<body><div><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=4CUKNO_0wKmjote00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4CUKNO_0wKmjote00" width="1440" height="1080" >RICHMOND, Va. – — In a bid to align workforce efforts with the broader Defense Logistics Agency mission and vision, the DLA Aviation Depot Level Reparable Contracting team participated in the “Life of a Part” tour, hosted by the DLA Aviation at Oklahoma City Industrial Support Activity team.The tour focused on connecting the employees’ daily tasks with DLA’s overarching goals, promoting an agile and resilient workforce by showcasing how each role fits into the larger supply chain, the tour aimed to foster a culture of growth, inclusion, and support while emphasizing the importance of safety.Around 30 DLR team members attended the event at DLA Distribution and Aviation facilities in Oklahoma City, gaining insights into the life cycle of the parts managed through their contracts. The tour provided participants firsthand experience of how parts are received, sorted, and, ultimately, delivered to customers, reinforcing their critical role in supporting DLA’s mission readiness. The visit also included interactions with facility employees, a historical briefing on Tinker Air Force Base, and a “DLA 101” overview presented by Richard Schwing, deputy commander of Aviation at Oklahoma City.Sharita Culp, director of Procurement Operations at Aviation at Oklahoma City and Warner Robins, explained the importance of the tour for her team. “It was important for the team and myself to participate in this tour to see the life cycle of the parts we buy via our contracts,” she said. “The tours helped employees tie the mission and vision together with the work we do every day and it helps reiterate our positions are important pieces of supporting the entire mission.”The primary objective of the tour was to deepen the team’s understanding of how their work fits into DLA’s broader supply chain operations. Employees were able to observe parts purchased through their contracts stored at DLA Aviation facilities, allowing them to see the tangible outcomes of their efforts. Engaging with staff at the distribution and aviation facilities highlighted the critical processes involved in moving parts from delivery to end-use.“Seeing the parts and interacting with staff in the warehouses helps us tie the whole process together,” Culp said. “It hits home that there are real people involved in the day-to-day movement of these parts… It impacts our approach to procurement and contracting by reiterating how important it is to ensure the contracts include the correct information so the parts are delivered to the right place on time for the warfighter.”The day concluded with Schwing’s “DLA 101” briefing, which provided context for DLA Aviation’s mission and how it supports both Air Force and defense-wide objectives. This session helped participants connect their responsibilities with the larger national security mission, reinforcing their role in maintaining military readiness.April Walker, a management analyst in DLA Aviation at Oklahoma City’s command support staff, provided attendees with a historical overview of Tinker Air Force Base, discussing key events such as a significant fire in 1984 and the development of the nation’s first tornado warnings on the base in 1948. “The fire in Building 3001 was the most costly of the century in the U.S., but Tinker met its production goals for the year. The base’s resilience highlights the dedication of everyone working here,” she explained.Culp also highlighted how the tour reinforces DLA’s focus on workforce development, particularly through fostering a more agile and resilient team. “By showing the life of these parts to employees, it reiterates how important our jobs are on a daily basis,” she said. “It encourages quick and concise communications and ensures contracts include the most up-to-date information to prevent any delays in part deliveries.”The visit offered employees not only a deeper understanding of their daily work but also a clearer view of how their efforts contribute to DLA’s mission of supporting the warfighter.</div></body>

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Tour strengthens mission readiness and workforce resilience

RICHMOND, Va. – — In a bid to align workforce efforts with the broader Defense Logistics Agency mission and vision, the DLA Aviation Depot Level Reparable Contracting team participated in the “Life of a Part” tour, hosted by the DLA Aviation at Oklahoma City Industrial Support Activity team.