PaCER spotlights Hollie Freeman-Walder

At the Defense Logistics Agency’s Weapons Support site in Columbus, Ohio, Hollie Freeman-Walder is midway through the Pathways to Career Excellence program, a two-year development track she began in September 2024. She is slated to graduate in September 2026 as an inventory management specialist.

“While working as a buyer for the eBuy and Special Projects team, a colleague informed me about an upcoming PaCE program and highly encouraged me to apply. Upon researching the program, I recognized it as a wonderful opportunity for both personal and professional growth. I love learning new things, and I knew that the structured training of the PaCE program would allow me to develop the advanced skills needed to become a stronger, more versatile asset to DLA,” she said.

Freeman-Walder’s career spans healthcare data management, federal finance and logistics, including 11 years at Cleveland Clinic and time at the Defense Finance and Accounting Service before joining DLA as a direct-hire buyer. “I have a diverse background that blends healthcare data management, federal finance and logistics. I spent 11 years at the Cleveland Clinic managing and securing medical data before transitioning to federal service at Defense Finance and Accounting Service, where I processed Air Force contract payments. I then joined DLA as a direct-hire buyer and served as the AbilityOne point of contact before applying to the PaCE program. What makes my background unique is how these roles connect. I’ve taken the analytical and auditing skills from healthcare, the end-of-process financial insights from DFAS, and the purchasing experience from buying, and I’ve tied them all together in my current role as an inventory management specialist.”

She described the program’s structure and goals in straightforward terms: “The PaCE program is DLA’s two year competitive and fast track training program. The government hires you full-time and invests in your professional development. Instead of throwing you straight into a role, they train you as a group in classrooms with hands on training and mentoring along with online learning. It teaches you the ins and outs of federal logistics and acquisition strategies from the ground up. It’s essentially a career accelerator to help promote you into leadership and specialist roles.”

On day-to-day challenges, Freeman-Walder pointed to demand volatility and data issues. “I’d say my biggest challenges are managing unpredictable demand and dealing with system data discrepancies. On the supply chain side, military needs can change overnight due to global events, or we might get hit with unexpected supplier delays. I tackle this by keeping a close eye on historical trends while monitoring current operational tempos, so I can optimize our safety stock for high-priority weapon systems before an emergency happens. On the systems side, occasionally inventory, shipping and financial records don’t match up. I overcome this by staying highly proactive with system updates and cross-referencing multiple platforms. By thoroughly auditing the information across different systems, I ensure that any business decision I make is based on accurate, verified data.”

She also pushed back on common misconceptions about inventory roles. “I think most people assume we just check shelves to see if parts are in stock. In reality, when our systems don’t match, we must act as investigators tracing a part’s digital footprint backward through procurement, shipping and financial records to find where the error occurred. Another major misconception is that we simply order supplies when a computer tells us to. There is so much more to it than that. Every decision we make to buy or hold inventory carries massive financial consequences, which essentially makes us financial stewards of taxpayer money. Furthermore, system algorithms are blind to real-world context; when we see a sudden spike in demand, it is up to us to investigate the ‘why’ and coordinate across our professional networks to solve the complex problems that a computer simply cannot.”

For those considering similar work, she emphasized analytical rigor and communication. “To excel in this role, you must be highly analytical, possess strong problem-solving capabilities and have excellent communication skills. Because this position sits at the critical intersection of logistics, finance and military readiness, we cannot afford to be passive data-entry clerks we must be proactive problem solvers. With system errors, contract delays and inventory discrepancies occurring daily, you must possess a detective mindset and be genuinely willing to dig deep into the data to find the root cause of any issue.”

Looking ahead, she said emerging technology is reshaping the field. “DLA’s new AI Center of Excellence is integrating models that analyze global threats and supplier data in real-time to revolutionize how we operate. This predictive capability is a gamechanger, allowing us to anticipate supply chain disruptions and proactively adjust stock levels before shortages ever occur. Additionally, DLA’s deployment of bots to handle repetitive, manual tasks like routine data entry and automated inventory reconciliations will free up inventory management specialists to focus on what matters most, complex problem solving and building strong vendor relationships.”