REV. ALMA COLES CHARLES, PASTOR, ST. PAUL A.M.E. ZION CHURCH, 2023 DLA HALL OF FAMER

Submitted by Debra Chappelle Polk

Zion Spotlight Editor, The Star of Zion

Email: ZionSpotlight@StarofZion.org

May 18, 2023



Fort Belvoir, VA - On May 18, 2023, Rev. Alma Coles Charles, along with six former Defense Logistics Agency employees became the newest members of DLA’s Hall of Fame. The ceremony was held at DLA Headquarters in Fort Belvoir, Va.

Fort Belvoir, VA - On May 18, 2023, Rev. Alma Coles Charles, along with six former Defense Logistics Agency employees became the newest members of DLA’s

On May 18, 2023, Rev. Alma Coles Charles, along with six former Defense Logistics Agency employees became the newest members of DLA’s

Hall of Fame

. The ceremony was held at DLA Headquarters in Fort Belvoir, Va.



Rev. Alma Coles Charles is Pastor of St. Paul A.M.E. Zion Church, Meredithville, VA, Mid-Atlantic Episcopal District, Virginia Conference, Petersburg District, and was the former Supplier Operations Division Chief, Aviation Commodities Division, DLA Aviation.

is

was the former Supplier Operations Division Chief, Aviation Commodities Division, DLA Aviation.







The induction ceremony was covered by Nancy Benecki, DLA News Division. An excerpt of the article is reprinted below:

DLA Director Navy Vice Adm. Michelle Skubic, who served as the host of the ceremony, said the members of the Hall of Fame are among those responsible for the success of the organization. Established in 1998, this year marks the 25th anniversary of DLA’s Hall of Fame. “This year’s inductees served a combined total of 132 years of federal service and brings the total number of Hall of Fame members to 143. That’s an impressive amount of experience, especially when you consider the quality of their service during their incredible careers.” She said, “Our impeccable reputation, earned over nearly 62 years of outstanding support to our warfighters and our nation, can be attributed to these remarkable individuals and many like them. Whatever successes we achieve today, whatever insights and innovations, can be traced back to such legacies as our Hall of Fame.”







Charles, the former division chief of DLA Aviation’s Aviation Commodities Division, started her 40-year career in 1972 as an inventory management specialist at the Defense General Supply Center. Her career showcased her leadership skills, supply expertise, foresight, operational experience, and dedication to the agency’s mission, according to her nomination.

Charles was an essential part in sustaining about 1.5 million national item identification numbers supporting 1,800 weapons systems. She helped introduce the automated inventory management system and the first online requisition processing system, both of which evolved into systemic processes that are still in use today.









As the enterprise transitioned to Business Systems Modernization in 2004, Charles became the supplier operations chief for the Aviation Commodities Division. She led her team through the transition by implementing training plans and moving most of the transferred employees into new roles.







Charles twice served as the temporary deputy director of supplier operations, where she was responsible for 800 acquisition workforce professionals who executed over 30,000 monthly contracting actions. During one of her tenures in the role, Charles was asked to address workforce reshaping issues due to organizational structure changes. She ensured the workload was distributed and skill gaps were covered by updating and improving training and career development programs.



Charles supported her employees and understood how their actions were critical to weapons system sustainment, according to the nomination. She also championed change, diversity, inclusion, and equality.



‘She encouraged employees to reach their highest potential, which was reflected in their personal performance as well as the consistently high level of success within all functional areas within the division. Charles’s leadership, mentorship and professional guidance have influenced a variety of current DLA Aviation leaders including supervisors, division chiefs, directors and deputy chief of staff.’ Charles earned numerous honors and awards including the Distinguished Career Service Award, the federal government’s highest honor for civilian employees.”



Each inductee received a medal to wear during the ceremony, as well as a commemorative plaque, a congratulatory letter from the DLA director and a DLA Hall of Fame lapel pin. Inductees’ spouses or family members received a certificate of appreciation.





CONGRATS TO REV. ALMA COLES CHARLES!