ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL, Ill. -- A Joint Munitions Command leader, Rhonda L. VanDeCasteele, was appointed to the Senior Executive Service, during an official pinning ceremony held here, June 11.
Brig. Gen. Kristin K. French, commanding general, United States Army Joint Munitions and Lethality Life Cycle Management Command and Joint Munitions Command, served as the official host. Approximately 300 guests, including VanDeCasteele's friends, co-workers and fellow Department of Defense officials, attended the event in Heritage Hall on the Rock Island Arsenal.
French presented VanDeCasteele with a Certificate of Appointment, awarded her an SES pin, administered an Oath of Office and helped her unfurl her new SES flag.
Entry into the Senior Executive Service requires five core qualifications. These qualifications include: leading change, leading people, being results driven, having business acumen, and building coalitions.
"Throughout her 31-year career, Rhonda has proven time and time again that she can fulfill these qualifications," said French. "Rhonda's past experiences clearly qualify her to move into the SES ranks."
The SES is a civil service classification, which is equivalent to a general officer in the United States Armed Forces. Vandecasteele is the second female SES candidate within the Joint Munitions Command.
The Senior Executive Service is a corps of men and women who administer public programs at the top levels of federal government. They possess shared values, a broad perspective of government, and solid executive skills. The purpose of the Senior Executive Service is to ensure that the executive management of the government of the United States is responsive to the needs, policies, and goals of the nation. Senior Executive Service members are the major link between top Presidential appointees and the rest of the federal workforce.
"I am thrilled that I am able to promote Rhonda into the ranks of the Senior Executive Service," concluded French. "You have risen through the ranks of the Joint Munitions Command and are known as one of the best. I could not be prouder to have you as a senior member of my team."
VanDeCasteele serves as the Executive Director for Ammunition for the Joint Munitions Command. She is responsible for providing joint conventional munitions acquisition and production support to the Program Executive Officer for Ammunition, and readiness and logistics direction for all U.S. military services, allies and friendly nations.
VanDeCasteele supervises personnel who manage and execute the Single Manager for Conventional Ammunition's Field Operating Activity mission for the production, supply, storage, maintenance, and demilitarization of conventional ammunition.
Prior to her current duties, VanDeCasteele served as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Resource Management for JMC, overseeing approximately 100 personnel. Her major responsibilities included budget development and execution tracking for appropriated and revolving funds, cost and productivity analysis, and Civilian and Military force management.
'Thank you everyone for attending today's ceremony," said VanDeCasteele. "Fortunately, there are outstanding people in the Joint Munitions Command who come to work with unending energy and willingness to do what it takes to get the job done. The organization I lead, the Munitions and Logistics Readiness Center is outstanding. They are smart, hard-working, talented people who have allowed our Warfighters to always have the ammunition they need, when they need it. You are a great team and I'm honored to be part of it."
During her remarks, VanDeCasteele thanked the many supervisors, peers, employees and mentors who supported her during her career. She also thanked her family and friends for sharing the day with her. "The reason I have been so successful is because of the unconditional love and reassurance that has come from you," she emphasized.
VanDeCasteele is a native of Reynolds, Ill., and a graduate of Western Illinois University, Macomb, Illinos, with a degree in Finance. She obtained a Master's Degree in Organizational Leadership from St. Ambrose University, Davenport, Iowa. She began her federal career in February 1984. She and her husband Gary reside in Coal Valley, Illinois, and are the parents of two sons.
VanDeCasteele is Level II Army Acquisition Corps certified in production, quality and manufacturing and Level III certified in business, cost estimating and financial management. She is Lean Six Sigma green belt certified and a recipient of the Ordnance Order of Samuel Sharpe.
VanDeCasteele has received several honorary awards to include the Meritorious Civilian Service Award. She has also received the Army Fiscal Year 2010 Comptroller/Deputy Comptroller of the Year and Capstone Awards. Under her leadership, the JMC Resource Management team received the Army Manpower and Force Management Excellence Award and the Resource Management Organization of the Year Award.
The Joint Munitions Command produces small-, medium- and large-caliber ammunition items for the Department of Defense. Joint Munitions Command is the logistics integrator for life-cycle management of ammunition and provides a global presence of technical support to U.S. combat units wherever they are stationed or deployed.
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