ACC employees earn AMC's 2012 Dellamonica Awards

By Betsy Kozak-Howard, ACC-Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md.May 29, 2013

Clay Socha
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Gloria Golden
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Clay Socha and Gloria Golden, Army Contracting Command -- Aberdeen Proving Ground, have been selected by the Army Materiel Command for the 2012 Louis Dellamonica Award for Outstanding Personnel of the Year.

According to the news release announcing the recipients, the award recognizes personnel whose outstanding work accomplishments significantly contribute to AMC's mission. The nominees were judged on how their initiatives measurably improved their work environment, how they motivated and inspired fellow employees to improve or increase the quality of their own work. The award was named in honor of Louis Dellamonica, a general engineer at the Hawthorne Army Depot, Nev. Dellamonica's 65-year career exemplified integrity, innovation, leadership and outstanding dedication to AMC's mission. Each year AMC selects military and civilian members who meet the established criteria and stand out as model employees.

Socha's award nomination cited his performance while serving as a contracting officer with the civilian expeditionary workforce in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. In February 2012, he volunteered for the CEW program which led to his one-year assignment in Afghanistan. Socha has been a member of ACC for four years and started his career as a contract specialist intern with ACC-APG's Adelphi Division in Adelphi, Md.

As an acquisition certified contracting employee, Socha's initial responsibility was to manage the contracting workload for 12 installations within the Kabul base cluster. He was responsible for approximately 130 new and recurring requirements valued at $300 million.

"Clay's (Socha) performance was exceptional throughout and he was highly respected by all members of the staff and leaders in the Combined Joint Operations Area-Afghanistan, despite having a thankless job," said Maj. Gen. Kenneth R. Dahl, U.S. Forces-Afghanistan deputy commanding general for support. "During the last few months of his tour, he served as the deputy officer-in-charge of the Joint Acquisition Review Board. I worked with him personally and he quickly earned my confidence and trust in his judgment and leadership."

Socha said he oversaw all procurements and was at first overwhelmed.

"I provided my recommendation to the board whether to concur or non-concur with each procurement," Socha said. "I presented each case and offered rationale to support my decision. I had to make tough decisions that were often met with resistance as drawdown efforts forced a culture shift toward a lean expeditionary standard."

Golden received the Louis Dellamonica Award for her leadership and customer relations initiatives.

"I didn't know that I was nominated and winning the award came as a total surprise," said Golden. "I was happy that I was selected but I couldn't have done it without a team of talented individuals."

Golden, chief, Information Systems Engineering Command Branch of ACC-APG's Huachuca Division, Fort Huachuca, Ariz., supervises 18 contracting professionals. She has been providing contracting support to the installation community for 26 years and fully credits her team for her success.

"My leadership style is simple," Golden said. "I ensure that nothing inhibits an employee's creativity, allowing them to be all that they can be. I provide the direction they need, celebrate their victories and help them overcome defeat. I give them the tools that they need to be successful."

In addition to her degree in contracting, Golden has a background in psychology which helps in understanding the human aspect of being a supervisor, she said. "It also helps that I truly love what I do."

Golden is also celebrating another recent award. She was identified as the Employee of the Year for 2012 for the awards program with the Army Team Command, Control, Communication, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance group, comprised of five organizations. Commonly referred to as C4ISR, the partner organizations collaborate and are collectively responsible for the Army's C4ISR systems.

As she edges closer to retirement, Golden plans to embark on a new career.

"I want to raise guide dogs for the blind," explained Golden, who is legally blind. "I will be a puppy raiser and my responsibility will be to teach the puppy to be a nice dog within a loving home environment. Once the puppy reaches 1 year of age, the dog will be transferred to a guide dog school for specialized training."

As Louis Dellamonica award winners, Golden and Socha will receive a Certificate of Achievement, an engraved plaque and a four-star note signed by AMC's commanding general.

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