DOL director retires after 34 years on Fort Jackson      Susanne Kappler  Leader Staff

The year was 1974 –– a year of “firsts” in the United States. Richard Nixon became the first and only president to resign from office, Chris Evert and Jimmy Connors won their first titles at Wimbledon and People magazine released its first issue. It was also the first year in the civilian career of Doug Burchett, director of logistics, who retires today after 34 years of civil service to Fort Jackson. After two tours of duty in Vietnam with the Navy, Burchett started out as a supply clerk in the maintenance division of the Directorate of Logistics. With the exception of a brief stint working at Moncrief Army Community Hospital, he spent his entire career with DOL, but changed jobs frequently within the organization. He ultimately became its director in 1997, overseeing about 270 DA Civilians and almost 500 contractors. Burchett’s rise through the ranks from supply clerk to director did not come as a surprise to Larry Kyzer, who preceded Burchett as DOL director.  “There was never a doubt in my mind –– as his boss over the years –– that he would be successful,” Kyzer said. “He is a people person, and he is smart. He always sought to do the job that nobody else wanted to do.” While Burchett concedes that initiative, hard work and education were important factors in his career, he said the most important qualities he tried to embody were treating people the way he wanted to be treated and being a good listener. “I hope that (my employees) felt I was a pretty good listener,” Burchett said. “In my younger days, I wasn’t. I had to learn over time that being a good listener is an important part of being a good leader.” Burchett is reluctant to talk about his own achievements and quick to give credit to his employees, who, he said, have taught him some valuable lessons over the years. “I have some folks that have been in the same job, you know, for the last 25 years,” he said, contrasting that attitude with his own ambitious personality. “And they were happy. They didn’t want a raise. They didn’t want any big awards. They just liked the job that they did. I struggled with understanding that for a while. “In the later years, I started understanding what they mean,” he continued. “They said, ‘We’re just happy here. We got a good job. We like it. We’re not interested in moving to a higher responsibility job. We don’t need any more money.’ That’s something that they taught me. That’s a pretty good quality to have.” During his 34 years on Fort Jackson, Burchett has witnessed many changes first hand: New buildings have replaced the World War II wood structures; changes have been implemented in Basic Combat Training; technology has transformed the way business is conducted. One thing, though, has remained the same. “The Soldiers are still the first priority and it was that way when I came,” he said. Supporting the Soldiers and the training mission on Fort Jackson were the most rewarding aspects of his work, Burchett explained. “Seeing a Soldier come in at the Reception Battalion with civilian clothes and long hair and then being able to go to graduation and seeing the nice, sharp, disciplined Soldiers in their uniforms and marching makes you feel like everything you do on Fort Jackson is worthwhile,” he said. Of course, Burchett –– as is his nature –– is quick to add that his directorate’s support of the mission could not be achieved without the help of everyone in the organization. “Leaders don’t do it all themselves,” he said. “Really, the people who work every day in the clothing issue point or the maintenance shop make us look good every day. I’ll miss seeing them, but I’ll come out and visit from time to time.”