# DLA Energy celebrates two new Hall of Fame members

/ Published Dec. 1, 2023
FORT BELVOIR, Va., 
Two prior Defense Logistics Agency Energy employees whose service left an enduring mark on the agency were inducted into the DLA Energy Hall of Fame during a ceremony at the McNamara Headquarters Complex at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, Nov. 28.

The new inductees are Jean Cox, the former comptroller for DLA Energy Finance, and James Young, the former quality manager for DLA Aerospace Energy.

“It’s important to note that we didn’t select you for this honor because of your rank or position. Rather, you earned the recognition for your daily contributions, leadership and wholehearted dedication to the DLA Energy mission,” said DLA Energy Commander Navy Capt. Brian Anderson. “That distinction is important because it defines one of the essential qualities that makes our Energy family special – that everyone, big or small, contributes to what is inarguably one of the most rewarding missions in the Department of Defense.”

                DLA Energy celebrates two new Hall of Fame members                            Jean Cox, former comptroller for Defense Logistics Agency Energy Finance who worked for DLA from 1985-2017, was inducted into the DLA Energy Hall of Fame during a ceremony at the McNamara Headquarters Complex, Fort Belvoir, Virginia, Nov. 28, 2023. Cox drove improvements in DLA Energy's audit readiness efforts and helped modernize its accounting systems.  She retired in 2019 serving in the Senior Executive Service as the DLA Deputy Chief Financial Officer. Photo by DLA photographer Chris Lynch.            SHARE IMAGE:Download ImageImage DetailsPhoto By: Chris Lynch DLA PhotographerVIRIN: 231128-D-HE260-1039

Cox, who attended the induction ceremony in person at DLA Headquarters, began her career as a GS-5 accounting technician in 1985 and continued to serve DLA for the next 34 years. She drove improvements in DLA Energy's audit readiness efforts and helped modernize its accounting systems. In 2009, she was promoted to DLA Energy deputy comptroller, and five years later she became the lead comptroller. She was selected for the Senior Executive Service in 2017 and served as the DLA deputy chief financial officer until she retired in 2019.

“I spent the majority of my career in DLA Energy. The sense of commitment and community is unparalleled,” Cox said in her remarks. “Every day I learned something new. Every day I learned how very special the Energy community is. I thank you. I am truly honored to be a part of the Energy Hall of Fame.”

                DLA Energy celebrates two new Hall of Fame members                            James Young (left), former quality assurance manager who worked for Defense Logistics Agency Energy from 2007-2017, was inducted into the DLA Energy Hall of Fame during a ceremony at the McNamara Headquarters Complex, Fort Belvoir, Virginia, Nov. 28, 2023. As a technical expert for aerospace products and propellants, he applied his 51 years of experience from both U.S. Air Force active duty and as a civilian to support of air force missile fuels and rocket fuels. Photo courtesy of DLA Energy Aerospace.            SHARE IMAGE:Download ImageImage DetailsPhoto By: courtesy photoVIRIN: 231128-D-D0441-9000

Young, who joined the ceremony virtually from the DLA Energy Aerospace offices in San Antonio, Texas, was a quality expert for aerospace products and propellants with DLA Energy Aerospace from 2007-2017. With 51 years of experience in his field from both Air Force active duty and as a civilian, he helped improve customer service and supply chain resiliency and saved time and money for products like aviator’s breathing oxygen, thermally stable jet fuel and rocket propellent.

Young said he never expected to build an entire career in fuel quality control when he was drafted into the Air Force in 1967.

“I was only going to stay four years and go home, but it didn’t work out that way,” he said. “Once I was in the military, I found something I truly enjoyed that set the stage for my future.”

He thanked his past mentors and colleagues for their support throughout his years and said he is humbled to sit among the other Hall of Fame inductees.

“I look at the people before me – Paul Dupoise, Michael Broderick and Lee Oppenheim. They were all my heroes and now I get to sit with them,” Young said. “Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

Current DLA Energy Hall of Fame members Don Peschka, Michael Broderick, Linda Barnett, Lee Oppenheim and Carol O’Leary attended the ceremony to honor their fellow inductees. 

DLA Energy employee Natasha Robinson served as mistress of ceremonies, and DLA Chaplain Army Col. Thomas Brooks gave the invocation. The U.S. Air Force Ceremonial Color Guard presented the colors, and a U.S. Army Band “Pershing’s Own” vocalist sang the National Anthem.

The DLA Energy Hall of Fame was established in 2016 to honor and preserve the memory of past associates for their exceptional leadership, service, dedication to duty and contributions in supporting the DLA mission.

Learn more about previous inductees on the DLA Energy Hall of Fame webpage.