Sheppard lieutenant to speak at ALA convention Published Sept. 23, 2009 By Airman 1st Class Adawn Kelsey 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Beyond winning the first place prize of $1,500 for the Worldwide Department of Defense Annual Commissary Commando competition in May, Sheppard was the only Air Force base to win a prize. Sheppard's success was so great that 1st Lt. Daniel Chavez, 82nd Training Wing warrior weekend operations officer, received an invitation to speak and present a slide show Sept. 30 at the American Logistics Association convention in Baltimore, Md. He said his job was to get as many Airmen to attend as he could. He used a few of the wing staff meetings to ask commanders to allow their Airmen to attend. He collected attendance rosters for Donna Romolton, commissary store director, and coordinated with training operations to get Airmen to the commissary safely. "The Defense Commissary Agency is extremely impressed with our ability to get 4,000 plus Airmen into the commissary building. They want me to share with them how it is that we were so successful," Lieutenant Chavez said. "This was the sixth year competing and was Sheppard's most successful year," Mrs. Romolton said. This event familiarizes new military members who come to Sheppard with what the commissary offers. "This is the number one unpaid benefit for the military. It's meant to be fun and educational," said Manuel Othon, the store director. "It helps to know what you are looking for as military members for deployments and when they change bases." Alfreda Dumas, commissary grocery manager said they had several different games that day which included a Shopping cart race, watermelon eating contests and turkey bowling. Mr. Othon said he appreciates everyone's help and contributions. He said the troops made it a successful year and was a great commissary awareness and outreach opportunity. "In the end, no other commissary DoD-wide came close," Lieutenant Chavez said.