# New commander takes the helm at DLA Distribution San Diego

/ Published June 15, 2022
NEW CUMBERLAND, Pa., 
A change of command ceremony held at Defense Logistics Agency San Diego, California, June 15, signified a change in leadership as Navy Capt. Kerri Yarbrough passed the helm to Navy Capt. Cielo Almanza.

DLA Distribution Commanding General, Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Keith Reventlow officiated the event.

Yarbrough’s accomplishments as DDDC commander exhibited superior leadership and superb insight resulting in substantial contributions to the readiness of the armed forces. Her focused leadership of a complex command spanning four geographic sites and encompassing over 100,000 line items valued at $7 billion, delivered unprecedented performance during an incredibly challenging pandemic in our nation’s history.

Yarbrough led the command in achieving year over year increased inventory accuracy, 50% reduction in high dollar value adjustments, 100% accuracy during the full financial statement audit and the successful completion of the working capital fund segregation by owner project three months ahead of schedule. Additionally, she commanded an extraordinary execution of a $70 million, five-year contract transition one month before the end of fiscal year 2021 driving immediate process improvements and performance. Furthermore, Yarbrough championed numerous defense reform initiatives including F-35 storage and distribution and implementation of regional warehouse utilization.

For her exemplary performance, Yarbrough was awarded the Defense Superior Service Medal.

Incoming Commander Almanza, a native of Kaneohe, Hawaii, is a graduate of Seattle University, Seattle, Washington. He was commissioned via Officer Candidate School in September 1998.

Following completion of Supply Officer Basic Qualification Course and Submarine Officer Basic Course, Almanza assumed duties as the supply officer aboard the USS Louisville in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, earning the Supply Blue “E.”

Almanza’s second assignment at sea was on the USS Peleliu in San Diego, California, where he served as the Aviation Support Division officer and Readiness officer. He completed a western Pacific deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Almanza’s shore assignments include Naval Acquisition & Contracting Officer at Fleet & Industrial Supply Center, San Diego, California, NAVSUP Logistics Operations Center liaison officer to Commander US Pacific Fleet, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii; senior contracting officer for Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force-Arabian Peninsula, at Joint Base Balad, Iraq; and Deputy for Logistics Directorate of Special Operations Command, Pacific at Camp H.M. Smith in Hawaii; director, Supply Corps Officer Community Management in Millington, Tennessee; and commanding officer, Naval Special Warfare Group 1 Logistics Support Unit. Alamanza’s most recent assignment was as deputy commodore/vice commander, Command Task Force-53/Military Sealift Command Central.

Almanza holds a master’s degree in Operations Research from the Naval Postgraduate School where he was a Military Operations Research Society/Tisdale award finalist. He is also a graduate of the advanced program in Logistics and Technology at the Keenan-Flagler School of Business at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Almanza’s personal decorations include the Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, as well as various unit and service awards. He is also the first Navy recipient of the General William G.T. Tuttle Award for Business Acumen in Defense and Government. He is Joint qualified and a member of the Defense Acquisition Corps. He is entitled to wear the Submarine Supply Warfare, Naval Aviation Supply Officer and Navy Expeditionary Supply Corps Officer qualification insignia.