Brown takes over DLA Energy as Bresnihan retires after 32 years

Defense Logistics Agency Energy marked a change of command Sept. 3 at the McNamara Headquarters Complex, as Navy Rear Adm. Timothy A. Brown succeeded Navy Rear Adm. George E. Bresnihan in a ceremony that also celebrated Bresnihan’s retirement after more than 32 years of service. DLA Director Army Lt. Gen. Mark T. Simerly presided over the handoff, and Navy Vice Adm. Dion D. English led the retirement ceremony.

“As we know, the pace rarely slows for DLA Energy,” Simerly told attendees including family members, agency staff, and senior leaders. “Rear Adm. Bresnihan has led the team with great enthusiasm, competence and professionalism through one of the most consequential periods in its history.”

Simerly emphasized the organization’s scale during Bresnihan’s two-year tenure, noting DLA Energy manages about 52 million barrels of fuel at more than 600 Defense Fuel Support Points and moves roughly 9 million gallons to the joint force each day. He also cited the agency’s support to a string of named operations. “DLA Energy was a critical enabler of operations SOUTHERN BORDER, MIDNIGHT HAMMER, SOUTHERN SPEAR, ABSOLUTE RESOLVE and most recently, the energy dominance behind Operation EPIC FURY,” he said. “His strategic foresight in large-scale fuel distribution ensured joint and coalition forces maintained momentum, initiative and superiority across the battlespace.”

Under Bresnihan, the agency expanded its global footprint, opening a Defense Fuel Support Point in Darwin, Australia; securing Red Sea bunker capacity through a first-of-its-kind long-term contract in Saudi Arabia; and managing specialized propellants for NASA’s Artemis II mission earlier this year. He also signed the Australia Fuel Support Agreement and a fuel exchange agreement with the Chilean Navy.

“They aren’t my successes,” Bresnihan said during his remarks. “They belong entirely to the DLA Energy team. When I took command, my goal was simple: to leave the command better than I found it”

Colleagues described a relentless operational pace that coincided with internal reforms. George Atwood, deputy director for DLA Acquisition and former acting DLA Energy deputy commander, said the last year stood out for intensity, citing an extended government shutdown, contingency support to combatant commands and heavy personnel turnover. “In my 23 years with DLA Energy, which includes three of those years as the deputy commander, I can’t recall a more dynamic period of time,” Atwood said.

“Most importantly, I would highlight that throughout all the operational challenges and day-to-day churn we faced as an organization, Rear Adm. Bresnihan always kept the workforce at the forefront of his command priority, and that message resonated throughout Energy,” he added. “He created and sustained a work environment where our workforce could be proud of what they accomplished each and every day.”

The command reported a 45% rise in protective factors on the Defense Employee Organizational Climate Survey during Bresnihan’s tenure and advanced its digital business overhaul, rolling out the Petroleum Logistics Utilization Tool and Optimization system and integrating machine learning into planning tools. Gabriella Earhardt, DLA Energy’s acquisition executive, credited Bresnihan’s collaborative style during global industry outreach. “When you have a leader like Rear Adm. Bresnihan that demonstrates that he walks the talk and he not only believes in the mission, but also believes in the people, it has allowed DLA Energy to achieve all they have under his leadership,” she said. “There’s no doubt the workforce would support and follow him into battle.”

Those who worked closest with Bresnihan highlighted a people-first approach. “The Navy has a saying, ‘mission first, sailor always,’” said Navy Lt. Cleopatra Haynes, the commander’s aide. “It means the mission, our operational requirements, come first, but our personnel don’t take a backseat to that. They are always a priority and they must always be factored into our decision-making. Rear Adm. Bresnihan embodies that in his leadership style.”

Brown, a U.S. Naval Academy graduate, brings carrier deployment experience as a supply officer aboard USS Kitty Hawk and USS Theodore Roosevelt, command of Naval Supply Systems Command Fleet Logistics Center San Diego, and most recently served as the acting Chief of Naval Operations for Installations and Logistics.

“Rear Adm. Brown is a proven leader who brings an extraordinary combination of operational and strategic logistics expertise to the position,” Simerly said. “Tim, the entire DLA Energy team is excited to welcome you here. I have complete confidence that you will guide this organization to even greater heights.”

In an interview before the transition, Brown said he intends to build on the organization’s foundation and accelerate its digital transformation to meet the demands of contested logistics. “Throughout my career, one of the things I’ve always deeply appreciated is how DLA Energy has consistently and reliably supported the fleet and the joint force,” Brown said. “I knew that when we needed fuel, DLA Energy would deliver. That kind of trust is not automatic; it’s earned every day by the professionals who make this organization work.”

“On day one, my message is pretty straightforward. I believe in three simple principles: be the best at what we do, do the right thing every time and take care of each other because we are a family,” he added. “Those aren’t just words to me; they’re how I try to lead. I’m excited to listen, learn and work alongside this team as we continue supporting the joint force with the same reliability and professionalism that DLA Energy is known for around the world.”