# DLA Aviation Employee Spotlight: Tom Hennessy

/ Published Sept. 24, 2020
RICHMOND, VA, 
*Employee spotlight regularly features outstanding non-supervisory personnel from throughout the Defense Logistics Agency Aviation and other DLA employees on Defense Supply Center Richmond, Virginia. Organizational directors may submit names of employees they wish to feature in this column to DLA Aviation Public Affairs. For more information, call (804) 279-3139.*

**Name:** Tom Hennessy

**Organization:** DLA Aviation at Ogden

**Years of Service:** 15 years

**What is your job title, and what do you do, specifically?** I’m a roving material expediter. I pick and deliver up parts to our Air Force customers out here at Hill Air Force Base.  

**What kind(s) of training and education helps your work performance in your current role?** Being a private business owner has really helped me hone my customer service skills. In turn, this has given me a better understanding of how to provide world-class service to our customers here.

**What would you say has been your major contributions to your organization this year in your job?** Successfully taking care of our Air Force customers to whom I deliver parts and equipment to year after year.

**What aspect(s) of your current job gives you the most personal satisfaction and why?**  Knowing that most of what I do is only known by me, I get the personal satisfaction of knowing it’s done, day after day.

**If you could speak directly to the warfighters you support, what would you tell them?** I would tell the warfighters that it’s an honor supporting them.

**What was your first job?** When I was in my early teens, I landed my first job washing dishes at a Chinese restaurant here in Ogden.

**Where do you see yourself five years from now?**  Living in a cabin in this area for half the year and then moving somewhere down south where it’s nice and warm when the weather is brutal here in the winter.

**What are some of your passions outside of work?**The one passion I have outside of work is building a cabin with my family. I get satisfaction knowing we built it ourselves.

**What’s the most thrilling/adventurous thing you have ever done?** When I was in the Navy, it was an adrenaline rush working as an aircraft handler on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier, USS Kitty Hawk. We would launch and recover aircraft for 12 to 16 hours a day. And also jumping off the ship into seven-mile deep water out in the middle of the ocean during swim call was thrilling.

**If you had a theme song, what would it be and why?** My theme song would be “Working Man” by Rush. I believe this is self-explanatory.

**Who is your favorite actor or actress and why?** My favorite actor is the late John Wayne. To me, he was a symbol of all that’s America.

**What is your favorite military aircraft and why?** My favorite aircraft by far is the Navy F-14 Tomcat. While serving onboard an aircraft carrier, I got to see that jet up close and let me tell you, it was amazing.

**What five things could you absolutely not live without?** I can’t live without having a dog, hunting and fishing with my kids, being with my wife, my cabin and food. Not in that order.

**What is/are your favorite book(s), television show(s) or movie(s)?** I enjoy reading Tom Clancy novels. My favorite TV shows are “Big Bang Theory” and “That 70’s Show.” John Wayne movies are my favorites.

**What type of music do you most enjoy?** I enjoy listening to classic and progressive rock.