DLA Small Business executive director wins Vanguard Revolutionary Leader Award

Daniele Kurze, executive director of the Defense Logistics Agency’s Office of Small Business Programs, has received the Revolutionary Leadership Award from the DOW’s Small Business Vanguard Awards Program, becoming the first DLA official to earn the departmentwide honor recognizing efforts to remove barriers for small businesses. The award was presented during the department’s Small Business Training Week in New Orleans on June 17.

Kurze said the recognition reflects enterprise-wide progress at DLA toward strengthening a resilient defense industrial base and expanding opportunities for small suppliers. “This award is a direct reflection of that environment and the tireless dedication of the entire team at DLA,” she added.

She pointed to coordinated efforts across the agency to identify capability gaps and attract more small firms, including a Supplier Pathway Program designed to make it easier for new entrants and non-traditional vendors to navigate DLA’s supply chains. “One of the things I’m most proud about the team is initiating the supplier pathway program,” Kurze said, noting the role organizations across DLA played in assembling each pathway to bridge gaps between DLA and its small-business partners. “The program outlines steps, common and unique, for each of our supply chains, that I think personally brings clarity and accessibility for new entrants and non-traditional companies.”

Kurze also highlighted a push to adopt digital tools and experiment with artificial intelligence to streamline how companies interact with the agency. “I’m really excited because we had one of our team members put together our first AI agent,” she said. “It opens up an opportunity for the team members to really be innovative. We have great digital tools and now we are really focusing in on the new AI element of those tools to make it even easier, both from an internal and external perspective.”

The barriers small businesses face, she noted, can vary by where firms are in their journey—from finding the right entry point in government, to meeting regulatory and quality standards, to navigating cybersecurity requirements. “I always use the example of Class IX repair parts, where companies sometimes need higher-level quality certifications to make more complex items,” Kurze said.

Challenges can persist after a contract award, she added, as new vendors confront execution demands across the supply chain. “They spend a lot of time chasing the award, and often miss the critical knowledge that they need to manage all the different supply chain challenges once they get the award,” she said. “It’s about getting a quality product to the warfighter. If they don’t deliver, it could impact their future opportunities.”

While technology is helping, Kurze said DLA’s progress ultimately rests on collaboration. “I would say things can’t happen in a silo,” she said. “We talk about barriers, and I think there can be barriers even in leadership. You have to ensure you’re fully integrated in every functional area. No matter where you sit within the agency, whether you’re a contract specialist or in the Small Business area, it really requires teamwork and working at all levels with your teammates.”

Kurze said the award reinforces her commitment to keep pushing innovation for the warfighter and championing the small-business community that supports the department.