Army Col. John Short takes command of DLA Energy Americas

Army Col. John Short assumed command of Defense Logistics Agency Energy Americas from Army Col. Alphonso Simmons Jr. during a June 26 change-of-command ceremony at the Lone Star Flight Museum in Houston, marking the formal transfer of authority for the agency’s regional fuel and energy operations.

The ceremony included the traditional passing of the unit guidon from Simmons to the presiding officer, DLA Energy commander Navy Rear Adm. George Bresnihan, and then to Short.

Simmons led DLA Energy Americas for two years, a period that included support to missions in the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility such as Operation Absolute Resolve and Operation Southern Spear, as well as fuel support for the Federal Emergency Management Agency after Hurricanes Helene and Milton struck the southeastern United States in 2024. He previously served as support operations officer for the 1st Theater Sustainment Command and plans to retire following the handover.

“DLA is a great organization; they have great leaders and great coworkers. This is my first time working in this type of capacity with so many civilians, and everybody is outstanding and great with the director and his strategic plan,” Simmons said. “In Americas, we were able to get roughly close to 100% of all our people to shift their way of thinking to make sure they take advantage of data analytics. It’s great working around a lot of subject matter experts on a day-to-day basis. Here, you have true continuity within the command, which is your civilian workforce.”

Short arrives after completing the U.S. Army War College at Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania. His previous assignments include deputy commander of the 3rd Division Sustainment Brigade at Fort Stewart, Georgia, and plans chief for Republic of Korea and U.S. Combined Forces Command C4 at U.S. Army Garrison Humphreys in the Republic of Korea. He is joint duty assignment qualified with four years of joint and multinational experience.

“I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to lead a premier team of professionals where the stakes are this high and where our daily impact ensures the warfighter maintains a positional advantage through evolving challenges,” Short said. “This is exactly where I wanted to be.”

Bresnihan highlighted Simmons’ management of fuel support across the Western Hemisphere, including oversight of 408 Defense Fuel Support Points and execution of $3.8 billion in bulk petroleum contracts. “Col. Simmons, for the past two years you have exhibited the highest level of professionalism, operational oversight and unwavering dedication to our nation’s civilian workforce and service members,” Bresnihan said. “You leave this command, and the Department of War, stronger and more resilient than you found it.”

DLA Energy Americas oversees fuel and energy-related support for defense operations, federal partners and international customers across North, Central and South America and the Caribbean. The region supports U.S. Northern Command, U.S. Southern Command, U.S. Strategic Command and U.S. Transportation Command, and it works with FEMA and contingency contractors to provide bulk petroleum during domestic disasters.

“To the formation and the incoming commander: What got us to 2026 will not get us to 2030. The operational environment continues to rapidly evolve, and our past successes are merely the foundation, not the blueprint, for future victory. As the saying goes, ‘If you stay ready, you don’t have to get ready.’ Maintaining a constant state of high readiness is what allows this unit to rapidly seize spontaneous opportunities and dominate the future battlefield. Stay vigilant, stay prepared and support Col. Short,” Simmons said.