President Biden’s announcement that federal employees will need 

to be vaccinated against COVID-19 or subject to regular testing and 

certain restrictions in the workplace was released July 29. The new 

guidance is outlined on the Safer Federal Workplace website.

DLA is in a holding pattern and awaiting guidance from the 

Department of Defense and the Office of Personnel Management.

In the interim, DLA Energy leadership team is continuing to monitor 

the situation and study the ways to ensure a safe and methodical 

return of the workforce to headquarters based on the latest J1 

information and acknowledging the new guidance from the White 

House to the Executive Branch agencies. 

DLA employees are authorized up to four hours of administrative 

leave per COVID-19 vaccination during work hours, and additional 

time may be granted for recovery as needed. Employees can 

voluntarily self-report their vaccination status using the DLA CACprotected survey platform.

Updated Masking 

Guidelines 

Updated DoD 

guidance requires 

masks for all 

personnel regardless 

of vaccination 

status in “areas of 

substantial or high 

community transmission,” based on the CDC COVID data tracker. 

More information can be read in the Leadership Messages on the 

DLA Coronavirus Information webpage.

The surest way to protect yourself and your loved 

ones is to GET VACCINATED

ENERGY CONNECTION

 It’s a great honor to be part of the DLA 

Energy team. I feel very lucky to have the 

opportunity to work with such a great 

group of professionals and I’m excited to 

partner with you. 

 My role as the Deputy Commander is to 

ensure we succeed as a team and have an 

outstanding reputation both inside DLA as 

well as outside the Agency. 

 As we interact and get to know one 

another, I look forward to hearing your 

thoughts, opinions, and concerns. I believe 

in two-way communication, appreciate 

candor and am open to new ideas to solve 

problems. While all ideas may not be part 

of the final solution, I guarantee they will 

all help shape that solution. I maintain an 

open-door policy, and I hope that you will 

take the opportunity when necessary to 

stop by and talk. 

 I tend to approach each job with the 

intention to work hard and play hard. I use 

the same approach for this job...I think it 

benefits us personally and professionally 

and helps us achieve work life balance 

– which to be honest, is something I 

continue to work on.

 As for my background, I am a Naval 

Academy graduate who served as a Navy 

Supply Corps officer for 24 years, retiring 

in July 2011. I grew up in Buffalo and I 

am an avid Bills and Sabres fan, which is 

sometimes not easy. My wife Teresa and I 

have two wonderful children; Josh (24) is 

an air traffic controller, and Katie (17). My 

favorite leisure activity is camping in our 

RV. I also enjoy watching most sports, and 

whenever given the opportunity, I enjoy 

playing a round of golf or cycling.

A MESSAGE 

FROM DEPUTY 

COMMANDER

Mr. Dave Kless

HQC/NCR COVID-19 Reconstitution Status:

Phase 0 - HPCON B 

Volume 1, Issue 16 August 9, 2021
The annual Workforce Recruitment Program Awards 

Ceremony took place on July 29. The event was virtual 

and broadcasted on the Defense Visual Information 

Distribution Service. Use this link to watch the event.

Congratulations and thank you to DLA Energy Finance 

Mr. John Slone who was the guest speaker! Learn more 

about the event and the DLA award winners in this DLA 

News Story.

Welcome to our new Director 

of Customer Operations, Air 

Force Colonel Eric Haler! Col 

Haler is a high-speed, combatproven leader and a seasoned 

logistician. He officially 

assumed the DCO role on 

Monday, Aug. 2.

Thank you to Colonel Keith 

Mecham, who has stepped into the role over the 

past 5 months. We are glad Col Mecham will still be 

with us as he transitions back to his role in DCO as an 

Individual Mobilization Augmentee. 

Having a hard time loading .com websites on your 

government computer? Here’s why...

J6 is implementing DISA’s Cloud-Based Internet Isolation 

(CBII) to protect users from potential phishing attempts/

malicious .com Internet links. 

Starting Aug. 10, 2021, 

all employees will be 

using CBII. 

To open a .com site, 

you must use your 

Authentication certificate. 

More information and help 

in this Announcement.

Workforce Recruitment Program 

Awards Ceremony

DLA Energy Virtual Suggestion Box, Ver 2.0 

An enhanced version of the DLA Energy Virtual 

Suggestion Box is online. The expanded VSB allows 

inputs to be directed to leaders of subordinate 

Energy echelons (regions, directorates, etc.). The site 

looks and performs almost exactly as it did before, 

but offers a drop down menu to choose where to 

direct your concerns or questions. 

To get to the VSB, choose any of these options: 

1. Choose the featured link on DLA Today – Energy. 

2. Click the red suggestion box on DLA Energy’s 

eWorkplace homepage OR 

3. Use the direct link 

(NOTE: Right click on any of these options to copy the link 

and paste it into your browser window.)

VOLUNTEER!!

DLA EEO is seeking volunteers to interview WRP 

candidates for 14-week internships. Deadline to 

register is Aug. 27. Learn more about the opportunity 

in this DLA Today Announcement. 

!!! HQC Mask Update !!!

Fairfax County has moved to a “substantial” level 

of community transmission of COVID-19 per CDC. 

In accordance with DoD guidance, masks must be 

worn in areas of high or substantial transmission.

Masks must fully cover the nose and mouth and 

comply with CDC guidelines. More information is 

available on the DLA Coronavirus webpage.

IT ALERT: Internet Browser Authentication

As of Aug. 3, a mask is required 

for all personnel inside the 

McNamara Headquarters 

Complex regardless of 

vaccination status. 

NEW TRAINING OPPORTUNITY!

Hiring People with Disabilities and Disabled Veteran 

virtual instructor-led training will be held on Tuesday, 

Aug. 10, from 1-2 p.m. ET. If you have any questions 

or concerns, you can contact DLA Energy Acting EEO 

Director Adrian Morrison.