Simerly bids farewell as Sanford becomes DLA’s new director
Simerly came onboard as DLA’s director in February 2024 and previously served as the commander of DLA Troop Support in Philadelphia. Following the change of responsibility ceremony, Simerly retired from the Army after a 36-year career during a separate ceremony that afternoon at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, in Arlington, Virginia.
Sanford served as the director of DLA Logistics Operations and was the commander of the agency’s Joint Regional Combat Support. He previously served as the commander of Defense Supply Center Richmond, Virginia, and DLA Aviation before its incorporation into DLA Weapons Support.
Sanford is the 22nd director of the agency.
Brian Birdwell, the assistant secretary of war for sustainment, officiated the ceremony and highlighted Simerly’s accomplishments in renewing DLA’s identity as a premiere combat support agency.
“Throughout his tenure, General Simerly has exemplified what it means to be a visionary leader — a skilled professional. And while the achievements chronicled in his Defense Distinguished Service Medal citation reflect the strategic scope of his success, his most lasting contribution is etched into the culture, competence and fighting ethos he instilled across this workforce,” Birdwell said.
He added that Simerly made sure every member of the DLA team knew they were not an auxiliary bystander, but an indispensable element of the warfighting formation.
“Whether forward deployed or supporting from home station, he ensured every employee understood that they are actively in the fight,” Birdwell said.
Birdwell also welcomed Sanford to his new role.
“As I learned many years ago when I commissioned in 1984, promotions in rank like yours two weeks ago, as well as in responsibilities like today, are not given because of past performance, but because of what is expected of you in the future,” Birdwell said. “We expect great things of you and DLA in support of the warfighter.”
Simerly focused on three sentiments that he said captured his frame of mind as he ended his tenure at DLA: Gratitude for the people and experiences that shaped his time at DLA, pride in what the DLA team accomplished, and confidence in the mission, workforce and the agency’s future.
He said this team was unlike any other he’d served with during his career.
“What defines you is your grit, your determination, and your willingness to fight behind the scenes so that those at the leading edge of the fight are as ready as they can possibly be,” Simerly said. “Your grit is matched by a deep passion for service to our nation and a positive, can-do culture that focuses on getting things done the right way.”
Simerly said that before coming to DLA, he experienced the scope and scale of the agency while serving as the chief of logistics for U.S. forces in Afghanistan.
“I witnessed firsthand what this agency can achieve in the far corners of the world, under the most austere conditions,” he said. “I developed a deep admiration for the people, uniformed and civilian, who choose to serve within DLA. That knowledge made coming here as director over two-and-a-half years ago so sweet.”
He said he is proud of how the DLA team embraced and advanced transformation efforts.
“We encouraged people to be agile, principled and digitally competent,” he said. “We built training to strengthen data acumen and promote the responsible use of AI, and we fostered a culture of excellence, ready for the challenges ahead.”
Simerly mentioned his Campaign of Learning, reviving the Loglines publication as a professional journal, creating the Warfighter Talks series, as well as deploying state-of-the-art digital tools that integrate artificial intelligence, analytics and machine learning into day-to-day operations.
“These capabilities are already shaping how we support the joint force, and they continue to strengthen DLA for years to come,” he said.
One of the most significant steps the agency took under his guidance was unifying DLA Land and Maritime and DLA Aviation into one command, DLA Weapons Support, he said.
“DLA Weapons Support is already proving what a unified enterprise can achieve, and it will continue to be a cornerstone for how we deliver for the joint force,” Simerly said.
After the ceremonial passing of the DLA flag, Sanford thanked the leaders from the War Department, the joint logistics enterprise and DLA’s past directors in attendance who mentored him throughout his career.
He added that he’s honored to serve with DLA’s workforce.
“The men and women of the Defense Logistics Agency are an outstanding team, and we stand ready to aggressively get after the integrated capabilities needed to sustain the joint force in order to protect the homeland, deter adversaries and build a strong industrial base,” Sanford said.
While DLA’s mission is to deliver efficient and cost-effective logistics support to the services and joint force, Sanford said the agency needs to change to continue meeting this mission.
“Unlike any time in our nation’s history, we face opponents who are prepared to challenge our joint force across multiple domains,” he said. “It is imperative that we reimagine how we provide and project sustainment power to deter and defeat our opponents.”
The agency must embrace change internally and externally to achieve the innovation, affordability and improved mission effectiveness the nation needs, he said. Speed, collaboration and planning are the keys to achieving those goals.
“By working as one unified agency, bringing together our capabilities and holding ourselves to clear and measurable standards, we will create the speed and agility our mission and our nation requires,” Sanford said.
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