# DLA Distribution’s French retires after 42 years of service

/ Published July 22, 2020
NEW CUMBERLAND, Pa., 
Ramona French, chief, Defense Logistics Agency Distribution Future Plans Integration Division, has retired from federal service after 42 years.

French began her federal career in 1971 as a student with Naval Ordnance Station, Louisville, Kentucky. After graduation, she went to work for the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Washington, D.C. at their Louisville, Kentucky, field office. French resigned from the FBI in 1986 to continue her education while working full time for the Archdiocese of Louisville.

French began her DLA career in 1989 at the Defense Depot Memphis, Tennessee, where she worked as a Systems Administrator for six years. In 1995, French relocated to former Defense Distribution Region East in New Cumberland, Pennsylvania, where she worked in the Systems Management Division as a computer specialist supporting Distribution Standard System implementations, network transitions and customer liaison for ten newly aligned eastern region depots. In 2001, French transferred to the Systems Management Division of DLA Distribution Susquehanna, Pennsylvania, and served as the support services supervisor. In that position, she was responsible for managing all financial and manpower functions of the Support Office as well as the development, analysis and evaluation of opportunities for improvement efficiencies relating to Inventory, Transportation, Equipment Services, Quality, Stock Positioning, Safety and Administration.

Before transferring to DLA Distribution in 2011, French served her last four years at DDSP Future Operations as chief of Information Operations, providing on-site support for technology and telecommunications requirements.

French’s plethora of experience and desire for learning are implored, both in the community as well as throughout DLA Distribution. She voluntarily mentored and coached a wide range of DLA employees, women offenders in two local prisons and children in an inner-city program called Integrity Time. While working at DDSP, she started a volunteer off-duty mentoring program. The program called Minority Mentoring Matters is designed to provide participants needed skills for how to move from recognizing the need for change to implementing action. Paramount in this effort was French’s desire to invest in the lives of people.

For her accomplishments and achievements, French was awarded the DLA Distinguished Career Service Award.

In an agency Gold Letter presented to French on the occasion of her retirement, Army Lt. Gen. Darrell K. Williams, former director, Defense Logistics Agency, noted French’s accomplishments.

“Throughout your career, you made significant contributions to agencywide operations and the Department of Defense’s readiness. Leading critical efforts focused on Continuous Process Improvements and implementation of Standard Direct and Indirect Staffing Models, your accomplishments were countless and immeasurable,” Williams stated in the letter.

“As you begin this new phase in your life, you may take pride in the knowledge that you have earned, many times over, the respect and admiration of everyone who has had the joy of knowing and working with you. You will be missed by your supervisors, peers and many friends at DLA,” Williams stated.