DLA - Defense Logistics Agency

11/25/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 11/25/2024 07:41

Agency director hosts town hall and addresses agency’s future

BATTLE CREEK, Mich. -

Agency personnel in Battle Creek, Michigan, recently hosted Defense Logistics Agency Director Army Lt. Gen. Mark Simerly during a short visit Nov. 19.

Simerly met with DLA Disposition Services leadership at the Hart-Dole-Inouye Federal Center to review the major sub-command's recently updated 2025 Annual Operating Plan. The director was briefed on how the MSC's plan would support the agency's strategy four imperatives - people, precision, posture and partnerships - to generate increased readiness in the coming year.

Simerly also took time to address local personnel and an online audience by hosting a town hall where a variety of topics were covered, including highlights of one of the biggest wins of the year for DLA Disposition Services.

"It was a big year for you all," said Simerly. "Really, an area where you led the agency was with the Warehouse Management System implementation. We asked you to pioneer this and you moved out aggressively - getting it into all of your sites before the rest of the agency was complete - and we learned from you."

Accompanying Simerly and joining him on stage during the town hall's question and answer session was DLA Command Chief Master Sergeant Alvin Dyer, who offered additional insights.

"I see the impact that you have made on the battlefield for the warfighter," said Dyer. "Don't ever discount the fact that you make a difference to those individuals downrange. I was one of those individuals and you made a huge impact on me."

The town hall audience was able to interact with senior leadership by asking questions as well as recounting personal anecdotes illustrating their experiences as members of the DLA team. Simerly acknowledged the unique mission that DLA Disposition Services supports as the nation's reverse logistics experts.

"Nobody else does these things for our country," said Simerly. "You're the only ones that are able to complete these necessary functions - so I want to thank you for that."