DLA Energy Commander outlines strategic vision and aligns mission tenets at inaugural all-hands

Defense Logistics Agency Energy’s new commander, Navy Rear Adm. Timothy Brown, addressed the agency’s workforce during his first all-hands meeting, outlining his strategic roadmap, upcoming administrative changes and his vision for developing the next generation of the workforce.

More than 350 employees attended the all-hands in the McNamara Headquarters Complex auditorium, where Brown and Deputy Commander Emily Vogeler discussed employee evaluation changes, artificial intelligence implementation and workforce expectations, while also recognizing employee milestones and achievements.

A Synergy of Leadership Tenets

Brown began by thanking the workforce for executing a successful change of command ceremony.

Brown detailed his ongoing 60-day assessment of agency operations, expressing how impressed he is by the caliber of talent across the headquarters and regional commands. However, he reminded the workforce that they cannot rest on their laurels.

"While I am absolutely impressed by you and everything that we do as a command, there's always room for improvement," Brown said. "And so that's my charge as your commander over the next couple years: to look at the areas that we're doing great and applaud that effort, but also look at the areas where we can do better and continuously improve to support that warfighter."

Brown highlighted the similarities between his own leadership philosophy and the DLA key tenets: trust, discipline and commitment. He outlined his own three key tenets of leadership:

• Integrity: Doing the right thing even when nobody is looking.
• Excellence: Being the best at what we do and serving as the subject matter expert in your job.
• Solidarity: Taking care of each other and operating as a family.

Brown emphasized that he is outcome-driven and focused on generating readiness for the warfighter, noting that he will evaluate command metrics through this lens.

As a direct tool to measure command climate, Brown highlighted the upcoming Defense Organizational Climate Survey (DEOCS) launching Oct. 26. He described the survey as a vital barometer that offers employees a direct line to leadership, urging the workforce to participate so the command can address operational deficiencies and reinforce organizational strengths.

Developing the Human Capital Pipeline

During the meeting, Brown highlighted the critical importance of human capital, emphasizing the importance of maximizing the Pathways and PACE (Pathways to Career Excellence) programs, noting that human capital is "the engine that drives our workforce and our outcome."

"It's not enough to just bring in somebody new," Brown said. "If we're not training them, mentoring them, and developing them to be successful in their jobs starting out, we're not giving them the opportunities to then develop into the next generation of leadership that is leading this command one day down the road."

Performance Ratings and Workplace Updates

Vogeler provided updates on several key administrative and operational matters impacting the workforce. One of those updates centered around the Defense Performance Management and Appraisal Program, or DPMAP.

DPMAP: Following government-wide policy changes published by the Office of Personnel Management, standardized performance distributions will take effect for the current abbreviated civilian cycle. The policy establishes an organizational ceiling of 40% on Level 5 "Outstanding" ratings. Wage grade and collective bargaining unit employees are exempt.

AI as an Information Tool

Addressing technological modernization, Brown clarified that artificial intelligence is meant to enhance human capability rather than replace it.

"From my perspective, AI is an information tool and accelerator that helps us be better decision-makers and more efficient in what we do," Brown said.

He noted that the command plans to leverage these capabilities to reduce administrative burdens, allowing the workforce to focus on strategic thinking and decision-making to better support the warfighter.

The Quality of the "Dash"

To close the event, Brown shared a vignette based on Linda Ellis' poem, "The Dash," which reflects on the significance of the hyphen etched on a headstone between a person's date of birth and date of departure.

"Your dash is your time of service in government, and particularly here at DLA Energy," Brown told the workforce. "It's not etched in stone. It's written every single day in what you bring to the table in the workforce. Your dash is defined by how you lead through those demands. It's written in the patience that you show your colleagues; it's seen in the calm confidence that you project when the operational pressure is at an all-time high."

Brown concluded by challenging the workforce to step boldly into the arena every day, take care of their teammates and families, and leave DLA Energy better than they found it.

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