# DLA 60th Anniversary: Info Ops Employee Spotlight, Paula Ritorto

/ Published Nov. 22, 2021

**1) What is your name and where do you work?** Paula Ritorto. I work at DLA Troop Support Philadelphia - J6 Voice Services.

**2) How long have you been with DLA and in civil service?**I celebrated 41 years of civil service with DLA in July 2021.

**3) What is the story behind how/why you joined civil service?**I began my government career in July of 1980 after graduating high school. I had been taking some secretarial classes and one day, our typing assignment was to complete an SF-171 (government job application) form. Our teacher collected the forms and I forgot all about it. I had no idea that she had just determined my career. Months later, on graduation day, I came home to a letter offering me a job which I happily accepted.

**4) What jobs have you had with DLA and at what locations?** I have spent my entire career with the same agency, though it has undergone several name changes and a relocation. I began as a clerk-stenographer in the secretarial pool at the Defense Personnel Support Center in South Philadelphia. I was assigned to the Safety and Industrial Hygiene Office where I stayed until 1991. I then received a promotion in what was the Office of Telecommunications and Information Systems (OTIS). I have remained there since then. Over the years, I received several promotions and held various positions including management assistant, management analyst, voice systems administrator, computer specialist/programmer, STORES help desk technician, and finally management analyst/telecommunications specialist. OTIS ultimately became J6 Philadelphia and DPSC was relocated to Northeast Philadelphia - now DLA Troop Support Philadelphia.

**5) What are some of the biggest changes you’ve seen in the workplace?** I began my career at such an amazing time, technology-wise. In 1980, we were using typewriters with multiple carbon copies. We had one fax machine and one copy machine for our entire building. In 1982, my office received its first computer/word processor. All ten co-workers shared it, in addition to our three-line office phone. In what seems like an incredibly short amount of time, employees had their own computers, then laptops, and individual telephones with voice mail. We had ever-increasing access to fax machines, copiers, scanners and cell phones. VTC’s and “meet me” conference lines made impromptu meetings possible without the expense of travel. Telework was adopted and then expanded. We now have voice over IP. I was privileged to be able to take part in the planning and execution of many of these initiatives. And all this progress has enabled DLA to quickly adapt and continue seamlessly with our mission during the current pandemic. I am especially proud of the uninterrupted service which my current office has been able to provide to our customers during this challenging time.   

**6) What has made you stay with DLA?** When I was offered employment with DLA, my family and friends (many of whom were federal government workers) encouraged me to accept, telling me about the obvious benefits such as job security, promotion opportunities, health care plans, etc. I appreciated all those things, but I also came to love the job, my work family and the pride I felt in supporting my customers. I have learned so much, I got to travel a little and I’ve made many lifelong friends. Looking back, I have been very fortunate!

**7) It’s DLA’s 60th Anniversary—60 years of being an agency, what are your thoughts about the anniversary and DLA’s legacy?**  I have no doubt that whatever the future holds for DLA and its loyal employees, and no matter what work life will look like in the coming months and years, they will continue their tradition of innovation and adaptability - doing their absolute best to support the warfighter.

**8) Anything else you would like to add about DLA’s 60th?** I would like to encourage those just beginning their federal government careers to enjoy every minute of it, never stop learning, be proud of your successes, learn and grow from your mistakes, take ownership of your job, and never, ever lose sight of our ultimate mission.