Distribution Commanding Officer Discusses Current Landscape at DLA Distribution Puget Sound, Washington
 
  By Dawn Bonsell, DLA Distribution Public Affairs
  Defense Logistics Agency Distribution Commanding Officer Navy Supply Corps Rear Adm. Kevin M. Jones hosted a DLA Distribution Puget Sound, Washington, town hall Aug. 22. The town hall began with Jones presenting commander’s coins to DDPW teammates who put forth extraordinary efforts. Mr. David Vardaman received a coin for providing outstanding continuity, operational guidance and mentorship for DDPW’s wholesale warehousing and receiving/materiel processing center operations. Mr. Timothy Boyle was recognized for operating a dynamic retail operation in support of the over 14,000 employees at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, overseeing multiple functional areas. His operation includes receiving bulk items requiring a higher level of safety and offloading expertise and coordination, managing ships locker inventory materiel, three shop stores and Naval Supply Systems Command Puget Sound’s corporate component repair program plan with over 450 depot level repairable. Ms. Rachell Atchley seamlessly coordinated a short notice NAVSUP requirement to inventory 100 percent of Navy materiel at Navy Base Kitsap, Bangor, Washington, by working with DDPW and Fleet Logistics Center leadership as well as DLA Distribution J3, to identify and acquire personnel to facilitate the project. Due to her leadership and guidance, the team ultimately finished the project, that included counting approximately 36,000 line items, well ahead of the anticipated suspense date.
 
Mr. Roger Mattson took on additional surveillances and duties and volunteered to mentor, guide and train new team members. His efforts resulted in 100 percent monthly surveillance completions and proper documentation of submitted reports. Mr. Patrick Gleason created the hazard recognition safety award program as well as the monthly safety talk tracking sheet—an excellent tool to track training completeness. 
Gleason continues to improve safety programs and has a very good rapport with all employees. He is truly an asset. Mr. Earnest Mallory has been an exceptional worker, teammate and leader for DDPW retail receiving.  In just a few short months, with a junior workforce, he impressed leadership with his work ethic, maturity, ability to relate to co-workers and his ability to grasp the receiving functions and material access technology system.  Recognizing these skills, his supervisor assigned him to train employees on a variety of receiving functions, enabling personnel on the receiving line to more effectively process materiel to the customer or storage locations. As represented by DDPW’s metrics, operations across the board have been superior in support of the warfighter. Following the coin presentations, Jones transitioned the town hall and began to discuss the current landscape as he sees it since his year of exploration going around the Distribution network. Jones emphasized that he needs to move DLA Distribution into the 21st century, with a focus on: •    How we see ourselves; 
•    Leadership training; 
•    Skills for new hires;
•    Enforcing adherence; 
•    Intensively managing accuracy; 
•    Implementing modernization efforts; 
•    Transforming production;
•    Simplifying processes;
•    Increasing productivity; 
•    Reducing costs and 
•    Realizing reform savings. Jones wrapped up the employee town hall by saying, “You guys do a great job at Puget Sound.  I want to thank everyone for that!”