# Agency’s culture and data opportunities highlighted at director’s town hall

/ Published May 17, 2024
FORT BELVOIR, Va., 
An emphasis on data and culture were common themes through Defense Logistics Agency Director Army Lt. Gen Mark Simerly’s first global town hall May 16.

From organizational surveys to overcoming challenges posed by contested logistics, the director threaded the importance of the people of the organization and the new era of warfighting throughout the first in-person town hall in nearly four years. These points were echoed by DLA Vice Director Brad Bunn and DLA Senior Enlisted Leader Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Alvin Dyer.

                Defense Logistics Agency Director Army Lt. Gen Mark Simerly discusses the importance of organizational culture during his global town hall at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, May 16. Photo by Chris Lynch                            Agency’s culture and data opportunities highlighted at director’s town hall                            Defense Logistics Agency Director Army Lt. Gen Mark Simerly discusses the importance of organizational culture during his global town hall at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, May 16. Photo by Chris Lynch            SHARE IMAGE:Download ImageImage DetailsPhoto By: DoD Photo by Chris LynchVIRIN: 240516-D-HE260-1019DLA’s people and culture-focused efforts were shown in recent Denison Culture Climate Survey results. Speaking to a packed auditorium and with DLA team members watching remotely from around the world, Simerly reflected on the change between survey periods. He noted that while the overall arc over the years has been positive, culture is fragile and needs continuous maintenance.

Investing in culture was a recurring topic addressed by Simerly and Bunn in reference to telework policies. Both senior leaders said data is still being collected to inform future decisions, but a “presence with a purpose” is having a positive impact on team building and shorter lead times that are difficult to form and maintain virtually for an agency with a mission like DLA’s.

“Why are we focused on culture? Culture always precedes performance.” Simerly said, adding that we know that with our responsibility to the nation, the only way we’re going to meet that responsibility is with a world-class workforce.

Further measurement of the organization’s culture will be gathered in the Office of Personnel Management’s Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey, open now through June 28.

                Defense Logistics Agency Director Army Lt. Gen Mark Simerly describes expectations for leadership, emphasizing the characteristics of trust, discipline and commitment during his global town hall at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, May 16. Photo by Chris Lynch                            Agency’s culture and data opportunities highlighted at director’s town hall                            Defense Logistics Agency Director Army Lt. Gen Mark Simerly describes expectations for leadership, emphasizing the characteristics of trust, discipline and commitment during his global town hall at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, May 16. Photo by Chris Lynch            SHARE IMAGE:Download ImageImage DetailsPhoto By: DoD Photo by Chris LynchVIRIN: 240516-D-HE260-1014

Simerly set expectations for leadership, emphasizing the characteristics of trust, discipline and commitment.

“We have to have trust as a foundational aspect. I would say it’s the lifeblood of DLA,” Simerly said. He outlined his beliefs on treating all team members with dignity and respect, as well as his commitment to team excellence by noting that we win or lose as teams.

The director highlighted contested logistics by stating warfare is changing, with new challenges in all domains of logistics – from sea to air to cyber spaces.

                Defense Logistics Agency Director Army Lt. Gen Mark Simerly describes organizational emphasis coming from four areas: people, precision, posture and partnership, during his global town hall at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, May 16. Photo by Chris Lynch                            Agency’s culture and data opportunities highlighted at director’s town hall                            Defense Logistics Agency Director Army Lt. Gen Mark Simerly describes organizational emphasis coming from four areas: people, precision, posture and partnership, during his global town hall at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, May 16. Photo by Chris Lynch            SHARE IMAGE:Download ImageImage DetailsPhoto By: DoD Photo by Chris LynchVIRIN: 240516-D-HE260-1023“It’s not just contested logistics, it’s the nature of warfare that’s causing change,” Simerly said, emphasizing the military services adapting to the new setting and by extension DLA transforming to support with urgency and clarity. “The time to change is now, and it’s time to move out.”

Simerly described the changes as coming through four areas: people, precision, posture and partnership. Each element serves to prepare the organization and its workforce to anticipate, plan, and work with speed and flexibility to support evolving logistics needs. An upcoming reevaluation of the agency’s strategic plan will help the agency meet its commitments as it transforms.

“It’s time for us to think, act and operate differently in order for us to meet our commitments,” Simerly said. “Part of that will be to operate in a data-driven environment, to be able to adequately leverage data to make sound and timely decisions before we arrive at a point of need.”

The theme of data continued into the director’s initial insights during his first few months at DLA, seeing the role of data as useful for predicting and prescribing actions. Training will be assembled in the coming months for the workforce to gain data acumen and interpret data to meet missions effectively.

“This is a world-class-level agency, and we deliver world-class-level logistics with world-class-level people, and I couldn’t be prouder to be part of this team,” Simerly said when summing up his data and audit takeaways.

                Defense Logistics Agency Director Army Lt. Gen Mark Simerly addressed a full auditorium at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, as well as more than 100 worldwide remote viewing locations during his first global town hall May 16. Photo by Chris Lynch                            Agency’s culture and data opportunities highlighted at director’s town hall                            Defense Logistics Agency Director Army Lt. Gen Mark Simerly addressed a full auditorium at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, as well as more than 100 worldwide remote viewing locations during his first global town hall May 16. Photo by Chris Lynch            SHARE IMAGE:Download ImageImage DetailsPhoto By: DoD Photo by Chris LynchVIRIN: 240516-D-HE260-1039

Other topics of the town hall included recent accomplishments like integrating employees into exercises and Warehouse Management System progress, as well as upcoming opportunities for the agency such as advanced manufacturing and carbon pollution-free electricity support. Bunn spoke on his role aligning organizations within DLA to accomplish strategic goals, while Dyer talked about safety and mental health awareness.

The director also highlighted the accomplishments of employees and teams across the agency, focused on recognition from organizations outside the agency. 

Individual Awards- Catherine Contreras , DLA Aviation: 2023 Presidential Rank Award  
- David Kless , DLA Energy: 2023 Presidential Rank Award  
- Stefanie Hauck , DLA Land and Maritime: Defense Media Merit Award Communicator of the Year  
- Dean Nakasone , DLA Installation Management: Federal Asian Pacific American Council Outstanding Individual Leadership Award  
- Adam Walstrum , DLA Troop Support: Federal Asian Pacific American Council Outstanding Individual Leadership Award  
- Police Officer Jonathan Street , DLA Installation Management: 2024 Department of Defense Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission Outstanding Law Enforcement Award  
- Vivian d’Alelio , DLA Installation Management: Outstanding DoD Employee with a Disability Award  
- Greg Ramsey , DLA Installation Management: Outstanding DoD Employee with a Disability Award

Team and Unit Awards- Joint Meritorious Unit Award  
- DoD Commander in Chief’s Annual Award for Installation Excellence: Defense Distribution Center San Joaquin, California  
- USTRANSCOM Team of the Year: DLA Energy Global Bulk Fuels

01:27VIDEO  | 01:27 |Way to Go Team DLA (emblem, open caption)            Team DLA is honored in this video featured during the town hall.        

Simerly closed by emphasizing the people of DLA as its most important aspect, encouraging employees to take care of themselves and maintain a healthy balance between work and personal life. He also called on employees to see themselves as rooted in what they support.

“I want you all to embrace this idea that not only are we focused on supporting warfighters, we ***are***warfighters. We’re part of the warfighting team,” Simerly said. “Whether you’re wearing a uniform now, wore one before, or never wore a military uniform – you are wearing the cloth of our nation when you’re doing the great work of the Defense Logistics Agency.”

1:12:51VIDEO  | 1:12:51 |DLA Director Global Town Hall, from May 16, 2024

View a captioned video of the town hall above or view the recording on DVIDS.