# DLA Energy engages employees during quarterly All Hands

/ Published Nov. 1, 2022
FORT BELVOIR, Va., 
More than 100 employees attended in person and over 325 joined online to watch the Defense Logistics Agency Energy Quarterly All Hands in the McNamara Headquarters auditorium on Fort Belvoir, Virginia, Oct. 25.

As COVID pandemic restrictions lift and conference room occupancy limitations are removed, more people were able to participate in person – a welcome sight to see. 

“In my first All Hands, we only had about two people in the room – and one was a cameraman!” said DLA Energy Commander Air Force Brig. Gen. Jimmy Canlas jokingly. Canlas took command at the onset of the pandemic in June 2020 and is now in his third year. “It is great to have everyone here in person again.” 

“Thank you very much for taking time out of your busy day to come and join us here both in person and online,” DLA Energy Deputy Commander David Kless echoed. “It’s great to see a full crowd.”

The leaders started the discussion with employee recognition including the 3rd quarter employee awards, DLA Energy’s 55th Annual DLA Employee Awards nominations (PDF), and for the employees who completed the two-week DLA “Insights into Industry Management” course at the University of Virginia Darden School of Business on Aug. 19. They include Massoud Ahmadi, Jacqueline Imholte, Alexandro Cano, Taina Rivera, Jeffrey Cotton, Melvin Floyd, Mark West, Rodrigo Gonzalez, Matthew Womer and Gregory Gutierrez. 

The leaders shared updates on leadership moves, hail and farewells, and recent events including DLA Energy participation in the 2022 Rim of the Pacific exercise, the North Pole Defense Fuel Support Point ribbon cutting, the extension of a partnership with Department of Navy to privatize more government-owned utility systems on Navy installations nationwide, an employee Lunch & Learn on retirement planning, DLA Energy Fuels Exchange Agreements Forum, Hurricane Ian support, and Aerospace Energy’s support of a United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy rocket.

Updates were given on DLA Energy’s Red Hill defuel and Joint Task Force Support effort in Hawaii, clean energy efforts, and the National Defense Authorization Acton section 352.

Employees were reminded of upcoming events and important reminders like the DLA Energy Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Oct. 31, the 2022 Federal Benefits Open Season starts Nov. 14, the DLA Energy Holiday Party on Dec. 7, and annual leave “use or lose” deadline Dec. 31. 

Before taking questions from the audience, the leaders encourage all supervisors and subordinates to make education and training a priority. 

“I can’t stress enough the need to make sure employees have all the skills and tools necessary to be successful,” Kless said. “Today’s environment is much more dynamic – we need to not only respond but to lead – and we need the proper skills and tools to do that.”

Opportunities like the Agency Synchronization Operations Center liaison officer temporary assignment, Global Response Force and Rapid Deployment Team, Shadow Program, Executive Development Program, Executive Leadership Development Program, DLA Enterprise Rotation Program were reinforced. Many of these opportunities are outlined on the DLA Human Resources internal website. 

The next All Hands is being planned for January 2023.