# Troop Support commander leads celebration of champions, unveils 2019 campaign plan 

/ Published Sept. 12, 2018
PHILADELPHIA, 
With a nod to a proud Philadelphia-based workforce, the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support commander introduced the fiscal 2019 Campaign Plan and provided updates on personnel, programs and projects during a town hall Sept. 6 in Philadelphia. 

Army Brig. Gen. Mark Simerly opened the event with a slideshow presentation of “champions” that displayed images and video clips of the Philadelphia Eagles and the Troop Support workforce. The applause continued as a live broadcast from the Eagles home opener celebration streamed into the venue, teasing the fiscal 2019 Troop Support Campaign Plan and tying Troop Support’s team of warfighter supporters and their “playbook” to the reigning Super Bowl champs as fans prepared for the first game of the season. 

“The Eagles achieved greatness this past year,” Simerly said. “And that’s where we are as well. We have fought through significant battles and challenges and provided outstanding support to our warfighter.”

Simerly unveiled the new Campaign Plan, which he said focuses on “achieving enduring greatness” and updates the previous year’s plan. 

The lines of effort, in support of the agency’s lines of effort, remained the same: 
      -  Warfighter Support 
      -  Strong Partnerships 
      -  People & Culture 
      -  Performance 

Changes were made to some of the priorities and objectives. Simerly used feedback from multiple levels of the Troop Support workforce, DLA leadership and external stakeholders to evaluate, formulate and communicate the plan. 

As he presented it, Simerly reviewed each line of effort and highlighted the purpose behind each re-prioritization and modification. His focus, he said, was not only to update the plan, but to make sure the entire team knew how it affected them.

“This is designed to communicate to you, so you can see yourself in our mission,” Simerly said. 

Simerly then provided a facilities update. He noted the construction of the new headquarters building, but emphasized the importance of improving all workspaces using input from the workforce – a focus tied to the People and Culture line of effort in the campaign plan. 

“We’re developing a list of prioritized things we can and should do to improve our workplace,” he said. “But we need your feedback.”

Simerly introduced new players on the Troop Support leadership team:
      -  Navy Capt. William H. Clarke, director of Operations and Plans  
      -  Air Force Col. Melvin Maxwell, director of Clothing and Textiles  
      -  Army Lt. Col. Shedrick Rankin, commander of Troop Support Europe and Africa:  
      -  Navy Capt. James Gayton, director of Procurement Process Support:  

He also recognized accomplishments from each supply chain as well as members of the Troop Support team who completed the Enterprise Leadership Development Program Level 3 certification, including:
      -  Michelle Burke 
      -  Kaushal Desai 
      -  Deborah Donnelly 
      -  Kevin Echelberger 
      -  David Jolls 
      -  Danielle Lee 
      -  Patricia Lynch 
      -  Dean Schoendorfer 
      -  Peter Skillings 
      -  Karla Williams 
      -  Lisa Magnotta 
A copy of the fiscal 2019 campaign plan is included at the link below this article.