Ehren Whitmore, budget officer with the Security Assistance Training Management Organization at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, was a nominee for the 2021 Louis Dellamonica Award for Outstanding Army Materiel Command Personnel of the Year.
She was selected from across the AMC enterprise, which is located in all 50 states and more than 150 countries and is comprised of more than 175,000 employees. Whitmore is one of 10 AMC employees to receive the award.
Whitmore serves as the director of resource management for SATMO. Her section is responsible for the planning, coordination and synchronization of the foreign military sales security assistance training budget. During her seven years at SATMO, her team has supported the execution of over 200 security assistance team training missions globally with an estimated value of over $865 million. She has been instrumental in the success of SATMO missions worldwide.
“Mrs. Whitmore lives and breathes the Army values and epitomizes professionalism and the technical knowledge in all her interactions with superiors, subordinates, and peers, not only among the SATMO team, but across the Army and joint security assistance enterprise,” Rafael Duran, executive officer at SATMO and her supervisor, said. “Mrs. Whitmore’s indisputable work ethic has consistently ensured 100% completion of all FMS budget requirements. Her dedication to the unit’s mission coupled with her strategic intellect, has made her the subject matter expert on all budget management elements of the complex security assistance enterprise.”
As a supervisor to the nine-member team her unparalleled leadership promoted employee engagements and mentoring, developed subordinates through counseling, training, and work assignments, and earned complete trust from all SATMO regional security assistance commanders as well as SATMO Brigade-level leadership.
While Whitmore is not a trainer on the many military systems and the Army doctrine, her work does aid in USASAC’s and SATMO’s efforts with effective, and long-term relationships with our allies and partners. The Soldiers at SATMO deliver training to counter negative competitor influence and help deter adverse behavior. SATMO is committed to form, train, employ, and redeploy security assistance teams that provide persistent engagements building allies and partner’s confidence in U.S. equipment, including daily, direct demonstration of U.S. commitment.
As SATMO pursued an increase in training effectiveness with the modernization, reorganization, and execution of the Foreign Affairs Counter Threat Course, Whitmore worked tireless hours leading the entire organization to success in establishing an impeccable training contract, saving the organization over 400 manpower hours while streamlining multiple efforts.
“Her singular efforts allowed SATMO to execute the only State Department-approved FACT course run by the U.S. Army,” Duran said. “Her understanding of the Armywide challenges, the complex defense financial systems, and the employment of FMS funds in support of building partner nation capacity created a dependable, enduring cooperation with multiple agencies at the operational and strategic levels.”
Whitmore created a directorate talent management program identifying essential educational and training needs to improve each individual’s professional development. She consistently sought self-improvement to achieve high standards, while simultaneously educating the organization on all matters of FMS budget analysis. Her strategic initiatives resulted in the highly effective implementation of successful technical and professional training and education plans for SATMO resource management personnel in accordance with the Defense Security Cooperation Agency certification requirements. The execution of these versatile programs increased the knowledge, training, and professional development of SATMO military and civilian personnel.
Additionally, she coordinates through USASAC, with elements of other security assistance organization personnel to track emerging requirements to ensure budget compliance and execution in a timely manner. During the demanding and challenging problem sets caused by the pandemic, Whitmore worked diligently arranging internal staff functions and processes, increasing coordination of short and long-range plans. Her efforts ensured all stateside and overseas security assistance efforts received on-time FMS funding support.
However, her work is not all about allocating resources. She willingly volunteers to lead, plan and resource all of the organization’s family and social events throughout the year. Likewise, her invaluable support to the Soldier and Family Readiness Group bridged the many family challenges facing the families of Soldiers supporting numerous security assistance teams spread around the globe enduring the hardships of unaccompanied tours of duty. Her unique contributions to SATMO and positive attitude fostered an open, caring climate enhancing the family support and work-life balance of our Soldiers and families.
The AMC Dellamonica Award recognizes civilian and military members from across AMC for their innovation, leadership and dedication to the mission. The selectees usually have a history of outstanding service and accomplishments that significantly contribute to AMC's mission, goals and objectives.
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