lil Jon. Hamilton said he plays the song while speaking at different events as a way to relate to the “young folks” in the audience.

Hamilton, who took command of Troop Support in July 2015, announced that his next assignment will be as the senior logistician with United States Forces Korea.

He also played a video in which customers from around the world thanked Troop Support employees for their support. 

Katherine Reynolds, Command Support Office building manager assistant, said she appreciated the thanks from the field.

“We don’t get a chance to hear from those out on the front line,” she said. “We are behind the scene supporting them, and what we do is important for them to succeed.”

Hamilton told employees the military services and other customers will continue to count on Troop Support.

“There comes a price with success and there is going to be more of a demand (from Troop Support),” said Hamilton. “Whether it is in the continental United States or outside the continental United States, people rely on Troop Support.”

Hamilton said he’s heard positive feedback about the Department of Defense Performance Management and Appraisal Program, a new, standardized way to rate civilian employees’ performance which was implemented April 1.

He’s also received good feedackon the Troop Support Leadership Academy, a course for supervisors to learn leadership lessons and tools for effective supervision.

The first Leadership Academy was held in February and the next course is slated for September.

Hamilton also updated employees on construction of the new Troop Support headquarters facility. A ground breaking ceremony will take place June 26, and the building is expected to be completed in the spring of 2019.

He said he spoke with staff members about different scenarios employees might encounter during construction to ensure their safety and minimize the inconvenience.

“We knew that there were going to be parking issues when the fence went up, and so we have been planning with the Navy for quite some time to run the shuttle during the construction period,” said Charles Stagner, director of DLA Installation Support Philadelphia. “We are going to continually evaluate the route and see if it is appropriate, see if it gets used and make adjustments when necessary.”

Hamilton also surprised several employees by presenting them with commander’s coins. The first coin went to Jane Adams-Martin, a contract specialist with the Construction and Equipment supply chain, who had asked Hamilton his first question at his first Town Hall. 

Hamilton also gave coins to Patricia Cappo-Dean, a clerk with Industrial Hardware, and Rosalee Bookard, a supply planner in Construction and Equipment.

When Hamilton presented Cappo-Dean and Bookard with coins, he said, “Every time I see them, they always have a smile on their face. They come by and say, ‘how you doing sir?’ and always make me laugh.”

When an audience member asked Hamilton what he would miss the most about leaving Troop Support he replied, “the people.”

“I think every commander who has come through here leaves with a love for Troop Support,” said Hamilton. “It is not the things we do, it is the people. Ninety nine percent of the people I run into at Troop Support want to work here and genuinely enjoy it.”