The Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime celebrated the graduation of 85 professionals from its Pathways to Career Excellence (PaCE) program on February 6th, marking a significant milestone in their journey towards becoming future leaders within the agency. The ceremony, held at the Operations Center Auditorium, recognized the graduates’ two years of dedication and hard work in mastering the intricacies of logistics and supply chain management.
“Witnessing motivated professionals like yourselves reach this pivotal point in your careers is truly rewarding,” remarked DLA Land and Maritime Deputy Commander Kenneth Watson to the graduating class. He emphasized the graduation as a “waypoint” in their ongoing professional development, anticipating their continued growth and expanded roles within the agency.
Lashana Crone, Chief of the Career Management Division at DLA Human Resources and DLA PaCE program manager, highlighted the program’s strategic importance. PaCE not only enhances the agency’s knowledge base and technical skills but also actively cultivates the next generation of leadership. “These graduates have immersed themselves in the comprehensive operations of DLA Land and Maritime, gaining a broad understanding of our responsibilities and processes,” Crone stated.
The PaCE program attracted a diverse cohort, encompassing individuals from varied backgrounds and career stages. The classes of 2022 and 2023 included recent college graduates, veterans transitioning to civilian roles, professionals seeking career changes, and existing DLA employees aiming for advancement. This mix of experiences enriches the program and fosters a dynamic learning environment.
Shannon Irwin, a member of the Class of 2023, exemplifies the career transformation facilitated by PaCE. With 25 years of experience in the restaurant industry, Irwin joined DLA through a corporate internship program. PaCE enabled her to transition from a purchasing agent in pre-award to a contract specialist in post-award, specializing in Industrial Hardware. “For someone like me already working at DLA Land and Maritime, the PaCE program provided an invaluable opportunity to advance my career and deepen my expertise,” Irwin explained.
Deante’ Trudo, another Class of 2023 graduate, also entered DLA through the corporate internship program while completing his degree at Park University. His interest in the supply chain aspect of DLA led him to the PaCE program after graduation. Now a customer account specialist on the Maritime acquisition team, Trudo values the direct impact of his role. “The ability to directly support the warfighter is incredibly motivating,” Trudo shared, emphasizing his daily interactions with military customers and the satisfaction of resolving their needs in real-time.
Carlton Edwards, the DLA Land and Maritime PaCE team lead career program specialist for supply chain management, detailed the program’s structure. PaCE is a two-year, GS 7 target 11 training initiative that blends formal certifications with practical, on-the-job experience for selected participants. The program begins with an intensive four to five-month foundational training at the DLA Land and Maritime PaCE Center. The remaining period focuses on on-the-job training, reinforced by formal coursework that deepens understanding of technical concepts relevant to their specific roles.
Irwin highlighted the comprehensive nature of the program, noting, “I gained exposure to various facets of the agency’s operations that I wouldn’t typically encounter in my daily role. Understanding the broader picture of how everything interrelates and, more importantly, the reasons behind our processes, was incredibly valuable.”
Edwards emphasized the competence-based approach of PaCE, which encourages collaboration among cohort members, instructors, and supervisors. This interactive learning environment is crucial for mastering the critical skills needed for success within DLA Land and Maritime. Trudo echoed this sentiment, describing his cohort experience as “awesome” and strongly recommending the program to anyone interested in a logistics career.
Tommy Botts, Chief of the PaCE Center, announced the program’s expansion to accommodate 110 new participants every six months across acquisition, technical support, quality assurance, and general supply career paths. The PaCE Center is actively increasing outreach efforts to attract fresh talent with innovative ideas and drive to propel the organization forward.
“PaCE serves as an excellent entry point into federal service,” Edwards concluded. “It fosters camaraderie and builds a professional network essential for a successful and lasting career within DLA or the broader federal government.”
2022 PaCE Class Graduates:
- Contract Specialist: Andrea Botts, Regina Collette, Robert Edgar, John Hamilton, Madison Laughlin
- Quality Assurance Specialist: Jacob Abram, Paul Barkley, Frederik Cosse, Jr., Samuel Fetty III, Aubrey Harris, Ronald Hill, Trent Hutchins, Christopher Ireton, Zachary Johnson, Craig Presley, Andrew Reichelderfer, Matthew Schiefer, Collin Serraglio, David Westby, Robert Zimmer
- General Supply: Dharar Abdus-Sabur, Leah Barker, Cordell Beck, Renee Ellis, Andrew Embrey, Samantha Johnson, Christy King, Pamela Krumm, Daniel Martin, Michael McCombs, James McGarvey, Jordan Reed, Jana Reichelderfer, Kristina Roshon, Mark Scheidegger, Ryan Thomas, Wilson Tran, Cynthia Whitney
2023 PaCE Class Graduates:
- Contract Specialist: Philip Adu-Adjei, Garrison Ball, Michael Blaha, Staci Boykin, Chris Deason, Paul Doerfler, Anastasia Faber, Caitlin Ferry, Jilian Gambill, Abigail Graf, Michael Grinstead, Jeremy Hart, Lorie Huff, Eugene Ingram, Shannon Irwin, Jennifer Long, Jill Marchky, Santiago Martinez-Rivera, Jacob McGee, Zachary Mullins, Michael O’Connor, Allison Fisher, Grant Thurmond, Blake Tushar, Daniel Woodford, Travis Yerian
- Quality Assurance Specialist: Jonathan Agan, David Bardsley Jr., Ronald Elick, William Gardner, James Geobert, Jeremiah Hanley, Michael Kaylor, Marquis Leatherbury, Houston Leluika, Donald Phillips, Matthew Scur
- General Supply: Shawn Doliboa, Jacob King, Leah Luich, Zena Parks-Reaves, Deante’ Trudo
For further details about the program, please visit the [DLA Pathways to Career Excellence (PaCE) Program](https://www.dla.mil/Careers/ PaceProgram/) official page.
