# December employees of the month recognized for exemplary work performance

/ Published Feb. 28, 2022
RICHMOND, Va., 
Trang Ho Nguyen, an inventory management specialist in the Materiel Management Division of Defense Logistics Agency Aviation at Cherry Point, North Carolina, and Christina Nelson, a customer support specialist lead in the Materiel Management Division of DLA Aviation at Jacksonville, Florida, were both named DLA Aviation Employees of the Month for December 2021.

Employee of the month is awarded to DLA Aviation non-supervisory civilian employees. Two recipients are selected based on general schedule pay levels – one from GS 1-9 (Category 1) and one from GS 10-13 (Category 2). Recipients receive a coin, certificate of achievement from the DLA Aviation deputy commander and a cash award. 

“I am very humbled to have received this award,” Ho Nguyen said. “I find it very rewarding providing support to my teammates, our customers and to the warfighter.”

Per the award citation, Ho Nguyen was crucial in Fleet Readiness Center East, Cherry Point, North Carolina, fulfilling its supply demands in December. 

Ho Nguyen generated seven emergency retail buys for both organic manufacture and surplus materials valued at more than $85,000. She obtained stock from other sources of supply using manual stock transfer orders, ultimately, reducing total wait time by 145 days. In addition, she resolved discrepancies on 12 national stock numbers, prompting collaboration and communication between DLA and the Navy planners.

“Ms. Ho Nguyen’s diligent efforts resulted in uninterrupted depot maintenance of our four aircraft and improvement of support provided for 58 NSN’s and local stock numbers within her portfolio,” said John LaManna, Materiel Management Division priority team supervisor.  “Employees with Ms. Ho Nguyen’s determination need to be recognized to show them they are noticed and appreciated to help keep them motivated."

“I am just so grateful to all my DLA Aviation co-workers for guiding, helping and leading me to successfully reach our achievable end goals,” Ho Nguyen said.

Moving on down to Jacksonville, Florida, we find Christina Nelson. Her performance positively contributed to DLA Aviation at Jacksonville’s ability to provide top-notch customer-service to the customer as well as the activity’s suppliers.

As a customer support specialist lead, Nelson works with Fleet Readiness Center Southeast, Jacksonville, Florida, addressing Navy F/A-18 Hornet fighter jet material concerns. 

Per the citation, while working with Boeing, Nelson played a key role in the resolution of three high- priority, short-fused material orders which were causing delays heading into the Christmas holiday. It was her personal initiative that ensured the materials were delivered prior to the plant shutdown period. Displaying exceptional time and task management, she focused her team on high-priority material requirements prior to the holiday leading to a 50% reduction in material backorders and setting up the F/A-18 production team with the material resources needed for the new year. 

According to Anthony Kosloski, order fulfillment section chief in the Materiel Management Division, Nelson was directly responsible for the timely delivery of several Boeing aircraft materials that would have severely hampered aircraft flow and future production schedules. While working these different tasks, she never lost sight of her responsibilities in team building as a lead CSS and used the above situations as training opportunities to improve and enhance her DLA teammates’ skills or professional capabilities. 

“The success attained by the F/A-18 team is largely attributed to Christina’s expert organizational and supply process skills,” said Kosloski.  

“Mrs. Nelson was the perfect selection for this award because she embraces the team effort,” said Philip Smith, chief in the Materiel Management Division. “She is a highly valuable part of the DLA team here in Jacksonville who is as good at doing as she is at teaching. She cares not only about the mission but the people working to achieve it and make it a reality.” 

“Receiving this award means a lot to me and it shows me that my contributions have an impact that reaches far beyond my immediate teammates,” Nelson said. “I look forward to more opportunities within DLA to continue to grow both professionally and personally and I hope to continue to be a positive impact within the organization and for our customers.”