Putting people first: how DLA Troop Support deputy commander Christopher Mosher drives the mission

Deputy Commander Christopher Mosher marked his first year back at Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support by spotlighting a culture he says is defined by presence, care and an unwavering focus on the warfighter—principles he credits with steering the organization through a strong fiscal year and continued growth.

Mosher returned to DLA Troop Support on June 16, 2023, stepping into the agency’s No. 2 role and supporting a workforce of roughly 2,200 civilian and military personnel. In an interview reflecting on the milestone, he praised the breadth of the mission and said the organization is on track for approximately $30 billion in sales this fiscal year. “I’m amazed by the breadth of the work that we do,” he said, adding that the enterprise has expanded significantly since his previous tour.

A native of Pembroke, Massachusetts, Mosher grew up in a sports-centered household with four siblings; both parents were high school teachers, and his father also coached football and baseball. “I grew up in Pembroke, Massachusetts, about halfway between Boston and Cape Cod,” he said. Recruited as a football player, he chose the U.S. Naval Academy, following his older brother to Annapolis and launching a career in uniform that would span decades in the Navy Supply Corps and later in senior civilian roles.

Military service, he noted, was a familiar calling from an early age: “I think to an extent I always felt the call to serve.” At the Academy, balancing Division I football with academics and military training forged a work ethic and resilience he still leans on. His takeaway from those demanding years was simple: “if I can do that, I can do anything.”

Mosher said that experience—combined with 30 years as a Navy supply officer and subsequent civilian leadership assignments—shaped a leadership philosophy grounded in two essentials. “Number one, you need to care. You need to care about people, you need to care about your organization and you need to care about your mission. Number two, you have to be there. By that I mean be there physically, be there mentally, be there emotionally and be present. As simple as it sounds, those two things are foundational to being a good leader.”

He describes his approach at DLA Troop Support as unapologetically service-oriented. “That’s my job. My job is to support the workforce. Period. Stop,” Mosher said. “I’m here to support the workforce.” When he speaks to teams, he keeps the message concise, projecting a single family photo and a tagline: “I’m here to help you.”

That focus, he said, translates into practical support—using his position and time to remove obstacles, secure resources and create space for people to deliver on the mission. He stresses active presence in the workplace and a commitment to listening as key to building trust and results.

Reflecting on the past year, Mosher said the organization’s professionalism and identity stand out as differentiators, especially amid increased demand and evolving requirements. He pointed to a deep-rooted alignment with those in uniform as a cultural anchor. “Our workforce really identifies with the warfighter and there is a deep commitment to support them,” he said. “It’s in our ethos. It’s part of our culture.”

That ethos, Mosher added, will help sustain the team through whatever changes lie ahead. As DLA Troop Support closes in on year-end goals, he credited the agency’s momentum to a simple formula: a mission that matters, a team oriented around service and leaders who show up—physically and otherwise—every day.