# DLA Land and Maritime inducts four honorees into its 2019 Hall of Fame Class

/ Published June 3, 2019
COLUMBUS, Ohio, 
Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime inducted four new members into its Hall of Fame during a ceremony held May 30 in the Defense Supply Center Columbus’ building 20 auditorium. The induction marked the 15th anniversary of the DLA Land and Maritime event.

The HOF ceremony celebrates former Land and Maritime associates who significantly contributed to the Warfighter support mission, while also demonstrating a positive impact on the organization’s people, growth and efficiency.

                Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime Commander Navy Rear Adm. John Palmer delivers welcoming remarks during the 15th Land and Maritime Hall of Fame induction ceremony May 30. Four former Land and Maritime associates were honored as the 2019 Hall of Fame class.                            2019 Hall of Fame                            Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime Commander Navy Rear Adm. John Palmer delivers welcoming remarks during the 15th Land and Maritime Hall of Fame induction ceremony May 30. Four former Land and Maritime associates were honored as the 2019 Hall of Fame class.            SHARE IMAGE:Download ImageImage DetailsPhoto By: Michael RowlandVIRIN: 190530-D-RE244-173After establishing a family reunion theme during his welcome, DLA Land and Maritime Commander Navy Rear Adm. John Palmer led a round of applause acknowledging inductees for their contributions to improving Land and Maritime operations. “Today is a very special day for DLA Land and Maritime because it gives us an opportunity to pause and reflect on our organization’s history,” Palmer said.

The inductees accounted for 159 years of combined federal and military service included; 76 of those years were devoted to distinguished service to DLA Land and Maritime’s worldwide logistics support mission.

Included in the 2019 Hall of Fame class were Steve Bianco, former deputy director for DLA Land-Aberdeen; Cathy Fisher-Farlin, former division chief, Order Fulfillment; Milton Lewis, SES retired and former acquisition executive and James McClaugherty, SES retired and former Land and Maritime deputy commander.

“The foundation these four helped establish is responsible, in large part, for our current successes, and their work has us well positioned for any future challenges that we and our customer warfighters might face,” Palmer said.

Palmer shared with the audience what post Land and Maritime life has been like for inductees since retiring. After brief histories on their post Land and Maritime activities Palmer spoke about the operational impact they made individually and as a group.

“All four are exceptional leaders. All four are innovative thinkers. All four set the highest standards of excellence. All four demonstrated genuine trust and respect for their fellow associates. And all four of these Hall of Famers never failed to put the warfighter first, said Palmer.

“Our focus is always warfighter first, followed closely by maintaining the family that’s DLA Land and Maritime. Family, culture and climate are the secret sauce to Land and Maritime’s success and these four were instrumental in founding the family atmosphere we enjoy today.”

                Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime Commander Navy Rear Adm. John Palmer shares the spotlight with the 2019 Land and Maritime Hall of Fame class. Four associates were inducted during the May 30 ceremony. The group represents the 15th Land and Maritime Hall of Fame class. (from left) Rear Adm. John Palmer and Hall of Fame inductees Milton Lewis, Cathy Fisher-Farlin, James McClaugherty and Steve Bianco.                            2019 Hall of Fame                            Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime Commander Navy Rear Adm. John Palmer shares the spotlight with the 2019 Land and Maritime Hall of Fame class. Four associates were inducted during the May 30 ceremony. The group represents the 15th Land and Maritime Hall of Fame class. (from left) Rear Adm. John Palmer and Hall of Fame inductees Milton Lewis, Cathy Fisher-Farlin, James McClaugherty and Steve Bianco.            SHARE IMAGE:Download ImageImage DetailsPhoto By: Michael RowlandVIRIN: 190530-D-RE244-213Citations for each inductee were read to provide those in attendance a brief snapshot of their accomplishments. Afterwards, each inductee spoke on one or more attributes that anchored and inspired commitment throughout their careers.

Bianco offered what he called three pearls taken from the movie Gladiator; his favorite was ‘What we do in life echoes in eternity’. Fisher-Farlin referenced three truths that grounded her career and emphasized her ability to overcome challenges and personal self-development. Those truths included working under great leaders who taught her how to develop teams, working with top notch customer support teams and working in customer facing roles.

Lewis spoke briefly about each of the inductees and the fact they’ve all worked together to navigate past operational challenges. After an abbreviated career narrative he shared that he truly missed Land and Maritime’s people, but he said his most cherished memory is the ability of the workforce to focus on how to take care of the Warfighter. It’s been a privilege to have served. McClaugherty offered his insight into understanding that the people at Land and Maritime are the key ingredient to the organization’s success. He said that Land and Maritime associates, both individually and collectively, help inspire one another to push for perfection in service to the nation’s warfighter. Being a public servant is not to be someone but it’s to believe in something.

The event included a pictorial slideshow that chronicled the careers and family moments of each inductee. After presentation of their award inductees were afforded the opportunity to bask in the expressed audience appreciation before offering a few reflective words.

Former Hall of Fame inductees attended the ceremony and were identified with red, white and blue ribbons.

A Hall of Fame reception for the new inductees was held immediately after the induction ceremony where guests and the Land and Maritime workforce got the chance to meet and greet the new honorees.