# DoE recognizes employees for energy efficiency

/ Published Nov. 13, 2019
WASHINGTON, 
For the third year in a row, Defense Logistics Agency Energy employees were awarded Federal Energy and Water Management Awards for “exceptional energy and water cost savings,” Oct. 29.

Managed by the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy's Federal Energy Management Program, these annual awards recognize individuals, groups, and agencies for their contributions in the areas of energy efficiency, water conservation, and the use of advanced and renewable energy technologies at federal facilities.

“As a key strategic initiative, these employees and teams went above and beyond to develop innovative and efficient solutions that not only build a more secure and resilient supply chain, but also reduce energy costs and improve mission assurance for the Warfighter,” said DLA Energy Commander Air Force Brig. Gen. Albert Miller in an email to the workforce.

Cynthia Obermeyer earned the Career Exceptional Service Award for her “exemplary leadership and lasting contributions” in executing Department of Defense projects. Obermeyer, who retired from DLA in 2018, has been recognized several times for her excellence in acquisition management. She earned the Department of Energy’s Federal Energy Management Program first ever “Spotlight” award and was an employee of the year during the DLA’s 49th Annual Employee Recognition Awards Program in 2016. Obermeyer was the contracting officer for the largest Energy Savings Performance Contract award in Air Force history and the single largest ESPC award across the federal government. The contract for the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Complex located at Tinker Air Force Base is valued at $649 million over 25 years.

A Contracting Award was presented to the team who worked together on an Energy Savings Performance Contract at Hill Air Force Base, Utah. Included was DLA Energy’s Contracting Officer Keith Carvalho. Carvalho worked with the Hill AFB Energy Office to overcome the unique challenges associated with the ESPC including the groundbreaking use of over $4 million through energy incentives and bill credits.

DLA Energy Installation Energy Division earned a Contracting Award for its support of the DoE's Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity contract. According to the DoE, the awarded projects will result in annual savings of 840 billion British thermal units, more than 29 million gallons of water, and $19.8 million in costs, with a total guaranteed energy cost savings of more than $610 million.

DLA Energy’s Contracting Officer Cynthia Ralph was recognized as a member of the team who worked to develop and install a state-of-the-art 28.2 megawatt solar photovoltaic power system at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. All of the energy generated by the 180-acre solar facility is exclusively used by the installation. According to the DoE, from January 2018 through the end of the fiscal year, the system generated almost 35.5 billion kilowatt-hours of renewable energy, representing 38% of the installation’s electrical energy needs.

“Please join me in congratulating these outstanding teams and individuals,” Miller said. “I encourage all of you to employ innovative logistics solutions that reduce risk and improve efficiency across the end-to-end supply chain whether that is through alternative energy sources, cost-consciousness, strong internal controls or sound business processes and continue to earn Warfighter trust and confidence.”