Page 6 - gfs0817_Magazine

FRONT BURNER

DLA Director Introduces Himself at a Town Hall and Sets Goals

rmy Lt. Gen. Darrell Williams used his first town hall
Aas Defense Logistics Agency Headquarters director to
introduce himself to employees and share his strategic goals.
For the town hall, Williams returned to the
same McNamara Auditorium stage where
just three weeks earlier he stood to be
promoted and assume responsibility
for the agency.
“I just couldn’t see making mul-
tiple visits out to other areas of the
enterprise without first getting a Army Lt. Gen. Darrell Williams, left, poses with, left to
chance to talk to the people that right, Employees of the Quarter Candace Fahey and Carisa
Blanc, as well as their fellow “DLA Director’s ‘Ya Done
work in this building that I will Good’ Certificate of Achievement” winners Beverly Hicks
personally and professionally rely and Nancy Howell (Gregory Cummings not pictured), at
the July 6 Director’s Town Hall.
upon to synchronize the efforts of (PHOTO BY TEODORA MOCANU, DLA HQ)
this great agency of 25,000 people
worldwide,” he said. Reserve Force and Candace Fahey of DLA In-
Williams became the 19th director stallation Support, as well as to the organizers
of DLA in a June 16 ceremony at the Defense Logistics Agency Director Army of the June 27 HQC Family Day, Beverly Hicks,
McNamara Headquarters Complex Lt. Gen. Darrell Williams speaks to the DLA Gregory Cummings and Nancy Howell, all of
Headquarters workforce about his personal
(HQC), Fort Belvoir, Va., during which and professional goals. Installation Support.
he also was promoted to lieutenant (PHOTO BY TEODORA MOCANU, DLA HQ) Williams then outlined his family and edu-
general from major general. He re- cational background, interest in sports, personal
placed Air Force Lt. Gen. Andrew Busch, who retired as priorities and management philosophy. He said all these things
DLA director on May 11. shaped who he is and led him to his guiding principle, “If you
This is his second assignment with DLA; his first was take care of your people, the mission will happen,” he said.
as commander of DLA Land and Maritime in Columbus, The director said the first thing DLA employees could
Ohio, from September 2010 to July 2012. He also served expect of him is engaged leadership.
previously as the commanding general of the U.S. Army “You can have the greatest level of technical expertise
Combined Arms Support Command/Sustainment Center in the world, but without a leader that guides, shapes and
of Excellence at Fort Lee, Va. provides strategic direction for the team, the mission simply
“I’m certainly familiar with our business … but being does not happen,” he said.
your DLA director is at a totally different scale, and I have The director introduced new leaders, Army Maj. Gen.
phenomenal respect for this level of responsibility,” he said. Mark Johnson, incoming director of DLA Logistics Opera-
“I want to support our warfighter first, but internally, I tions (replacing Navy Rear Adm. Vincent Griffith); Gretchen
want to make sure that I am representing the great work Anderson, director of DLA Finance, who replaced Tony Po-
that you do on a daily basis.” leo; and Navy Command Master Chief Shaun Brahmsteadt,
Williams thanked the audience for welcoming him and who will succeed Army Command Sgt. Maj. Charles Tobin
his family. He introduced his wife of 29 years, Myra, who as senior enlisted leader.
was present at the event. During his June 16 promotion ceremony, Williams high-
Williams believes in clear strategic guidance, priorities lighted the importance of his family, and recalled his initial
and direction. “Right now, we have a great strategic plan service in Reserve Officers’ Training Corps as an obligatory
… starting with ‘Warfighter First,’” he said. He noted that means toward a scholarship, but noted, “Somewhere along
that priority would not change, but other aspects of the the path, I fell in love with our troops and families and
plan would be emphasized more, such as the whole of bought into the idea of service before self.”
government and rapid deployment initiatives. Williams concluded by thanking troops and civilians
Other areas Williams said he would like to high- and former agency directors, especially former DLA Direc-
light are inclusive decision-making, accountabil- tor Busch, who retired May 11 but could not be present
ity and continued focus on people and culture. at the ceremony.
Williams said taking care of people isn’t limited to rewarding Early in his career, Williams said he had a hard time
them but also means holding them to a standard. believing this promotion would come, but he now faces
“We do have to take care of people, and I really do believe the opportunity with “confident humility — confident
in treating everyone with dignity and respect,” he said. that the military has provided me with the requisite back-
Williams began by presenting what he branded “DLA ground experience, yet humbled by the enormity of the
Director’s ‘Ya Done Good’ Certificates of Achievement” to responsibility for leading a critical, global Department of
Employees of the Quarter Carisa Blanc of the DLA Joint Defense agency.”
6 GOVERNMENT FOOD SERVICE • AUGUST 2017