# Employee Spotlight: Clara Griffin

/ Published Sept. 14, 2016
Richmond, Virginia, 
*Employee Spotlight regularly features outstanding non-supervisory personnel from throughout the Defense Logistics Agency Aviation and DLA Installation Support at Richmond teams. Organizational directors may submit names of employees they wish to feature in this column to DLA Aviation Public Affairs. For more information, call (804) 279-3139.*­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­____________________________________________________________________________________

**Name:** Clara Griffin

**Organization**: DLA Aviation Customer Operations Directorate, Richmond, Virginia

**Years of Service**: 11 years with DLA (22 years with U.S. Army)

**What is your job title, and what do you do, specifically?** I am a customer account specialist.I am the primary customer facing point of contact for the order fulfillment process and responsible for processing customer orders, maintaining customer contact information, providing product information, handling emergency requests, initiating calls to customers, and providing or validating customer account information.Specifically, I support the Air Force’s C-5 Galaxy and the C-17 Globemaster aircraft weapon systems.

**What do you like most about your job**? I enjoy working with a team of professionals that have a common commitment in supporting the warfighters of America.As a retired Army sergeant first class, responsible for logistics support to soldiers, I am proud to work for the very same organization that served as a major source of supply when I was enlisted.I now have the privilege and honor of supporting my comrades in the field worldwide.I make a concerted effort every day to provide the highest level of customer assistance and support possible.Readiness is a top priority and I want to personally make sure I do everything I can to provide our servicemen and women with what they need to be successful in their respective missions.

**What is your fondest memory of working for DLA Aviation?**I am most fond of the intrinsic things I have been able to do while working at DLA Aviation.DLA, by nature, is a service-oriented organization where employees are both allowed and encouraged to serve others.Within my Customer Relationship Management (CRM) cell, we have been an active community partner for years.Among the most cherished things I have been able to do is to provide morale and support for recovering servicemen and women through the Richmond Area Top 3 Non-Commissioned Officers Association (NCOA) at Hunter Holmes McGuire VA Medical Center.This gives me great joy!In addition, my team supports Christmas Mother each year which is an organization that provides gifts, food and clothes for families in the local area.DLA’s commitment to serving others is truly one of the best benefits of working in this great organization.

**If you could speak directly to the warfighters you support, what would you tell them?**I would say, as a retired veteran with 22 years of service, I truly understand and appreciate the daily sacrifices warfighters give for our country’s freedom. Knowing the importance of their mission, I will do everything that I can to ensure their success in accomplishing the warfighter mission.Though I may not know their names, individually or collectively, we share a kindred spirit that binds us one with another.More than that, I would tell them that I pray for them daily as they sacrifice and serve America and protect its citizens and our way of life both domestically and abroad.I would tell them, I am you.You are me.We are one.Soldiers for life!

**What was your first job?** Upon enlisting in the U.S. Army, my first job was a unit supply/S4 staff non-commissioned officer, supervisor.In this job role, I oversaw and ensured soldiers and units had all the supplies they needed to perform their missions.This was critical to readiness and had a direct impact on the soldier’s morale.

**What are some of your passions outside of work?** I am known as “Clara the cake lady.”Baking, for me, is not just about cooking, it is a life-long passion.It’s a ministry for me too.Through baking, I can share love and joy with others.It’s my way of sending happiness into the world and allowing it to boomerang back to others and me in double portions. I want to help make the world a better place, one cake at a time!In addition to baking, I truly enjoy outreach ministry at church where I spend a great deal of my time. 

**Who is the most influential person in your life...past or present?** By far, my parents were the most influential people in my life in my formative years and beyond.Together, my mother and father would always encourage me to do my best and to put God first in everything I do. In the same way, my husband, a fellow DLA Aviation employee who is also my best friend, has been a driving force in my life.He is a good father, an effective leader, a wonderful provider, and he has had a positive influence on others and on me.He is compassionate, optimistic, confident and focused.He is a great example.

**What is your proudest accomplishment?** Simply put, my proudest accomplishment is completing 22 years in military service, while holding together a great marriage, along with raising three gifts, better known as my children, who have all graduated from college and made lives of their own. To God be the glory for the great things He has done! 

**What type of music do you most enjoy?** My favorite type is gospel music, particularly spirituals.I enjoy gospel because it is soothing to the soul.No matter who you are or where you are from, you can relate to gospel music.Feeling bad?Put on a gospel song.Need to be encouraged? Listen to the lyrics in a gospel song.Gospel music is healing and it is universally loved!