FORT LEE, Va. – Chrystal (Chrissy) Galloni, an applications branch chief with the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command, Software Engineering Center, was recently recognized for her professional excellence. CECOM is a subordinate command of the U.S. Army Materiel Command.
The Louis Dellamonica Award recognizes outstanding service and accomplishments that have significantly contributed to AMC's mission to develop and deliver materiel readiness solutions to U.S. warfighters.
On Oct. 4, 2022, Galloni was presented her 2021 Louis Dellamonica Award by CECOM commanding general, Maj. Gen. Robert Edmonson II, at a ceremony during a virtual command town hall event.
“Thank you for being a part of our team!” Edmonson said about Galloni on her award. “I want to personally congratulate you for your outstanding service to our Army. Your hard work and passion have made it possible for you to win this prestigious award. You’ve set an example of excellence for others here to follow. Best wishes for more success in the future, well done!”
Galloni, a Richmond, Virginia, native has been working for the SEC Fort Lee branch since 2006 as a contractor. In 2010, she became a DA Civilian with the SEC.
Although she is supported by a team now, Galloni spoke on some of her biggest personal inspirations and how her background has factored into her success now.
“When I was younger, I played around with some coding and DOS writing,” she said. “I’ve always loved numbers and have always been detail-oriented. Initially, I went to college to become a math teacher, which I thought was more practical, but ended up going back to something I really love; computer science and business information systems.”
Galloni recognized that her success is a reflection of her teammates, both past and present.
“It feels good to be recognized like this, but honestly, I wish my whole team could be honored,” she admitted. “It wasn’t just me. I know a huge part of my success has been my team, my mentors. Our team has been successful because of all the people who put in the hours at work. It truly is a team effort.”
Galloni is highly appreciative of the people that she works with.
“I have a really great team of people!” Galloni said. “We all work very well together as a team, and that’s what honestly makes me happy and proud. To be a part of this larger Army team!”
Despite having worked on a number of different Army sustainment and software engineering projects, Galloni and her team have been focused on an Army acquisition-related project.
“Right now, we are working on EFLIPL, as part of the SEC’s EFLIPL Team,” Galloni said. “We’re a team of 12 DA civilians and contractors, and we’ve been working on this project in particular for a couple years now.”
EFLIPL, also known as the Electronic Financial Liability Investigations of Property Loss, is a digital database which helps the Army account for lost or damaged government property.
“We primarily assist on the sustainment side, rather than acquisition, but our EFLIPL system directly assists Soldiers, at all levels, in the process of equipment accountability.”
Prior to Galloni’s work and the EFLIPL, the Army was going about the property accountability process manually. This process was much more time-consuming. Now, EFLIPL can digitally enforce the complex business data rules, which the Army must adapt to if it is to stay competitive in the future.
“By March 2021 we were at full operational capability,” she said. “It felt really good to do something to help a big need for the future of the Army.”
While it has always been important for the Army to be able to be financially efficient, it becomes increasingly important for the Army to evolve into a modernized force capable of pacing rapidly evolving technology and the associated costs of this advancement.
Galloni’s attitude towards the challenges of building a future force for the Army embodies the legacy and credo of Soldiers and Army civilians before her.
“I never accept this is the best it can be,” Galloni said proudly. “I still have so much to learn. Tomorrow technology will change, so I can always be doing something to learn and improve myself. I challenge myself and I challenge my team members, now as a supervisor.”
Maluki Montgomery, a chief engineer with SEC, has been Galloni’s mentor throughout her entire career, as she explains how their professional relationship has come full circle.
“Maluki has been great,” Galloni said. “I wouldn’t be where I am now, if it weren’t for his mentorship. Now, I’m in his old position and I still, to this day, will ask him for guidance at times.”
Although she previously didn’t know much about the Dellamonica Award, Galloni eventually realized the importance of the prestigious recognition.
“I didn’t really know a lot about the award,” Galloni laughed. “Although Maluki quickly assured me it was, in-fact, a huge deal.”
While Galloni offers praise for her specific SEC team in Fort Lee, she still recognizes the support CECOM, as a whole, has offered her.
“I love working for CECOM because they really enable my personal leadership style,” Galloni said. “Recently, Maj. Gen. Edmonson visited our team down here [at Fort Lee]. It was the first time in my entire career, that I briefed a general officer like this. I was understandably, very nervous. However, he really made me feel confident and relaxed during my presentation. I feel like this is just one good example of how CECOM supports us. With that encouragement and clearly defined guidelines which enable me to lead the way needed to be as successful as possible.”
Galloni has found more than just professional success at CECOM. She met her husband, another SEC employee, while working with the SEC and the couple now have an eight-year-old son together.
“I’ve had my life happen here at CECOM and SEC, and I’m very thankful for the opportunities they’ve opened for me and my life,” Galloni said.
More about the Dellamonica award
The Louis Dellamonica Award is named in honor of Louis Dellamonica, a former general engineer with AMC’s Hawthorne Army Depot, in Nevada. Dellamonica was both the oldest and longest-serving Dept. of Defense employee before retiring in Jan. 2007 at the age of 94 with more than 65 years of government service.
The annual award, named in his honor, seeks to identify employees who have integrity, innovative mindsets, leadership skills and outstanding dedication to the Army.
Nominees are selected by a panel of judges based on how they improve their work environments and further the mission, as well as how they motivate and inspire other employees.
Every year, AMC selects both military and civilian employees – below the rank of general officer and Senior Executive Service level – who stand out as model employees and meet the established criteria. AMC includes more than 64,000 employees in all 50 states and more than 150 countries, including CECOM.
“I want to accentuate the importance and value of this award,” said AMC Commander Gen. Ed Daly, who presided over this year’s official awards ceremony at the AMC headquarters in Redstone, Alabama. “This is a highly prestigious award and the individuals who receive it have demonstrated how important they are to our Army.”
Daly went on to thank the recipients for “the great work you and your teams have done and continue to do for our Army and our nation. You make AMC what it is today.”
Social Sharing