# PaCE Spotlight: Courtney Carroll

/ Published May 15, 2023
BATTLE CREEK, Mich. , 
Courtney Carroll is a property disposal specialist within the Disposal Policy Branch at Defense Logistics Agency Headquarters in Fort Belvoir, Virginia. She participated in the Pathways to Career Excellence Program from 2012 to 2014 as a part of PaCE Group B for fiscal year 2012.

**In your own words, how would you describe the PaCE program, and what can you gain from it?**

                DLA Disposition Services PaCEr Courtney Carroll                            Courtney Carroll is a property disposal specialist within the Disposal Policy Branch at Defense Logistics Agency Headquarters in Fort Belvoir, Virginia. She participated in the Pathways to Career Excellence Program from 2012 to 2014 as a part of PaCE Group B for fiscal year 2012.            SHARE IMAGE:Download ImageImage DetailsPhoto By: Jace ArmstrongVIRIN: 230503-D-D0441-210The PaCE Program is a training program for personnel to learn technical competencies for various roles and to advance within the government. You participate in on-the-job training, classroom training, and rotations. You gain invaluable experiences and skills that you use throughout your career, whether you stay with DLA or not.

**Why did you first apply to the PaCE Program? Was it your first position with DLA?**

I applied to the PaCE Program because it felt like a natural next step after working in the administrative field in a student program, I wanted to transition to the operations and environmental field. I had just completed my undergraduate degree in communications while working under the Student Career Experience Program. This was not my first position with DLA. When I was accepted into the PaCE Program, I had already been with DLA for 3 years.  

**What was your position before coming to the PaCE Program?**

I was a management program analyst with the East Regional Office - now split with South-East and North-East regions. I worked a lot of the culture initiatives and other administrative duties.

**What have been your favorite parts of the PaCE Program?**

My favorite part of the PaCE Program was meeting many people across various fields within DLA. I have gained so many friends, not only through the program, but also where the program has taken me after graduation.

**Do you have a favorite memory from your time in the program?**                DLA Disposition Services PaCEr Courtney Carroll                            Courtney Carroll with family            SHARE IMAGE:Download ImageImage DetailsPhoto By: Jace ArmstrongVIRIN: 230503-D-D0441-212

One of my favorite memories is when my PaCER group entered the gingerbread house competition, and we built an “apartment complex” where each one of us decorated our own “room.” We were all so proud of our work and thought we were really creative and could win! When we went to the Palm Garden Room [at Hart-Dole-Inouye Federal Center in Battle Creek, Michigan] and saw the other submissions that look like they were built by professional builders! We laughed and knew we definitely weren’t going to win but we had fun doing it and bonded as a group, so it was all worth it!

**If there was one thing that could’ve been different for you in the PaCE Program, what would it be?**

I wish we could have gone out to more field sites. I only went to one during my year in Battle Creek and even though I came from the field, it would have been cool to visit other sites and see their operations and meet other DLA Disposition Services employees.

**What would you say is the most important quality to succeed in the PaCE Program?**

Be versatile and a sponge! You are there to learn anything and everything about DLA Disposition Services. Take every opportunity you can!

**Please describe your current position in a couple of sentences, and how being in the PaCE program affected you in that position.**

I am the audit and hazardous waste lead for the Disposal Policy Branch. I manage multiple DLA policies, review change requests, perform compliance checks, answer disposal related questions, and assist in developing corrective actions for audit findings. I wouldn’t be where I am now if it wasn’t for the extensive training I received during the program. I learned so much from my time as a PaCER and gained valuable contacts who led me to this position.

**What have you done since you finished with the PaCE Program?**

Since graduating the PaCE Program, I have become a general service 14 pay grade and write policy for process areas that I used to execute. I have been lucky enough to have many career highlights since graduating the PaCE program. Some include being the lead for the DLA PFAS [polyfluoroalkyl substances] Working Group, supporting many Department of Defense Inspector General and United State Government Accountability Office audits, working with other federal agencies, briefing senior DLA and Office of the Secretary of Defense leadership, while all still supporting DLA Disposition Services.

**Where did you see yourself going when you first started, and how does that compare to where you are now?**

When I first started, I thought I would stay in the field until I retired. Now I am at DLA HQ and have the ability to influence decisions that affect the field and I take a lot of pride in that. I always think about the field when I discuss program and issues.

**Do you have any advice for current or prospective PaCERs?**

Ask questions and be involved! When I was in the program, I did projects that were outside of my “0028” role [environmental protection specialist series] but it allowed me to gain a better understanding of DLA Disposition Services as a whole and gain more contacts outside of the environmental world.

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*Editorial Note: The Pathways to Career Excellence Program for DLA Disposition Services is a two-year program that takes PaCERs through all of Disposition Services and its processes to learn as much as possible about the directorate. The first year takes place at DLA Disposition Services Headquarters in Battle Creek, Michigan, and the second year either takes place in Battle Creek for Contracting PaCERs or at an assigned field site for Property Disposal PaCERs. PaCERs begin as general schedule 7s, move to GS-9s at the end of their first year, and graduate the program as GS-11s. There are multiple pathways to becoming a PaCER, including being hired internally, as a recent graduate, or from military service.*