The Defense Logistics Agency honored 23 industry partners, customers and individuals Feb. 12 with its Business Alliance Awards.

The awards recognize those who have demonstrated outstanding efforts to partner with DLA and improve the agency's mission - providing supplies and services to America's warfighters. DLA Vice Director Air Force Maj. Gen. Arthur B. Morrill III presented the annual awards.

The agency's primary role includes managing more than 5 million consumable items, such as rations, medical supplies and equipment, clothing and textiles, and repair parts for land, sea and air weapons systems and platforms.

Industry representatives and DLA customers were recognized in seven categories:

Vendor Excellence: Awarded to large, small, small disadvantaged, women-owned small businesses, historically underutilized business zone small businesses, and service disabled, veteran-owned small businesses that have demonstrated overall excellence in superior product quality, on-time delivery, superior customer service, reliability, dependability, consistency and accuracy.

- Essex Cryogenics of Missouri Inc., St. Louis (Small Business)

- Supreme Site Service AG, Ziegelbruecke, Switzerland (Large Business)

- Combustion Associates Inc., Corona, Calif. (Small Disadvantaged Business)

- Data Solutions and Technology Inc., Lanham, Md. (Women-Owned Small Business)

- Graco Awards Manufacturing Inc., Tomball, Texas (Service Disabled, Veteran-Owned Small Business)

- Campbellsville Apparel Company LLC, Campbellsville, Ky. (Historically Underutilized Business Zone, Small Business)

Innovative Business Performer of the Year: Awarded to large, small, small disadvantaged, women-owned small businesses, historically underutilized business zone small businesses, and service disabled, veteran-owned small businesses that have undertaken risks associated with innovative business practices (shared production, electronic commerce, prime vendor, quick response, etc.) and that meet the Vendor Excellence Award criteria.

- Alken Industries Inc., Ronkonkoma, N.Y. (Small Business)

- Becton Dickinson, Franklin Lakes, N.J. (Large Business)

- PAL Services Inc., O'Fallon, Mo. (Small Disadvantaged Business)

- DARE Electronics Inc., Troy, Ohio (Women-Owned Small Business)

- Networks Enterprises Inc., New Hudson, Mich. (Service Disabled, Veteran-Owned Small Business)

- Ehmke Manufacturing Company, Philadelphia (Historically Underutilized Business Zone, Small Business)

New Contractor of the Year: Awarded to a large or small business that contracted for the first time with DLA within the period of consideration, and that meets the Vendor Excellence Award criteria.

- Corrigan & Sons Inc., Fairbanks, Alaska (Small Business)

Outstanding Readiness Support: Awarded to large, small, small disadvantaged, women-owned small businesses, historically underutilized business zone small businesses, and service disabled, veteran-owned small businesses that have provided extraordinary customer support, service or product directly to a crisis situation, in addition to the Vendor Excellence Award criteria.

- C&S Antennas Inc., Hickory, N.C. (Small Business)

- AM General LLC, Mishawaka, Ind. (Large Business)

- PPI Industrial Corp., Sun Valley, Calif. (Small Disadvantaged Business)

- Bethel Industries Inc., Jersey City, N.J. (Women-Owned Small Business)

- Janel's Industries Inc., Cassopolis, Mich. (Service Disabled, Veteran-Owned Small Business)

- Weinbrenner Shoe Company Inc., Merrill, Wis. (Historically Underutilized Business Zone, Small Business)

Outstanding AbilityOne Program Vendor: Awarded to non-profit agencies (National Industries for the Blind, employing the blind; or NISH, employing persons with severe disabilities) that exemplify Vendor Excellence Award criteria.

- New York City Industries for the Blind, Brooklyn, N.Y. (NIB)

- Cottonwood Inc., Lawrence, Kan. (NISH)

Customer of the Year: (DOD) Awarded to the Department of Defense customer organization that exemplifies the highest degree of professionalism; meets or exceeds criteria in one or more other categories and clearly stands above the rest in its commitment to DLA.