outline of a woman’s face looking towards the explosion of 

opportunities available to 

women who tell the stories. Her 

hand holds the pen that pours 

out possibilities into a colorful 

tapestry of talent.” 

The display describes the many 

ways women can use their 

powerful storytelling prowess 

to propagate truth and reflect 

our changing society. 

March 8 as National 

Women’s History 

Week. Later, 

presidents continued 

to proclaim a 

National Women’s 

History Week in 

March until 1987, 

when Congress 

passed Public Law 

100-9, designating 

March as “Women’s 

History Month.” 

The National 

Women’s History 

Alliance selects and 

publishes the yearly 

theme for the month. 

This year’s theme for 

Women’s History Month is 

“Celebrating Women Who 

Tell Our Stories.” According 

to the National Women’s 

History Alliance, this theme 

“honors women in every 

community who have 

devoted their lives and 

talents to producing art and 

news, pursuing truth and 

reflecting society decade 

after decade.” 

According to the Defense 

Equal Opportunity 

Management Institute, the 

2023 Department of 

Defense’s Women’s History 

Month poster “depicts the 

Each year, Americans 

observe Women’s History 

Month in March, by 

celebrating the contributions 

and achievements that 

women have made throughout U.S. history. 

Women’s History Month’s 

origin began as a local 

celebration in Santa Rosa, 

California, in 1978. The 

Education Task Force of the 

Sonoma County California 

Commission on the Status of 

Women planned and 

executed a “Women’s 

History Week” celebration. 

The organizers selected the 

week of March 8 to 

correspond with 

International Women’s Day. 

The movement spread across 

the country as other 

communities initiated their 

own Women’s History Week 

celebrations the following 

year. 

In 1980, a consortium of 

women’s groups and historians, led by the National 

Women’s History Project 

(now the National Women’s 

History Alliance), successfully 

lobbied for national 

recognition. In February 

1980, President Jimmy 

Carter issued the first Presidential Proclamation 

declaring the week of 

Women’s History Month Observance 

Inside this issue: 

Employee Spotlight: Lt. Col. 

Sonia Huertas 

2 

Employee Spotlight: Margaret 

Ross 

3 

The Women of DLA 

Distribution’s Past 

4 

Resources 5 

EEO Contact Information 5 

Observances 6 

EEO Mission 6 

March 2023 

Defense Logistics 

Agency Distribution 

EEO 

WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH 

Prominent Women 

Throughout History 

Ada Lovelace (1815-1852): She was 

an English mathematician credited with 

being the world’s first computer programmer. 

Soujner Truth (1797-1883): She was 

an abolitionist, author and women’s 

rights activist who was regarded as 

one of the most influential Black women in American history. 

Marie Curie (1867-1934): She was a 

Polish scientist who discovered both 

polonium and radium, and coined the 

term radioactivity. She was the first 

woman to receive a Nobel Prize. 

Eleanor Roosevelt (1884-1962): She 

was the longest-serving First Lady, who 

established herself as an activist, 

diplomat and humanitarian. She went 

on to be an eventual spokesperson for 

the United Nations. 

Maya Angelou (1928-2014): She was 

a world-renowned poet, singer and 

activist who became the first nonfiction 

bestseller by an African-American 

woman. The Department of Defense’s 2023 official 

Women’s History Month poster. 
Page 2 Women’s History Month 

Employee Spotlight: Lt. Col. Sonia Huertas 

In honor of Women’s 

History Month, Defense 

Logistics Agency 

Distribution spotlights 

Army Lt. Col. Sonia 

Huertas, commander of 

DLA Distribution Red 

River, Texas. 

Huertas has worked at 

DDRT as the commander 

for two years. Before she 

became the commander, 

she was part of the 

Department of Army G-1 

as part of the Talent 

Management Task Force. 

Before that, she had 

assignments in Germany, 

Kuwait, Iraq and 

Afghanistan. Huertas 

credits her previous 

assignments for giving her 

the experience and 

exposure needed to 

become the commander 

of DDRT. 

“I became the second 

female and first Hispanic 

commander of DLA 

Distribution Red River, a 

crucial DLA logistical hub, 

in June 2021,” she said. 

“The fact that it took 15 

years to choose another 

female leader is not lost 

on me in the least. In 

February of this year, I 

was selected to be 

promoted to the rank of 

colonel, one of just 43 

women selected compared 

to 317 males. I am a 

former enlisted soldier, 

Hispanic woman, mother, 

grandmother and wife 

showing junior female 

soldiers and women everywhere that it is possible 

to have it all.” 

Huertas believes that it is 

important to recognize 

Women’s History Month 

because it is a time to 

reflect and recognize the 

important achievements 

that woman leaders have 

made throughout history 

and to understand that 

every woman has a 

history. 

“It is time to assess the 

women who have made 

important contributions to 

the growth and molding 

of our nation,” she said. 

“We stand on the 

shoulders of numerous 

strong women who 

answered the cry for 

change and paved the 

road for it to happen, 

ensuring that we have a 

seat at the table. We are 

responsible for paving 

the road for the next 

generation of female 

leaders in science, society, 

politics, government and 

the military.” 

“Every woman has a 

history. I was raised in a 

traditional home in which 

woman in my family 

worked in traditionally 

female occupations such 

as teaching, nursing, 

office work or 

homemaking. My mother, 

a stay-at-home mom, 

taught me that I could do 

whatever I wanted. I am 

the first woman in my 

family to work in a 

traditionally maledominated field. I chose a 

career path that allows 

me to mentor women and 

our male counterparts, 

encouraging them to 

allow space for us. I 

salute any woman who is 

challenging gender 

stereotypes, as well as the 

community and men who 

support them.” 

It is important to Huertas 

that the DLA workforce 

recognizes Women’s 

History Month because it 

is important to 

acknowledge the 

contributions that women 

have made at DLA. 

“DLA offers many 

opportunities to women, 

and I am incredibly 

fortunate to be part of 

the DLA family,” she said. 

“It is essential to 

recognize that each 

female teammate is also 

someone’s mother, 

daughter and/or sister. 

Our treatment and care 

of one another and those 

around us are part of our 

success. Everyone deserves to be treated with 

respect and given the 

opportunity to reach their 

full potential. It is time to 

pay tribute to the women 

who have come before us 

and those who continue to 

pave the path to follow.” 

Lt. Col. Sonia Huertas, commander of DLA Distribution Red River, 

Texas, gives her daughter the oath of enlistment. 

Army Lt. Col. Sonia I. Huertas, DLA 

Distribution Red River, Texas, commander. 
the female DLA 

Distribution leaders that 

trailblazed the way for 

other women to come into 

positions of power. 

“We have so many 

women that shaped DLA 

Distribution into the 

organization it is today. 

As you look along the Hall 

of Fame at the HQ 

building, you see a 

glimpse of those women 

that served at the helm of 

DLA Distribution to ensure 

that we met our mission 

requirements. There are 

many women today that 

have taken up the mantle 

to ensure warfighter 

support.” 

In honor of Women’s History Month, Defense Logistics Agency Distribution 

spotlights Margaret Ross, 

the director of Acquisition 

Operations for DLA 

Distribution Headquarters 

in New Cumberland, 

Pennsylvania. 

Ross has worked at DLA 

Distribution Acquisition 

since 2003.Throughout her 

tenure here, she has had 

various positions. 

“I have sat in many 

different seats at DLA 

Distribution Acquisition,” 

she said. “I worked a 

variety of procurement 

actions as both a buyer 

and contracting officer 

and held a position with 

our policy team as a 

procurement analyst. 

Those positions all 

provided varying 

perspectives and 

experiences that led to 

my growth as an 

acquisition 

professional.” 

An important 

accomplishment throughout 

Ross’s life is that she has a 

daughter who she is proud 

of. 

“I have a daughter and 

more than anything I want 

to serve as a good 

example to her throughout 

school as she entered the 

workforce. I am proud of 

the young lady that she has 

become, full of confidence 

and striving to be successful 

as a professional. While I 

may not take full credit, I 

would like to believe I had 

some small part in her 

development into the adult 

she is today.” 

A little-known fact about 

Ross is that she was 

originally a history major in 

college. 

“When I first entered 

college, I declared as a 

history major. I believe 

there are many things that 

history can teach us and 

can be applied to current 

and future problems. 

Employee Spotlight: Margaret Ross 

Page 3 Women’s History Month 

Eleanor Roosevelt once 

said “Learn from the mistakes of others. You can’t 

live long enough to make 

them all.”” 

Ross believes that 

recognizing Women’s 

History Month is important 

because it acknowledges 

the achievements that 

women have made 

throughout history. 

“Women’s History Month 

celebrates the 

achievements of women in 

all disciplines throughout 

history and highlights the 

successes of our 

predecessors,” she said. “I 

believe that it is important 

for us to all have role 

models. This month helps 

to inspire future 

generations to pave their 

own ways to success on 

the foundation built by 

those women that 

proceeded them.” 

One thing unique about 

women’s history that Ross 

finds unique is how influential female historical 

figures were. 

“I believe there is much 

women’s history for us to 

all uncover. I am an avid 

reader of historical fiction, and I am 

overwhelmed at times in 

learning about women 

historical figures and their 

impact in history; women 

behind the curtain, if you 

will, that influenced those 

in power and those that 

fought for our rights.” 

It is important to Ross that 

the DLA workforce 

recognizes Women’s 

History Month because it 

is important to recognize 

Margaret Ross, the director of Acquisition Operations at DLA 

Distribution Headquarters in New Cumberland, Pennsylvania, on a 

historical tour with her daughter. 

Margaret Ross, the director of 

Acquisition Operations at DLA 

Distribution Headquarters in New 

Cumberland.
of women to different spaces in 

society,” she said. “DLA 

Distribution has a remarkable 

number of women to recognize 

and frankly, DLA Distribution 

would not be the organization 

it is today without their significant contributions.” 

Patricia “Pat” Kuntz 

distinguished herself throughout 

her 28 years of federal 

service. She rose quickly 

through the ranks and became 

the senior transportation 

officer. Because of her astute 

technical knowledge, gained 

through years of hands-on 

transportation and distribution 

experience in the production 

environment, she became a 

subject-matter expert in DLA 

Distribution and was frequently 

tapped for guidance from 

other agencies. 

Kuntz became a crusader of 

new initiatives, reaching 

directly out to the customer to 

assess their capabilities and 

realize their needs, as well as 

their limitations. Her ability to 

build consensus with leadership 

to establish new and more 

efficient ways of doing 

business, made the initiatives 

she tackled a success; some of 

which today are now industry 

standards. Kuntz pushed 

beyond incremental changes to 

inspire spiral improvements for 

on-time delivery, reliability of 

distribution systems, and 

readiness for the military 

through countless programs 

under her charge. 

When asked on what it was 

like to work at DLA Distribution 

early in her career as a 

woman, Kuntz said it was a 

great opportunity. 

“Working at DLA Distribution 

was a great opportunity, 

especially working for two 

female generals. This really 

enhanced my career because 

they were able to share the 

challenges they went through to 

get to their position. With this 

being a male dominated field, 

To recognize the 25th 

anniversary of DLA Distribution 

and celebrate Women’s 

History Month, Defense 

Logistics Agency is recognizing 

two women who have made 

significant contributions to DLA 

Distribution - making history 

and revolutionizing the future. 

The two influential women who 

made major contributions to 

DLA Distribution are Retired 

Army Brig. Gen. Barbara 

Doornink and Patricia “Pat” 

Kuntz. 

Retired Army Brig. Gen. 

Barbara Doornink was the first 

female Commanding General 

at DLA Distribution 

Headquarters. She was 

Commanding General from 

1998-2000. 

During Doornink’s time at DLA 

Distribution, she embarked on 

a depot transformation which 

improved velocity and visibility 

of the Department of Defense’s 

distribution process. The depot 

transformation was 

conceptualized and 

implemented under the Central 

Depot Concept, lowering 

overall costs of distribution. 

Additionally, it aligned 

materiel at two Strategic 

Distribution Platforms to cut the 

Logistics Response Time to each 

theater. 

When asked on what it was 

like to work at DLA Distribution 

as a woman, Doornink 

responded that it was an 

“interesting environment.” 

“I became Commanding 

General of DLA Distribution 

late in my career, but it was an 

interesting environment,” she 

said. “DLA had several senior 

women in critical roles at that 

time. Women in distribution 

had for some time been critical 

to the agency changes and 

that was reflective of my time 

there.” 

One of the challenges that 

Doornink went through during 

her career was that there were 

not many women role models 

to look up to in her early 

career. 

“I entered the Army in 1973, 

when women were first 

allowed to be part of the 

Army and not the Women’s 

Auxiliary Corps,” she said. 

“This meant I was in a series of 

“firsts” with their own unique 

set of challenges. Serving as a 

role model, as a first lieutenant, for the first class of women 

at West Point was unique in 

many ways as being the first 

woman to command an 

Airborne Brigade at Fort 

Bragg.” 

“Because of the times and 

often being a “first”, I 

approached each assignment 

as an opportunity to be the 

best officer I could be, not 

being the best female officer. 

This approach allowed me to 

get on with the job and not 

worry about how there were 

not many women role models 

or mentors.” 

Doornink believes that it is 

important for DLA Distribution 

to recognize Women’s History 

Month because it is a time to 

reflect and recognize the 

important contributions that 

women have made throughout 

history. 

“Women’s History Month is an 

opportunity to learn and 

acknowledge the contributions 

The Women of DLA Distribution’s Past 

Page 4 Women’s History Month 

it really told me that if I 

worked hard enough, I could 

reach my goals as well.” 

A challenge that Kuntz went 

through during her career was 

how to handle being the only 

woman in the room with other 

service representatives. 

 “There were never any 

challenges regarding my 

gender within DLA, but when 

we went to meetings with the 

services, I had to stand up for 

not just myself, but also for my 

organization. I remember I 

went to a conference, and I 

was the only woman there 

among the other service 

representatives. It was a real 

challenge for them to buy into 

the transportation initiative I 

was working on at the time, but 

I managed to prove myself 

and get them onboard.” 

Kuntz believes that it is crucial 

for DLA Distribution to 

recognize Women’s History 

Month because it is important 

to recognize the roles that 

women have in DLA 

Distribution. 

“The number of women that 

are in higher graded positions 

today compared to what they 

were when I came through the 

ranks has increased 

significantly,” she said. “This 

shows that there is more 

confidence in a woman’s 

capability, which is great.” Retired Army Brig. Gen. Barbara 

Doornink 

Pat Kuntz 
https://www.womansday.com/life/g42642115/famous-women/ 

https://www.defenseculture.mil/Human-Relations-Toolkit/Special-Observances/#womens-history-month 

https://womenshistorymonth.gov/about/ 

Resources 

Page 5 

Defense Logistics Agency Distribution Equal Employment 

Opportunity Office

Complaints Team 

ddc.eeo@dla.mil 

JoAnn F. Schopman 

Supervisor, EEO Specialist 

Joann.Schopman@dla.mil 

Michael Brown 

EEO Specialist 

Michael.Brown2@dla.mil 

Thomas (Tommy) E. Mcintyre 

EEO Specialist 

Thomas.McIntyre@dla.mil 

Cynthia Allen 

EEO Specialist 

Cynthia.1.Allen@dla.mil 

Jerry Clements 

EEO Specialist 

Jerry.Clements@dla.mil 

Sander (Del) Sosatoledo 

EEO Specialist 

Sander.Sosatoledo@dla.mil 

Marcelo Figueroa 

EEO Specialist 

Marcelo.Figueroa@dla.mil 

AEP Team 

distribution.ra.requests@dla.mil 

Carrie Cash 

Supervisor, EEO Specialist 

Carrie.Cash@dla.mil 

Cristina Rivera 

EEO Specialist 

Cristina.1.Rivera@dla.mil 

Laura B. D’Arca 

EEO Specialist 

Laura.D’Arca@dla.mil 

Melinda Torres 

EEO Specialist 

Melinda.Torres@dla.mil 

Richard Trick 

EEO Specialist 

Richard.Trick@dla.mil 

Bridgette R. Vaughn 

EEO Specialist 

Bridgette.Vaughn@dla..mil 

Kylie J. Young 

EEO Assistant 

Kylie.J.Young@dla.mil 

Page 5 Women’s History Month 

Zachary Currier 

DLA Distribution EEO Manager 

zachary.m.currier@dla.mil 
Third Monday of January - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day 

February - African American/Black History Month 

March - Women’s History Month 

 

May - Holocaust Remembrance Day/Days of Remembrance 

May - Asian American/Pacific Islander Heritage Month 

June - Pride Month 

 26 August - Women’s Equality Day 

15 September to 15 October - National Hispanic Heritage Month 

October - National Disability Employment Awareness Month 

November - National American Indian Heritage Month 

Vision 

Ensure consistent programs of equality, diversity and inclusion for all employees that 

empower the workforce to achieve their full potential and unify the workforce to 

achieve the mission. 

Mission 

Create a collaborative culture where the empowerment of a diverse workforce bolsters 

individual and organizational growth. 

Assist individual and organizational resiliency through programs and initiatives that 

attract, recruit, develop and retain the best talent as a mission necessity. 

Respond to all EEO complaints with the utmost respect ensuring confidentiality, 

neutrality, and adherence to prescribed regulatory guidance. 

Enhance education and awareness training efforts to promote a workplace free of 

unlawful discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, physical 

or mental disability, or reprisal for personnel engaging in EEO protected activity. 

DLA Distribution 

Equal Employment Opportunity 

& Diversity Office 

5430 Mifflin Avenue, 

Suite 2143 

New Cumberland, PA 

17070-5004 

Equal Employment Opportunity & Diversity 

Observances 

Page 6 

The Nation's Combat 

Logistics Support Agency 

Page 6 Women’s History Month 

EEO Director 

Zachary Currier 

Designer and Writer 

Kylie Young