Former Victoria resident Mary Studevant was recently inducted into the Defense Logistics Agency Aviation’s Hall of Fame.

Studevant was inducted as a member of the agency’s 34th group during the 2016 awards ceremony on Thursday, June 16, in the Frank B. Lotts Conference Center at Defense Supply Center, in Richmond.

Studevant, former deputy director of Defense Supply Center Richmond’s Support Services Directorate, now known as DLA Installation Support at Richmond, was honored for her long-lasting impact on DLA, the Aviation workforce and their military customers and in the surrounding communities.

A Glen Allen resident, Studevant served DLA for over 30 years, holding various civilian supervisory and nonsupervisory positions within DSCR — beginning in 1966 as a secretary and continuing on for more than 17 years in the acquisition field.

DLA Aviation Commander Air Force Brig. Gen. Allan Day hosted the event and recognized the champions who nominated Studevant: Angela Curtis, human resource specialist, DLA Headquarters Human Capital Development Program Office; Steve Mason, director, Supplier Operations — Original Equipment Manufacturers; and Tanya Hill, director, Procurement Process Support.

Day shared some comments made by her champions.

Curtis said Studevant demonstrated her “never let them see you sweat” motto time and again when she worked with her on commander’s conferences, Day said. Studevant had a reputation of being the best at protocol and when hosting events of that magnitude, her calm leadership style attributed to her many successes, he quoted Curtis as saying.

Day also told attendees that Mason noted Studevant was one of the first people he met when he began working on center in 1985 and she gave him two pieces of career advice: Always dress appropriately and always give an honest day of work for honest pay. Mason told Day about her work ethic, saying Studevant always arrived early and stayed as late as necessary to get the job done.

At the same time, Day said, Hill shared that Studevant cared about and looked after people, recalling that Studevant once called her and her division chief into her office to let them know one of the new interns was sleeping in his car and taking a shower at the gym because he didn’t have an apartment yet. She arranged it so he could stay in the visitor’s quarters until he could find an apartment. Hill said, to this day, she doesn’t know how Studevant found out about the intern’s situation.

Day said Studevant left a legacy of leadership practices, goals, and values — valuing team members and helping employees in their professional and personal lives.

Studevant served as executive staff officer for seven years (what is now the DLA Aviation chief of staff) and worked with four flag officers and many senior leaders in strategic decision-making, all while supervising the command staff.

“Studevant’s transformative leadership style led to improvements throughout DSCR and DLA Headquarters recognizing DLA Aviation as the Center of Excellence for Executive Level Conferences,” Day said. “Under her oversight, the activity won a U.S. Senate Productivity and Quality Award for Virginia and the Continuing Excellence Award.”

Day credited Studevant as being committed, and a leader who cared about others while serving the community. He said she formed partnerships and represented the organization in the local community through training programs with community colleges and Virginia Commonwealth University.

She also helped develop programs that allowed employees to complete degrees through college courses related to contracting through a tuition reimbursement program, Day said.

While serving as DSCR Support Services deputy director, Studevant again demonstrated the importance she placed on people by her efforts to locate descendants of six sets of unidentified African-American human remains found during the excavation for the Child Development Center and subsequent reinterment efforts.

After her retirement, Studevant continued to serve the community, Day said. She managed the Virginia Executive Institute at VCU for 11 years and delivered training to state executives, served Thomas Jefferson High School’s guidance department, and Henrico School Board lay advisor and a University of Richmond student mentor, Day said.

Currently, she serves as a mentor and works in Henrico County Schools’ Lunch Buddy Program, as a substitute teacher, is a volunteer interviewer for prospective students at Harvard College, and is a regular WWBT NBC-12-On-Your-Side volunteer, he said.

“You exemplify what a person in the community can do and you are a shining light for all of us,” Day said. “It is an honor to induct you into the DLA Aviation Hall of Fame and to thank you for what you have done for DLA Aviation and the community at large.”

Day presented Studevant with the 2016 Hall of Fame medal and trophy.

Studevant said she felt humbled and was grateful for all the people who crossed her path during her time at DSCR, attributing her successes to them. She thanked God, and her family — especially her husband, Roger. She also thanked and recognized her spiritual director Dr. Kirkland Walton, pastor of St. Peter Baptist Church in Glen Allen.

“Thank you; God bless the Defense Logistics Agency; and God bless America,” she concluded.