More than 240 employees were seated 

in the McNamara Auditorium and 380 

employees joined online for the DLA 

Energy All Hands on April 18.

Brig Gen Canlas and Mr. Kless started 

by recognizing employees who’ve won 

1st Quarter FY23 and Defense Media 

Merit awards. Short, entertaining 

video cameos from regional leaders 

emphasized the employees’ hard work 

and achievements. 

The leaders highlighted recent events 

including Lunch & Learns about 

workman’s compensation and with 

DLA Foreign Policy Advisor; Indo-Pacific 

engagements, DLA Vice Director Deep Dive, Joint Petroleum Week, Mayport 

wastewater utility system ribbon cutting, Europe & Africa CEPS engagement, 

FY22 Fact Book publication, DLA Energy Americas trip and the Acquisition 

Workforce TOP GUN Ceremony (see page 3 of this newsletter).

Upcoming events highlighted included the DLA Energy Springfest scheduled 

for May 17 at Fort Hunt Park in Alexandria, Virginia; the DLA Energy Senior 

Leader Offsite scheduled for May 18-19; and the DLA Energy Commander 

Change of Command scheduled for June 29 followed by Brig Gen Canlas’ 

retirement on June 30. 

One focus area discussed is the future of work, or Line of Effort 5. In 

February 2023, the DLA Energy directors were asked to review their mission 

requirements and submit proposed work schedules. Brig Gen Canlas explained 

they were asked to look at their business units or commands through a 

different lense and examine their work with the national defense strategy in 

mind, taking lessons learned from COVID and analyze how DLA Energy needs 

to organize in order to support the next fight. 

Going forward, the DLA Future of Work Working Group continues to meet 

monthly and is currently discussing MSC implementation of in-office and 

telework plans and any trends or concerns they are experiencing. 

The audience was reminded that DLA’s travel management company has 

changed. It is no longer SATO. CI Travel is the new company and can be reached 

at dla@ciazumano.com or 1-844-729-6789. For issues related to Defense Travel 

System, employees should email DLAEnergyDTS@dla.mil. For Government 

Travel Charge Card problems/questions, email EnergyGTCC@dla.mil. For DTS 

training, use TRAX at www.defensetravel.dod.mil/Passport.

Brig Gen Canlas and Mr. Kless took several questions from the audience before 

closing the All Hands. 

DLA Energy All Hands

TIP: If a link won’t open, copy/paste it into an Internet window

Click on the image to watch the 

video recording of the All Hands 

(CAC required)

ENERGY CONNECTION

Energy Team,

 As your Chief of Staff, I feel it is important 

to personally remind you of your obligation 

to safeguard sensitive documents and 

information. 

 I am sure you are aware of the recent 

unauthorized disclosure of what appears 

to be classified DoD and Intelligence 

Community documents. I would like to 

remind you that we must abide by official 

classification markings on any documents 

and handle them with appropriate 

protections. This is true even when such 

documents have been posted online or 

reported by civilian media. Broad disclosure 

does not mean the material is declassified. 

While you may be curious as to what was 

released, do not access or download 

documents with classified markings from 

unclassified websites - either from home 

or work. It is in our agency’s and the nation’s 

best interests to avoid searching the internet 

for this information. Advances in artificial 

intelligence can capture search trends, and 

you could exacerbate the problem.

 Personnel with access to classified 

information are trusted stewards of that 

information and the responsibility to 

safeguard classified information is a lifetime 

requirement for everyone granted a security 

clearance. 

 DLA Intelligence Information Security 

and OPSEC teams are available to discuss 

protection of information. Use this contact 

sheet to learn about your representative 

(CAC-required). 

 The information we handle has a direct 

effect on the lives and safety of our 

warfighters and it is up to us to ensure it is 

secured ALWAYS. 

A MESSAGE FROM 

CHIEF OF STAFF

Col Keith Mecham

Core Values: Leadership, Professionalism & Technical Knowledge through Dedication to Duty, Integrity, Ethics, Honor, Courage & Loyalty

Volume 3, Issue 8 April 24, 2023
Mark your calendars!

April 25: Donuts with Deputy, GS-13s & below, 11am/6pm

May 1: Supervisory Committee Meeting,* 3pm

May 16: Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month 

event with guest speaker Kathleen “Hanako” Doherty, U.S. 

Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs, 2pm

May 23: Lunch & Learn with Cynthia Clark, DoD Employee 

Assistance Program Field Consultant, to discuss 

Communicating Effectively in the Workplace, 11:30am

*Get involved in your council meetings! Email DLAEnergyCAG@dla.mil

DLA Energy SARC Ella Warren and DLA Energy senior 

leaders signed the Sexual Assault Awareness and 

Prevention Proclamation April 11 and 163 employees 

have signed the pledge showing their support!

Historic fuel storage facility 

receives new owner

After resolving environmental 

challenges, the former Naval Air 

Station Moffett Field Defense Fuel 

Support Point in California was 

turned over to new owners. 

Remember the Ladies: DLA Energy 

honors Women’s History Month

The DLA Energy Acquisition Workforce 

Development Team Women’s History 

Month Program March 30 featured 

keynote speaker retired Senior 

Procurement Executive Soraya Correa. 

April Safety Tips

Read important safety tips and reminders.

As of April 24, Quality Technical 

Deputy Director Steve Sturgeon will 

be temporarily serving as the Deputy 

Director of the Commanders Action 

Group. Welcome to the team Steve! 

Thank you, Sarah Catlin, for stepping 

in to the robust, demanding role for 

the past 10 months! 

DLA Energy Air Force 

officers attended 

the Logistics Officer 

Association Symposium

in St. Louis in March. 

DLA Energy Director of 

Customer Operations Col 

Haler was on the AFPET 

panel, “Fueling the Fight.”

Col Haler with retired Lt Gen 

Giovanni Tuck, former DLA 

Energy Commander.

Maj Jerry Alefosio (Energy E&A), Col 

Eric Haler (DCO), Maj James Cotton 

(Energy M/E), and Capt Melody 

Chong (Energy M/E).

In-person Shadow Program has returned! 

Shadow experiences are designed to provide 

participants with professional development 

opportunities, networking, leadership exposure, and a 

broader understanding of DLA Energy. 

See this DLA Today Announcement that outlines the 

program and the requirements to participate.

DLA ENERGY SHADOW PROGRAM

AROUND ENERGY

The DLA Energy Advisory & Integration Council includes 

the four committees. Here are your representatives:

The Champion on the Culture Climate and DEI&A 

committees are available. If you are interested in 

getting involved, contact DLAEnergyCAG@dla.mil.

Thank you to Greg Thevenin and Adam Morrison for 

their service and support!

ADVISORY & INTEGRATION

Supervisory Committee: 

Chair: Jennifer Iribarren

Co-Chair: Susan Turner 

Champion: Steve Sturgeon

Training Committee:

Chair: Ditu Kasuyi 

Co-Chair: Dari Carver 

Champion: Doug Thomas

Culture Climate Committee: 

Chair: Natasha Robinson

Co-Chair: Lindsey Hicks

Champion: Greg Thevenin

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion 

& Accessibility Committee: 

Chair: Ella Warren

Co-Chair: Michael Hughes

Champion: Adam Morrison
DLA Energy acquisition professionals were recognized during 

an Honors Program presented by the Acquisition Workforce 

Development Division on April 11. Honored employees earned 

Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) 

certifications, participated in industry management courses 

and the Immersion Program, became Warranted Contracting 

Officers, and joined the prestigious HCA Circle of Excellence. 

The theme of this high-energy, celebratory event was 

“Top Gun Acquisition Professionals.”

Not everyone could attend the live event, so please read more 

about all the honorees in this DLA Today Announcement

Watch the video recording of the entire program on GovZoom

(Passcode: eId1w!Pm)

DAWIA certifications (L-R): Brig Gen Canlas, Chris Gabro, 

Felicia Johnson, Akquira Hamilton Edwards, Mr. Kless, 

and Ms. Earhardt

Melvin Floyd

HCA Circle of Excellence members (L-R): Brig Gen Canlas, Aggie Mickens, 

Justin Wingo, Roger Brown, Augustus Patterson, Crystal Renee Moore, 

Carl Silverstone, Ms. Earhardt, Jose Jimenez, Jen Arthur, Shane Banks, 

Keecha Elliott, Mr. Kless, and Alicia Williams

Warranted Contracting Officers (L-R): Aggie Mickens, 

Mark Davis, Thea Miller-Smith, Brig Gen Canlas, 

Ryan Logan, Natasha Robinson, Orlando Rodriguez, 

Shannon Coleman, Ms. Earhardt, Dominiqu Vest, 

Antaeyah Scales, and Mr. Kless

SPECIAL EDITION! DLA Energy Acquisition Workforce Honors Program

Ayodele Warburton

Massoud Ahmadi Brig Gen Canlas and 

Ashleigh Johnson

Brig Gen Canlas & the Acquisition Workforce Development 

Division Team (L-R): MaryBeth Sandman, Imani Mitchell, 

Laceenis Fordham, Ms. Earhardt, Andrew Berger, Ditu Kasuyi, 

Ashleigh Johnson, and Charles Hudson