DLA ENERGY LA ENERGY

AMERICAS MERICAS

ENERGY SOURCE

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Back cover by: Jonathan Stack

Commander

Air Force Brig. Gen. Mark McLeod

Deputy Commander

George Atwood

Chief of Staff

Army Col. Peter Crean

Public Affairs Offi cer

Irene Smith

Editor

Jonathan Stack

Writing Staff

Terry Shawn

Christopher Goulait

Layout/Design

Jonathan Stack

Address correspondence to:

ATTN: DLA Energy-DCA

8725 John J. Kingman Rd.

Suite 4950

Fort Belvoir, VA 22060-6222

Commercial: 703-767-4108

Address email to:

EnergySourceMagazine@dla.mil

Energy Source is an offi cial publication distributed by and for the Defense Logistics 

Agency Energy and energy-oriented clientele. Contents of this publication are not 

necessarily the offi cial views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. government, Department 

of Defense, Defense Logistics Agency or Defense Logistics Agency Energy. 

Energy Source is prepared by desktop publishing applications. 

Photos not credited are courtesy of DLA Energy sources.

from the commander

Energy Source

lications.

.

The other day, I was asked, “What’s do you think is the 

‘heart and soul’ of DLA Energy? 

Without a doubt, it’s our regional commands – Middle 

East, Europe & Africa, the Pacifi c, and our featured region 

in this quarter’s edition of the Energy Source magazine, 

Americas. DLA Energy’s core processes of contracting and 

acquisition certainly power our engine of success globally, 

but it is the direct processes, interfaces, relationships we 

build, nurture and enjoy out if the regions that translate 

our world-class processes into world-class customer support.

Sitting here in the headquarters, it becomes easy to see our 

‘Energy’ world from the inside (here at Belvoir, Virginia) 

outward. While that may be good for operations here in 

the Washington, D.C. area of responsibility, it’s not the 

best way to address the myriad of issues our customers 

encounter ... either with our internal processes or with 

their various customers. Thus I’ve adopted an ‘outside-in’ 

approach during my time here in Energy, shaped by both 

my previous experience in a combatant command and by 

the feedback from our regional experts. That’s why we are 

focusing so heavily on addressing future COCOM requirements (positioning, capability and capacity), enterprise 

Sustainment Restoration and Modernization program 

velocity, Enterprise Business Process performance and executive agent authorities that place us in the best position 

to synchronize the Department of Defense fuel infrastrucBrig. Gen. Mark McLeod, USAF

Defense Logistics Agency Energy

ture prioritization and 

right-sizing. Warfi ghters 

fi rst – then effective and 

effi cient for DoD.

Not surprisingly, Energy 

Americas professionals 

proudly carry out this 

mission set throughout 

our nation and beyond its 

borders every day. Keep 

turning the pages and 

you’ll see their important 

efforts on behalf of President Obama’s rebalance 

to the Pacifi c initiative, 

the activities and contributions of our quality 

assurance representatives and the outstanding 

support we provided to the Federal Emergency Management Agency via the 2015 Quartermaster Liquid Logistics 

Exercise. In addition to their uncompromising mission 

support, I think you may also fi nd the article on America’s 

management team attendance at the “True Growth Academy” interesting and illustrative of their commitment to 

improving both organizational effi ciency and culture/climate environment.

World-class support and innovation centering in Houston 

and San Pedro, California? YOU BET! Enjoy the following 

pages and see if you agree. 
Energy Source l SPRING 2015 3

CONTENTS ONTENTS

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4 Exercise Planning

Quality Assurance Essentials

Pacific Pivot

Growing Americas’ Leadership

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Well-Oiled Machine

One Face

Fueling Federal Efforts

ENERGY

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DLA Energy Americas LA Energy Americas

A motor transportation operator, with the 773rd Transportation Company, based out of Queens, New York, prepares a fuel line for

inspection before using it for transporting fuel in the 2014 Quartermaster Liquid Logistics Exercise, operationally controlled by the 

633rd Quartermaster Battalion here, in Fort Bragg, North Carolina, June 8. Photo by Army Sgt. Dalton Smith
Energy Source l SPRING 2015 5

Exercise Planning xercise Planning

Defense Logistics Agency Energy supplies the bulk 

petroleum for annual Quartermaster Liquid Logistics Exercises, providing readiness and training for 

more than 2,000 Army Reserve soldiers. 

The Army Reserve’s 475th Quartermaster Group from Farrell, Pennsylvania, is providing overall mission command 

for QLLEX 15, which occurs June 6-19 and will distribute 

the bulk petroleum to DLA Energy’s real world customers in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia and 

North Carolina, Washington and Arizona.

DLA Energy Americas employees from both the Houston 

and San Pedro sub-regions participate in the exercise and 

must plan well in advance how best to support the Army.

“The planning for QLLEX 15 started almost immediately 

after we concluded our after action report on QLLEX 14, 

which was around July 2014,” said Ben Beadles, DLA Energy Americas at Houston operations offi cer. 

“By the time I picked up planning responsibilities in September 2014, intermediate [defense fuel support points] 

were already selected along with fuel projections and estimated daily lift requirements,” he said. “In the planning 

phase, regional supply planners assist with forecasting and 

demand planning for customers receiving bulk fuel from 

our DFSPs.”

DLA Energy Americas at Houston provides the forecasts 

or lift projections to the Army Reserve so they will have a 

broad idea of systems assets required to support customers in the eastern states. 

“The Army Reserve delivers fuel to DLA Energy customers for two weeks during the exercise so it's critical we're 

involved in all phases of it,” Beadles said. “Our goal is to 

maintain the supply chain and make it seamless to our 

customers.” 

All QLLEX 15 participants meet formally during three 

planning workshops. The initial planning workshop was 

held in September 2014. During the mid-planning workshop in December 2014, subject matter experts from DLA 

Energy Americas at Houston validated bulk petroleum 

requirements, confi rmed customer locations, coordinated 

tanker pre-inspection day, quality day and assisted the 

475th Quartermaster Group staff with any concerns. The 

fi nal planning workshop is scheduled for late March 2015. 

In progress review teleconferences, which occur on a 

monthly basis, are focused at the action offi cer level. 

The IPRs, which started in September 2014 and will continue until just before the exercise execution, serve as a 

conduit to share information, provide status updates and 

task out or close planning requirements. 

“On a person-to-person level, the region maintains constant contact with the Army Reserve and immediately 

shares any information, changes to a distribution mode 

or method, schedule updates, or infrastructure issues that 

might impact the exercise,” Beadles said. 

DLA Energy at Americas has assigned military liaison offi cers, also known as LNOs, to the battalions to facilitate 

operations and communication during QLLEX 15.

“As far as I know, this is the fi rst time the region has added 

military LNOs to assist the Quartermaster battalions,” 

Beadles said. 

Joint offi cers and noncommissioned offi cers handle all 

communications regarding preparation for and the actual 

execution of QLLEX from their assigned battalions to the 

Americas at Houston team or appropriate subject matter 

experts, Beadles said. 

DLA Energy LNOs coordinate preparation of Army Reserve tank trucks and tankers for DLA Energy pre-inspections, Quality Day inspections and laboratory correlation. 

They coordinate recertifi cation testing of the fuel prior to 

returning the product to DLA capitalized sites and facilitate lines of communication for leadership visits, recon 

site visits, DFSP and distribution requirements. 

During the exercise, DLA Energy LNOs will be on-site with 

their assigned Quartermaster battalions. 

“It’s a good idea [to have military LNOs] as it allows our 

offi cers and NCOs to engage with events outside their 

normal duties and responsibilities and it reinforces the 

region's commitment to a successful annual exercise and 

partnership with the Army Reserve,” Beadles said.

Quality assurance representatives are also involved in the 

By Susan Lowe, DLA HQ PAO
6 www.energy.dla.mil

DLA Energy Americas LA Energy Americas

exercise planning process and focus on product quality 

and safety concerns. 

DLA Energy QARs have the opportunity to take one last 

look at the Army tanker trucks on Quality Day.

“We ensure the trucks are ready to load with regard to 

product quality, said Clay Allen, DLA Energy Americas 

at Houston QAR. “The QARs also ensure the mechanical 

systems appear to be operating [safely] without fuel and 

are safe to operate in terms of protecting personnel, equipment and the environment.” 

When tanker trucks are loaded at DLA Energy-operated 

DFSPs, the DLA-owned product must be maintained ‘on 

specifi cation’ while in transit to DLA Energy customers, 

Allen said. Performing these inspections on Quality Day 

helps ensure the product’s quality throughout the mission.

The inspections also help minimize mechanical problems 

at the loading facility, in transit and at the capitalized 

delivery location, he added. 

 “Army tanker trucks must be ready with operational 

equipment and safety items to protect their interest, but 

also prevent incidents at our operated facilities and while 

moving the DLA-owned product,” Allen said. 

The receiving location can reject the tanker truck because 

of product quality or safety concerns and they can be 

denied access to the military installation at the gate for 

security or safety concerns. 

Army Reserve fuel trucks participating in the 2014 Quartermaster Liquid Logistics Exercise, operationally controlled by the 

633rd Quartermaster Battalion, drive to deliver fuel outside Fort Bragg, North Carolina, June 10, 2014. Photo by Army Spc. 

Miguel Alvarez
Energy Source l SPRING 2015 7

Given the number of tank trucks used, Quality Day is absolutely necessary to ensure a successful QLLEX mission; 

it's not just training, Allen said.

The QARS are extremely busy throughout Quality Day inspecting, documenting and facilitating corrective actions, 

he said. 

“QARs perform a top to bottom assessment of the tanker 

truck as a system, which includes the prime mover, the 

tanker and all associated equipment like pumps, fi lters, 

hoses and fi re extinguishers,” Allen said. “The QAR brings 

defi ciencies to the attention of the operators immediately 

and in many cases, they can be corrected on the spot as 

the Army has maintenance vehicles and personnel on 

site.”

Quality Day involves many interested parties and observers from leadership to other stakeholders in supporting 

commands. 

“However, [the QARs] fi nd time to coach and handle 

questions throughout the day,” Allen said. “Quality Day 

for QARs is a huge event often lasting 10-14 hours.”

It is important for DLA Energy to participate in exercises 

like QLLEX 15 for a number of reasons, Beadles said. 

DLA Energy Americas assumed a new mission during and 

after Superstorm Sandy in 2012. 

During an emergency or crisis situation, the region is required to assemble a "Task Force Americas" to assist U.S 

Northern Command, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and other agencies with command, control 

and distribution of bulk petroleum products. 

Although QLLEX isn't DLA Energy’s exercise, it's the 

best opportunity there is to test the region’s "Task Force 

Americas" responsibilities, Beadles said.
DLA Energy Americas

Growing Ameri rowing Americ

8 www.energy.dla.mil
Members of the Defense Logistics Agency Energy 

Americas team sought out an experience to boost 

their leadership skills and develop both better 

leaders and a better organization.

To do so, management teams from DLA Energy Americas at Houston and DLA Energy Americas at San Pedro, 

California, attended the True Growth Academy Nov. 11-14, 

2014, in Cypress, Texas.

DLA Energy Americas at San Pedro Deputy Director David 

Ray and DLA Energy Americas at Houston Deputy Director Tracy Keenan discussed who was selected for training, 

and why it was important for their teams.

“DLA Energy Americas at San Pedro targeted our leaders at the management and supervisor level to attend the 

True Growth Academy to develop, mature and sustain the 

leadership skills to lead high-power teams – teams able to 

achieve optimal mission success and innovation by mentoring and leading their employees to fulfi ll their individual and team potential in a positive manner,” Ray said.

The San Pedro offi ce fi rst selected supervisors and chiefs 

to attend an initial training session in June 2014, which 

was then expanded to include more leaders in the November session. Similar management teams were chosen by 

the Houston offi ce.

“DLA Energy Americas at Houston understands the value 

of this training, and is making all efforts to afford supervisors the opportunity to attend,” Keenan said. “The course 

takes you on a deep journey to understand what makes 

you tick, document key life events that changed you and 

come out the other side with an action plan to live a better 

life and in the process be a better leader.”

“This is a comprehensive look at who you are and where 

you want to be in your life and as a leader,” Keenan added. 

“The course looks at both personal and professional to 

help you determine where you want to be in the future.”

cas’ Leadership as’ Leadership

By Christopher Goulait

Energy Source l SPRING 2015 9