# DLA Energy visits Houston suppliers, customers

/ Published April 7, 2023
FORT BELVOIR, Va. , 
                Defense Logistics Agency Energy Commander Brig. Gen. Jimmy Canlas on an aerial tour of the Houston Ship Channel from U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Houston MH-65 Dolphin helicopter March 28, 2023. Canlas visited several DLA Energy suppliers and customers while in the Houston, Texas, region to examine supply chain linkages. Photo by Lt. Col. Masson.                            DLA Energy visits Houston suppliers, customers                            Defense Logistics Agency Energy Commander Brig. Gen. Jimmy Canlas on an aerial tour of the Houston Ship Channel from U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Houston MH-65 Dolphin helicopter March 28, 2023. Canlas visited several DLA Energy suppliers and customers while in the Houston, Texas, region to examine supply chain linkages. Photo by Lt. Col. Masson.            SHARE IMAGE:Download ImageImage DetailsPhoto By: Photo by Lt. Col. MassonVIRIN: 230327-D-D0441-802

Connecting with fuel suppliers, customers, and the Americas team in Houston, Defense Logistics Agency Energy Commander Brig. Gen. Jimmy Canlas and a team of DLA Energy leaders visited strategic energy assets in the Houston area March 27-28.

Operating out of Houston, Texas, DLA Energy Americas provides comprehensive energy support and solutions to the military services and U.S. government throughout North, Central and South Americas plus the Caribbean Island states and territories.

“This visit was important to engage with partners who are integral to our supply chain and to better understand our scope, scale and talent in this vital region,” Canlas said. “Building trust begins with understanding our suppliers’ capabilities and our customers’ priorities.”

                Defense Logistics Agency Energy Americas Commander Army Col. Josielyn Carrasquillo, DLA Energy Commander Air Force Brig. Gen. Jimmy Canlas, DLA Energy Director of Supplier Operations Gabriela Earhardt and DLA Energy Americas East Commander Army Lt. Col. Chris Masson at Petromax Refinery in Houston, Texas, March 27, 2023. Canlas visited several DLA Energy suppliers and customers while in the Houston, Texas, region to examine supply chain linkages. Photo by Maj. Tim Truong.                            DLA Energy visits Houston suppliers, customers                            Defense Logistics Agency Energy Americas Commander Army Col. Josielyn Carrasquillo, DLA Energy Commander Air Force Brig. Gen. Jimmy Canlas, DLA Energy Director of Supplier Operations Gabriela Earhardt and DLA Energy Americas East Commander Army Lt. Col. Chris Masson at Petromax Refinery in Houston, Texas, March 27, 2023. Canlas visited several DLA Energy suppliers and customers while in the Houston, Texas, region to examine supply chain linkages. Photo by Maj. Tim Truong.            SHARE IMAGE:Download ImageImage DetailsPhoto By: Photo by Maj. Tim TruongVIRIN: 230327-D-D0441-803

Joining Canlas was DLA Energy Director of Supplier Operations Gabriella Earhardt, Director of Customer Operations Air Force Col. Eric Haler and the DLA Energy Americas leadership. The team visited Defense Fuel Support Point Houston, Petromax Refinery, and sailed on a JAR double hull liquid tank barge up the Houston Ship Channel to better understand product movement on the inland waterways.

U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Houston provided the team an aerial tour of the port. The channel is the conduit for ocean-going vessels between Houston-area terminals and the Gulf of Mexico, and it serves an increasing volume of inland barge traffic.

“These links to the supply chain highlighted a refinery that produces all major products flowing downstream to customers within the region, an inland barge that moves the product, a contractor-owned/contractor-operated DFSP, and the supply chain linkages by air in a USCG MH-65 Dolphin helicopter,” said DLA Energy Americas East Commander Army Lt. Col. Chris Masson.

                Defense Logistics Agency Energy Director of Customer Operations Air Force Col. Eric Haler, Astronaut (Army Colonel) Drew Morgan, DLA Energy Americas East Commander Army Lt. Col. Chris Masson, Navy Lt. Cmdr. Goldstein, and Air Force Capt. Zach Bruhn at NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, March 27, 2023. DLA Energy Aerospace Energy manages the worldwide acquisition of missile fuels, liquid propellants for space launch and satellites, aviator’s breathing oxygen and other bulk industrial chemicals and gases – including nitrogen, oxygen, argon, hydrogen, and helium. Photo by Mr. Don Dean.                            DLA Energy visits Houston suppliers, customers                            Defense Logistics Agency Energy Director of Customer Operations Air Force Col. Eric Haler, Astronaut (Army Colonel) Drew Morgan, DLA Energy Americas East Commander Army Lt. Col. Chris Masson, Navy Lt. Cmdr. Goldstein, and Air Force Capt. Zach Bruhn at NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, March 27, 2023. DLA Energy Aerospace Energy manages the worldwide acquisition of missile fuels, liquid propellants for space launch and satellites, aviator’s breathing oxygen and other bulk industrial chemicals and gases – including nitrogen, oxygen, argon, hydrogen, and helium. Photo by Mr. Don Dean.            SHARE IMAGE:Download ImageImage DetailsPhoto By: Photo by Mr. Don DeanVIRIN: 230327-D-D0441-801

The team toured NASA Johnson Space Center and met with Army Col. Andrew (Drew) Morgan, a doctor and a NASA astronaut from the class of 2013. Morgan has flown on five space missions that used space propellants from DLA Energy Aerospace. DLA Energy Aerospace Energy manages the worldwide acquisition of missile fuels, liquid propellants for space launch and satellites, aviator’s breathing oxygen and other bulk industrial chemicals and gases – including nitrogen, oxygen, argon, hydrogen, and helium.

In addition to visiting supply chain locations, Canlas participated in a DLA Energy Americas town hall and recognized over 20 employees at an award’s recognition ceremony and fielded questions from the 90 employees who attended both in person and virtually.

“We had an incredible time hosting the Energy Commander and highlighting our corporate partnerships, strategic supply chain nodes, and recognizing the great employees who do the hard work every day to fuel the Joint Force and superbly support our whole of government customers,” said DLA Energy Americas Commander Army Col. Josielyn Carrasquillo.

As a DLA major subordinate command, DLA Energy collaborates with partners, better understand supply chain challenges, and adapt its strategy to reflect the rapidly changing, competitive environment in which it and its stakeholders operate.