DLA Distribution hosts DLA director for annual operating plan review

NEW CUMBERLAND, April 14 — Defense Logistics Agency Distribution leaders hosted Army Lt. Gen. Mark Simerly, the agency’s director, for an update on the 2026 Annual Operating Plan and discussions on Warehouse Management System sustainment and modernization priorities at DLA Distribution headquarters. He was joined by Army Maj. Gen. Stephanie Howard, director of the DLA Joint Reserve Force, and Army Command Sgt. Maj. Petra Casarez, the agency’s senior enlisted leader.

During the visit, Simerly reiterated his push to align DLA Distribution with the DLA Strategic Plan and broader transformation initiatives. “Transformation requires a disciplined approach, and it begins with a clear vision that the entire team can rally behind,” Simerly said. “By aligning our culture with our strategic goals, we create the motivation and incentives needed to achieve our objectives.”

Leaders also reviewed workforce and readiness efforts, including ensuring the right skills are placed where needed, prioritizing sustainment training, strengthening data literacy, and tying resources to mission goals. “The pathway to transformation means that we celebrate wins and changes,” Simerly said. “Our ability to achieve short-term wins while prioritizing long-term goals builds the confidence and competence of our teams.”

Acting DLA Distribution Deputy Commander Joe Faris briefed progress on 22 Objectives and Key Results in the command’s Annual Operating Plan, showcasing “Vector,” a new enterprise strategy management tool for fiscal 2026. The platform consolidates objectives from the agency’s strategic plan down to subordinate commands and serves as the official record of strategy execution. “We’re using Vector as an accountable record to track our OKR progress,” Faris said. “This allows us to maintain accountability and learn as we work toward our goals.”

Command leaders walked Simerly through four of the objectives, outlining gains, hurdles, and takeaways. “We’re a learning organization, and we’re constantly reassessing all of the data that is available to us through the Warehouse Management System,” said Jim Stanford, director, Network Integration Directorate, DLA Distribution. “We are continuously adapting and integrating what we learn to improve our processes.”

The team also flagged several priorities for decision-makers, including the sustainment approach for the Warehouse Management System, reestablishing performance metric baselines, accelerating centralized artificial intelligence capabilities, and sequencing and funding modernization efforts. “Today underscored the complexity of DLA Distribution’s mission,” Casarez remarked. “It’s exciting to see how we connect across the agency to execute current operations while simultaneously planning for our long-range objectives.”

Simerly closed by underscoring a shift in mindset for the enterprise. “We are at an inflection point, shifting our focus from efficiency to resiliency,” Simerly concluded. “As we transform, the strategic value of each of our sites becomes more apparent. I am grateful for this team’s commitment to the mission and recognize the global impact DLA Distribution continues to have, even as you modernize.”