DSR spotlight shines on Kevin Higdon

Kevin Higdon, a Disposal Service Representative with DLA Disposition Services, supports U.S. forces across the Korean peninsula by guiding units through safe, compliant property turn-ins and large-scale transitions. His area of responsibility includes Camp Casey, Camp Hovey, Camp Bonifas in the Demilitarized Zone, the Rodriguez Live Fire Range, USAG Yongsan and K-16 Air Base, USAG Humphreys — the largest OCONUS military installation in the world — as well as Osan Air Base and Suwon Air Base.

Higdon retired from the U.S. Army in early 2011 and joined DLA Disposition Services later that year as a material examiner and identifier, advancing through warehouse operations as a team leader and acting supervisor. He became an environmental protection specialist and Contracting Officer’s Representative in 2015, served briefly as an equipment specialist in 2021, and accepted a DSR post in South Korea in January 2022.

“The value I bring as a DSR comes from the broad experience I gained during my Army career and throughout my time with DLA. Because of those roles, I have seen many different turn-in situations and customer challenges. That experience helps me understand the disposal process from multiple perspectives. When a customer has an issue or does not know where to start, I can draw on what I have learned, research the requirement, and help find the right answer or resource.”

Soon after arriving at Camp Humphreys, he was tapped as point of contact for the U.S. Army Garrison Yongsan closure under the Yongsan Relocation Plan. He inventoried property across nearly every building, provided disposal guidance, and coordinated the installation’s drawdown, excluding the Dragon Hill Lodge. The assignment carried personal significance: Yongsan was his first Army posting, and returning in a DLA role to support its closure marked a full-circle moment in his career.

Higdon urges units to engage early with their DSR, review local standard operating procedures, and provide detailed information about property slated for turn-in to prevent delays and ensure the right disposition path.

He says the job’s appeal lies in constant learning and collaboration with warfighters, combining technical research with on-the-ground expertise to ensure property is processed correctly and safely. Safety, he emphasizes, is his top priority for coworkers and customers alike.

Outside of work, Higdon values time spent fishing and hunting with friends and family in northern Michigan — though not the region’s cold, snowy winters. His personal motto: “Above and beyond is not the exception, it is the standard.”