More than 300 Energy employees and their families gathered for a day of 

food, fun and friendly competition at Fort Hunt Park, Virginia, May 17. 

“It’s been a while since we’ve all gotten together,” Brig Gen Canlas told the 

crowded pavilion. “Thank you for coming out, socializing and spending the 

afternoon with me and your colleagues.”

During festival planning, Brig Gen Canlas challenged the directors and 

regional commander to a lip synch contest. Nine teams battled it out to 

win the “golden microphone.” Songs included “Call Me Maybe” by Carly 

Rae Jepsen, “Love Shack” by the B-52s, “The Banana Boat Song (Day O)” by 

Goombay Dance Band, “Don’t Stop Believin’” by Journey and more. 

The three-person DLA Energy Europe & Africa team won the competition 

with Céline Dion’s “It’s All Coming Back to Me Now.” Props included a 

wind effect using a leaf blowing machine, an empty plastic gas can as a 

microphone and exploding confetti cannons! 

After a lunch of barbecue pork and chicken with all the fixings, the cornhole 

competition kicked off. Sixteen teams filled the bracket. 

In the final game, Paul Churchill and Mark Palombo of Utility Services took 

on the “Corndogs” – Ethan and Josh, the sons of Kevin Epstein with DLA 

Energy International Agreements. With a final score of 21-15, Utility Services 

took the win. 

Read more about the festival in this DLA News Story

Spring Festival

ENERGY CONNECTION

Team Energy,

 Last week was a whirlwind of exciting 

events, interactions and progress. 

 First and foremost, I want to thank the more 

than 300 of you who attended the Spring 

Festival at Fort Hunt Park here in Alexandria 

last Wednesday! Mother Nature was on our 

side for a sunny and breezy 70-degree day. 

The food was great, the cornhole competition 

exciting and the lip synch battle epic. It was 

great to see the directors and commanders 

break out of their shell and have a little fun! 

Who knew about all those hidden talents?

 Last week was also “Energy Week” including 

a Pre-Command Orientation where we got to 

meet the new incoming military commanders 

and attend our Senior Leader Strategic Offsite. 

A lot of great networking, discussions and 

plans to take Energy to the next level!

 Squeezed in to the week was the DLA Hall 

of Fame where our own Kay Bushman was 

inducted. As the former DLA Energy Senior 

Counsel, Kay served 31 years retiring in 2015. 

She joins an elite group of over 100 hall of 

famers! Kay left her fingerprints all over our 

organization and we’re better for it.

 Next week will prove to be another exciting 

week as we welcome our industry partners 

for the DLA Energy Industry Summit on 

May 24-25. I look forward to strengthening 

partnerships through networking and sessions 

discussing climate change, petroleum and 

installation energy issues.

 Finally, below you will see the heavy military 

turnover happening this summer. As we 

onboard new leaders, please give them a 

warm Energy welcome and help them hit the 

ground running!

 I hope you enjoy all the great pictures from 

last week scattered throughout this Energy 

Connection issue!

A MESSAGE FROM 

THE COMMANDER

Brig Gen 

Jimmy Canlas

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

Volume 3, Issue 10 May 22, 2023
Learn about the Acquisition 

Workforce Development Team 

AAPI event on May 17.

Read about DLA Energy Korea 

Commander LTC Dennis Han in this 

AAPI Month spotlight.

Position Outgoing Leader Incoming Leader

Chief of Staff USAF Col Keith Mecham USA COL Ben Kilgore

DCO USAF Col Eric Haler USAF Col Michael Boswell

Americas East USA Chris Masson USA LTC Thaddeus Douthitt

Okinawa USAF Maj Tony Anderson USAF Maj Kevin Knutson

East Pacific USN CDR William Jakubowicz USN CDR Konrad Krupa

South-West Pacific USN CDR Chris Radke USN CDR Scott McCarthy

Americas North USAF Lt Col Land Barton USAF Maj Daniel Moritz

Middle East USA LTC Al Cordova USA LTC Jamie Pittman

Europe & Africa USA LTC Ben Fortune USA LTC Leslie Shipp

Upcoming Hail & Farewells

During the Pre-Command Orientation outgoing 

commanders gave a gift to Brig Gen Canlas 

Middle East outgoing LTC Cordova 

and incoming LTC Pittman

AME incoming LTC Douthitt, E&A outgoing 

LTC Fortune, E&A incoming LTC Shipp

SWP incoming CDR McCarthy, EP outgoing 

CDR Jakubowicz, EP incoming CDR Krupa

ENERGY WEEK: Pre-Command Orientation and Senior Leader Offsite