DLA leaders honor Troop Support personnel, present McNamara awards

Senior leaders from the Defense Logistics Agency marked two days of awards and on-site visits at DLA Troop Support in Philadelphia on Sept. 10-11, recognizing civilian and military employees for efforts that spanned disaster response, combat support and enterprise modernization. The centerpiece was the presentation of the agency’s top internal honor, the Lt. Gen. Andrew T. McNamara Icon Award, to two longtime Troop Support leaders.

DLA Director Army Lt. Gen. Mark Simerly presented the McNamara Icon Award to Bill Kenny, DLA Troop Support’s executive director of contracting and acquisition management, citing a 46-year career in which Kenny helped steer a multibillion-dollar procurement enterprise, co-created the military’s commercial food delivery network, secured emergency authorities to bolster the defense industrial base and drove joint national contracts that produced more than $3.5 billion in cost avoidances. “You know the benefits of his foresight, effectiveness and efficiency,” Simerly told the assembled workforce as he presented the McNamara Icon Award to Bill Kenny, DLA Troop Support’s executive director of contracting and acquisition management. “Nobody is more deserving.” Kenny thanked colleagues for their contributions, saying, “This is a real team effort,” and adding, “Thank you for your professionalism and friendship.”

Simerly also conferred the Icon Award on Bob Ratner, DLA Troop Support’s chief of staff, whose 43-year federal tenure bridged multiple command teams and crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic, noncombatant evacuations and high-tempo contingency operations. “He has been the straw that stirs the drink,” Simerly said of Ratner. “He is constantly pulling strings for the benefit of the warfighter and this team. He is persistent and gritty.” Ratner noted the personal significance of the honor, saying, “Being recognized with Bill is very special,” and added, “It’s been an honor to work here, and I’m not done yet.”

Named for the Army quartermaster general who led the newly created Defense Supply Agency beginning in 1961, the McNamara Icon Award reflects the legacy of centralizing wholesale logistics across the services. Starting with about 100 planners, McNamara oversaw the integration of previously separate service supply systems; by his 1964 retirement, the organization managed 1.3 million line items, maintained a $2.2 billion inventory and shipped about $3 billion in materiel annually.

The visit also underscored DLA’s strategic focus on People, Precision, Posture and Partnerships. On Sept. 10, DLA Vice Director Brad Bunn recognized five employees for standout performance. Honorees included Michael Weckesser of the Construction and Equipment supply chain for planning expertise tied to search-and-rescue items and the national Wildland Fire Protection Program, and Derrick Cash of Clothing and Textiles for boosting acquisition proficiency and professional development through targeted training and joint service modernization work. “Our workforce represents our decisive advantage, translating precision logistics into sustained military readiness for the joint force and our whole-of-government partners in contested environments,” Bunn said during the visit.

Bunn also commended Lauren Retos of the Medical supply chain for strengthening financial discipline and audit readiness by driving down older unspent contract obligations by 52% and building operational hospital sustainment dashboards. U.S. Army Master Sgt. Jose Montero of Subsistence was honored for rapid emergency leadership after a major water pipe break, protecting vital logistics systems and records while directing operational rations support to forward units. Bridget Padua of Operations and Planning was recognized for mobilizing a 100-person joint logistics cell within an hour to steer more than $500 million in emergency requisitions as theater demand spiked 30-fold during sudden contingency operations. “Whether executing round-the-clock surge operations or responding to unforeseen operational disruptions, our personnel demonstrate the responsiveness and resilience essential to modern military logistics,” Bunn noted.

On Sept. 11, Simerly presented additional leadership awards. Edward Henderson of Construction and Equipment was cited for meeting urgent force-protection needs and coordinating with the 82nd Airborne Division and regional Air Force components to pre-position heavy protective barriers and bunker materiel. “You and your team have saved lives and are saving lives,” Simerly told Henderson. “Thank you.”

Jorge Valentin Torres of Clothing and Textiles was recognized for moving the supply chain from reactive to predictive readiness by deploying automated forecasting tools and optimizing workflows ahead of enterprise realignments. “Clothing and Textiles is an asset and have fixed many supply chain issues,” Simerly said. “Thank you.”

Medical contracting officer Melissa Randazzo was honored for executing high-priority procurement directives and workforce standards across the defense medical catalog while sustaining a full contracting workload. “Medical supports the warfighter in a unique way with field hospitals, vaccines and other important items,” Simerly said. “It’s a special mission.”

Subsistence division chief Jasmine Brown earned recognition for safeguarding readiness by proactively managing commercial supplier performance and resolving inter-theater distribution constraints for operational rations and field health supplies. “Operational Rations underpins readiness,” Simerly said. “Keeping that pipeline flush is critical.”

Closing the ceremony, Simerly highlighted Alec Fixl of the Strategic Initiatives Group for delivering digital tools including a central governance and audit compliance portal for revolving defense fund tracking and analytical manning dashboards for real-time personnel visibility. “Through data-driven precision and resilient supply chains, we ensure our global posture remains ready to sustain the combatant commands at the speed of relevance,” Simerly said.