# DLA Energy honors acquisition workforce career advancement

/ Published Nov. 15, 2023
FORT BELVOIR, Va. , 
Defense Logistics Agency Energy honored several members of its workforce for career accomplishments during a high-energy, celebratory event at the McNamara Headquarters Complex on Fort Belvoir, Virginia, Nov. 7.

About 60 employees were recognized for earning Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act certifications, becoming warranted contracting officers, broadening perspectives through industry management courses or immersion programs, graduating from the Pathways to Career Excellence Program, and earning membership in the Head of the Contracting Activity Professional Development Circle of Excellence.

Audience members dressed for the theme, “Rolling out the Red Carpet,” as they joined in person and online to congratulate the honorees.

“When I learned of the theme for today’s ceremony, my mind went to the irony of the time, hard work and personal sacrifice that celebrities make in their respective fields,” DLA Energy Commander Navy Capt. Brian Anderson said during his keynote speech. “Just like the acquisition professionals at DLA Energy, the commitment to be an actor and actress is continual and often requires them to stretch themselves outside of their comfort zones in order to harness the skills required to achieve their mission.” 

He mentioned sacrifices like time away from friends and family, long tireless shifts and countless hours of training they endured to earn their accomplishments. He encouraged the workforce to enjoy the celebration today but to keep on learning, striving for excellence and pushing themselves to new limits in order to bring their best to their respective big screen.

Charlene Woods is a contracting officer with DLA Energy Installation Energy working on renewables and energy savings performance contracts for military and federal customers.

“Having the right tools in your toolbox for anything you want to pursue is important,” she said. “Renewable and resilient energy initiatives rapidly change, which changes our course of actions as contracting professionals. Looking for new acquisition strategies or creative solutions to unforeseen problems have been both rewarding and inspiring.”

Byron Phillips Jr., a contract specialist for DLA Energy Direct Delivery Ground Fuels, said events like this honor program help him feel like he’s part of a big team.

“It takes a village to procure requirements for the warfighter,” he said. “This accomplishment helps me to remember that I reserve a special place in the acquisition community to continue to excel and do great work with my leaders and peers.”

The Head of the Contracting Activity Professional Development Circle of Excellence recognizes those contracting officers who completed 90% of the requirements during an eight month long mentoring program cycle to sharpen their skills and continue expanding their training and education. All DLA Energy contracting officers who are non-supervisory or first line supervisors are required to participate in the mentoring program every year.

“The HCA Circle of Excellence is one of the many ways DLA Energy honors their commitment to being at the tip of the spear and laser focused on professionalism,” said Imani Mitchell, DLA Energy Acquisition Workforce Development and Intern Center. “We want those in our acquisition workforce to take their professional development seriously and know they are valued, honored and recognized for their dedication.”

DLA Energy Head of the Contracting Activity and Supplier Operations Director Gabriella Earhardt encouraged the workforce to continue to be inspired.

“I believe inspiration is the very essence of what has brought us to this moment, and it's what continues to drive us forward,” she said. “When that inspiration is deeply meaningful to us, it's not just satisfying, it leads to producing the absolute best results.”

She reminded the team that this ceremony is just one step in their progressive careers and challenged them to “Go. Do. Be.”

“Go and take action. Do great things. Be an inspiration,” she said.

Team members who earned honors are as follows:

                Defense Logistics Agency Energy honored several members of its workforce for career accomplishments during a high-energy, celebratory event at the McNamara Headquarters Complex on Fort Belvoir, Virginia, Nov. 7, 2023. About 60 employees in all were recognized including several who earned Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act certifications. Photo by Chris Lynch.                            DLA Energy honors acquisition workforce career advancement                            Defense Logistics Agency Energy honored several members of its workforce for career accomplishments during a high-energy, celebratory event at the McNamara Headquarters Complex on Fort Belvoir, Virginia, Nov. 7, 2023. About 60 employees in all were recognized including several who earned Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act certifications. Photo by Chris Lynch.            SHARE IMAGE:Download ImageImage DetailsPhoto By: Photo by Chris LynchVIRIN: 231107-D-HE260-1060

**Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act Certifications:**Darnell Conner Jr. (LCL foundational)Ana Fleming (LCL foundational)John Fitzsimmons (LCL foundational)Joseph Howard (LCL foundational)Camile King (LCL advanced)Sherry Lane (LCL advanced)Sukju Lee (ETM foundational)Osvaldo Luzunaris III (LCL foundational)Chancley Meadows (ETM foundational)John Mitchell (LCL foundational)Byron Phillips (Contracting)Asia Powell (LCL advanced)Brian Reed (ETM practitioner)Richard Vicenty Jr. (ETM practitioner) Regina Watson (ETM foundational)Jerrold Woiton (ETM foundational)

                Defense Logistics Agency Energy honored several members of its workforce for career accomplishments during a high-energy, celebratory event at the McNamara Headquarters Complex on Fort Belvoir, Virginia, Nov. 7, 2023. About 60 employees in all were recognized including several who became warranted contracting officers. Photo by Chris Lynch.                            DLA Energy honors acquisition workforce career advancement                            Defense Logistics Agency Energy honored several members of its workforce for career accomplishments during a high-energy, celebratory event at the McNamara Headquarters Complex on Fort Belvoir, Virginia, Nov. 7, 2023. About 60 employees in all were recognized including several who became warranted contracting officers. Photo by Chris Lynch.            SHARE IMAGE:Download ImageImage DetailsPhoto By: Photo by Chris LynchVIRIN: 231107-D-HE260-1061

**Warranted Contracting Officers:**Christine Bond-Jawish (unlimited) Bridgette Davis (SAT)Kirk Gamblin (unlimited)Brian Koessel (unlimited)Mark Laskoski (unlimited)Joy Massey (unlimited) Kelley Mauldin (SAT)Orlando Merrit ($100m)Louis Morse (unlimited) Mary Richardson (unlimited) Heather Seibold (unlimited)Leno Smith ($100m)Timothy Stark ($100m) Charlene Woods (unlimited) 

                Defense Logistics Agency Energy honored several members of its workforce for career accomplishments during a high-energy, celebratory event at the McNamara Headquarters Complex on Fort Belvoir, Virginia, Nov. 7, 2023. About 60 employees in all were recognized including several who graduated the Pathways to Career Excellence Program. Photo by Chris Lynch.                            DLA Energy honors acquisition workforce career advancement                            Defense Logistics Agency Energy honored several members of its workforce for career accomplishments during a high-energy, celebratory event at the McNamara Headquarters Complex on Fort Belvoir, Virginia, Nov. 7, 2023. About 60 employees in all were recognized including several who graduated the Pathways to Career Excellence Program. Photo by Chris Lynch.            SHARE IMAGE:Download ImageImage DetailsPhoto By: Photo by Chris LynchVIRIN: 231107-D-HE260-1059

**Pathways to Career Excellence Program Graduates (job series):**Robert Fox Jr. (1102) Kyle Kelley (2003)Paul Lee (1102)Nicholas Labecki (1102)Catherine Lynn (1102) Reese Paxton (1102) Byron Phillips (1102)Kayla Polonia (1102)Hannah Savine (1102)Seqouia Smith (1102)Rockelle Toler (1102) Breana Wilson (1102)Laura Wycoff (1102) 

                Defense Logistics Agency Energy honored several members of its workforce for career accomplishments during a high-energy, celebratory event at the McNamara Headquarters Complex on Fort Belvoir, Virginia, Nov. 7, 2023. About 60 employees in all were recognized including several who completed the DLA Industry Partnership Management Course. Photo by Chris Lynch.                            DLA Energy honors acquisition workforce career advancement                            Defense Logistics Agency Energy honored several members of its workforce for career accomplishments during a high-energy, celebratory event at the McNamara Headquarters Complex on Fort Belvoir, Virginia, Nov. 7, 2023. About 60 employees in all were recognized including several who completed the DLA Industry Partnership Management Course. Photo by Chris Lynch.            SHARE IMAGE:Download ImageImage DetailsPhoto By: Photo by Chris LynchVIRIN: 231107-D-HE260-1062

**DLA Industry Partnership Management Course FY23 Summer:**Jessica Mayeaux Alisa MitchellStephen Nichols Kent Straub-JonesEdward Wolfe

**Immersion Program:**Kevin SessionsEulana Whiteside

**HCA Circle of Excellence FY23:**Shane BanksTammie CampbellCandy CrossEduardo DavilaMark Davis Jonathan GoyenaRyan LoganCynthia LopezMark Palombo Angela PonderWilliam RamseurTimothy Weatherspoon