# Leadership Spotlight: Les Glosby 

/ Published April 26, 2024
BATTLE CREEK, Mich, 
**Can you tell us about yourself?** I am a retired naval officer, who most recently worked in the private sector in Asia, in real estate development.  

                Les Glosby, DLA Disposition Services Europe and Affrica region director retired from the Navy before joining the DLA team.                            Glosby                            Les Glosby, DLA Disposition Services Europe and Affrica region director retired from the Navy before joining the DLA team.            SHARE IMAGE:Download ImageImage DetailsPhoto By: staff photoVIRIN: 240426-D-YU183-0007**How long have you worked for the federal government including military service?** I have now worked for 26 years in the federal government, 25 years in the Navy and now one year with DLA Disposition Services. 

**What is your favorite thing about your line of work?** The variety of things that we do and the great impact that we have on the Department of Defense without getting much credit. I can remember the three program offices that I have served in and each time when we asked how to determine the scope and cost of disposition of the equipment or weapons system that we had, no one knew. 

**What is the best piece of advice someone has given you?** There are only 5 responses to a question: 1. Yes.2. Yes, if...3. No, but...4. I’ll find out.5. No excuse. Any other answer usually means you’re tap dancing unless someone has asked for more details during the discussion.

**Can you name some of the awards and recognition you have received?** Black Engineer of the Year Technology Leader; Surface Navy Association Engineer of the Year; Southeast Asia’s Entrepreneur of the Year; Singapore Chapter Project Management Institute Program Manager of the Year; Meritorious Service Medal (5); Volunteer Service Medal; Defense Commendation Medal; and Navy Commendation Medal. 

**What is one characteristic that you believe every leader should possess?**The ability to be flexible.

**How would you describe your leadership style and why has it worked so well for you?**Empowerment! If you ensure that people understand how important their job is and you empower them to not only do it, but to improve the areas which you have made them responsible for; they will.

**Tell us how you approach change?** Change is a part of life and should be embraced. The best part of change is that it happens. The challenging part of change is that (just like risk) it must be managed. Risk and change are intertwined and should be managed together.

**What keeps you motivated?** I am motivated by knowing that tomorrow will be better than it is today, and I can have a small part in helping to make tomorrow better.

What do you believe is your biggest accomplishment and why? My biggest accomplishment in my career was from 2002 until 2004 when I was raising our three sons, earning master’s degrees in, Applied Physics, Software Engineering, and an MBA. All while training to run two Ironman races in 2004.

**What are your best practices for achieving goals or accomplishing tasks?** Keep moving forward.

**What mistakes have you seen individuals make that prevent them from being successful?** Not sharing and not communicating and being afraid of confrontation. I used to tell all of the people I worked with; confrontation is good as long as you’re not using it as an excuse to be a jerk. Confrontation helps to flush out the best ideas, because you must put them all on the table and try to reach consensus.

**What would you have done differently in your career if given the opportunity?** I would have started my own company earlier.

**Name your favorite/recent book(s) you have read?**  Columbus Day by Craig Alanson

**Tell us something that most people might not know about you or your directorate?** About me: I have can speak Chinese. Something about DSD Europe and Africa: We cover the largest land area of any of the DSDs.

**What was your first job?** I worked as a home health aide assistant helping to clean people’s houses and keep them in their homes without an in-home nurse.

**What is your best memory of working here?** My best memory of working in Disposition Services has and will be the people. The people in Disposition Services are incredible and continue to accomplish the impossible daily.

**What did you want to be when you grew up?** A Lawyer.

**Who is your hero?**  David Rodriguez, He was my next-door neighbor when I was getting my master’s degrees, he’s an incredible person.

**If you could choose to do anything for a day, what would it be?** I would either be an aquanaut or an astronaut.

**What are your hobbies?** Diving, Cycling, Running, Swimming, Chess, and Cooking.

**What is your favorite quote?** “Everyone  has a full plate, but people have different sized plates.” -Yi Feng Gan.