DOD, Army civilians recognized for years of service during retirement ceremony

Department of Defense, Army civilians were presented awards and certificates in recognition of appreciation for their years of service and retirement during a ceremony June 15 at Crest Hall. Four West Point employees – James “Chickie” Ciccarelli, Beth N. Craig, Maureen Howard and John J. DeAngelis – were honored by U.S. Military Academy Garrison Commander, Col. Anthony J. Bianchi, during the ceremony.

Ciccarelli served 32 years as an Army civilian at West Point. He started his career in 1992 and worked for 10 years as a material handler. In 2002, he transferred to general support in a Central Area Shop as a maintenance mechanic for six years. In 2008, he made his final move to the roofing shop.

Ciccarelli spent his career dedicated to West Point earning several awards and commendations. He would come in a moment’s notice for any emergency at all hours of the night. He was a part of the snow team plowing and salting roads during Code Red when everyone else was home. He was a part of the graduations team and made sure deadlines were met and things ran smoothly.

Craig began her career at West Point in December 1987 with the Army Athletic Association, and she worked as part of the Army Athletic Department until January 2007. During her time there, she was an accounting technician and was eventually promoted to lead accounting technician. Craig oversaw accounts payable to include payment of all vendors and reconciliation, accounts receivable invoicing and reconciliation, travel settlements to include team travel and recruiting trips, bank statement reconciliations and month end journal entries.

Craig moved on to USMA G8 the same month she left athletics, and she was a budget analyst handling all USMA reimbursable funding, which included incoming MIPRs and gift funds. She continued as a budget analyst with a lateral to OEMA in August 2011. As OEMA’s budget analyst, she oversaw the execution of OEMA’s funding program. She was in the position until July 2015.

She then accepted a promotion to be DPW program analyst in July 2015 and has been in that position ever since. She has overseen the execution of DPW SRM 132 funding program to include CBUP and ABUP projects.

Howard worked for the U.S. Army Garrison West Point, Directorate of Public Works (DPW), Operations and Maintenance Division (O&M) and Business Operations and Integration Division (BOID) from Jan. 1, 1957, through May 1, 2023. Howard gave over 66 years of dedication and service as a supply clerk for DPW.

Howard worked tirelessly to improve the supply branch mission as a section of the O&M and BOID and effectively represented the U.S. Army Garrison. Her actions throughout her career resulted in exceptional contributions and were vital to the success and mission accomplishment of the units she served with.

She exemplified the Army Values by striving for excellence and by placing the mission and the welfare of her colleagues before herself. An innovative and relentless troubleshooter, her vast technical knowledge greatly aided in the organization’s success even through funding shortfalls, with little material and financial support.

Her conduct and dedication for over 66 years of service as an Army civilian is in keeping with the finest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon herself, her division, the DPW and the United States Army.

DeAngelis graduated from Marist College in 1980 with a bachelor’s in business administration, with a major in accounting.

He began his career with the United States Postal Service in Poughkeepsie, New York, and would eventually work his way to West Point working in the Cadet Mess Bakery.

DeAngelis moved into the USMA Directorate of Academy Advancement before spending 20-plus years to his retirement in the USMA Army Military Pay Office.