JMC employee retires after 40 years of government service

By Linda LoebachMarch 6, 2013

JMC employee retires after 40 years of government service
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
JMC employee retires after 40 years of government service
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL, Ill.--How many people can say they have worked for the federal government for 40 years? Joint Munitions Command's Tony Rosata can.

Rosata's career began in January 1973 when he entered the U.S. Air Force with security police. He will retire March 8, 2013, as a senior security specialist.

In 1977, after his military stint, Rosata obtained a job at Senica Army Depot in Romulus, N.Y., not far from his hometown of Waterloo, N.Y.

"When I started working at Seneca Army Depot as a GS-4 security guard, I made a little over $8,000 per year. I'm ending this chapter in my life as a GS-13," said Rosata.

Seneca Army Depot was closed in 1995 due to a Base Realignment and Closure. So, Rosata relocated to Rock Island Arsenal at JMC as a security specialist.

A year later, Rosata became the first anti-terrorism officer at JMC. After 9/11, he worked in the Operations Center, coordinating security and requirements for anti-terrorism efforts.

In late 2008, Rosata took on the senior security specialist job for which he was qualified due to his arms ammunition and explosives background. He continues in this position today.

"Although I like to get my hands dirty, be out in the field, I like this job because every day is different," said Rosata.

One day, Rosata may work on tasking installations to obtain or replace intrusion detection systems. He might review requirements for waivers of security policies. Much of his work has to do with funding issues and recommending mitigating factors. Rosata conducts manpower studies which are necessary, especially in these times of budget cuts.

Rosata serves as a subject matter expert and assists the Army Audit Agency and the Department of the Army Inspector General on security requirements. He also serves as the Army representative for physical security of sensitive conventional ammunition for Arms Ammunition and Explosives and coordinates security requirements with members of the Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force, whose responsibility it is to identify, analyze and incorporate security requirements for the Department of Defense manual. The military services use this manual to develop sensitive conventional Arms Ammunition and Explosives security requirements.

When he thinks about retirement, Rosata says, "I will miss the people, especially our physical security team, which is the best. Working with them has been a pleasure."

Rosata said his plans for retirement are simple. He plans to go to the gym and play a lot of golf, attend his grandkids' sporting events and travel. Rosata finds the Old West era fascinating and wants to journey with his wife, Clare, to historical places like Deadwood and Wounded Knee, S.D., Tombstone, Ariz. and Dodge City, Kan.