APG farewells five civilian retirees

By Rachel PonderAugust 24, 2023

Daniel Paijean
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Kim Whitaker
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Ramona Golden
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Dr. Joyce Daniels
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Anthony Hale
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The careers of five Department of the Army civilians were celebrated during the quarterly installation retirement ceremony at the APG post theater July 27, 2023.

The retirees were Anthony Hale with the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command C5ISR Center; Daniel Paijean, DEVCOM C5ISR; Dr. Joyce Daniels, DEVCOM C5ISR Center; Kim Whitaker, with DEVCOM Chemical, Biological Command; Ramona Golden, U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command. With their combined service of 137 years, the retirees positively contributed to the installation and the Army.

The host was the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command Deputy to the Commanding General Liz Miranda. She was accompanied by CECOM Command Sgt. Maj. Michael Conaty.

Miranda said she was honored to represent the “phenomenal workforce” at APG.

“To each of the retirees, I offer you my deepest gratitude and appreciation on behalf of APG and the U.S. Army,” she said.

She also thanked the family members for supporting the retirees.

“Those here that are retiring didn’t do it on their own. They had the support of the family, [and] the love,” she said.

Dr. Joyce Daniels

Dr. Joyce Daniels received the Department of the Army certificate of appreciation and retirement, and retirement pin.

Daniels is a native of Washington D.C. In 1983 she began her federal service with the Department of Labor.

In 1997, Daniels was commissioned as a chaplain in the U.S. Air Force and served as the first female assigned to Warner Robins Air Force Base, 78th Air Base Wing.

She supported five units; the 653rd Combat Logistics Support Squadron, 5th Combat Communications Group, 461st Air Control Wing, 116th Medical Group, and the 78th Security Forces Squadron. After six months of active duty, she was promoted to captain and was appointed as pastor for the gospel service.

In 2009, Daniels was employed with the Department of Commerce, Census Bureau as a regional technician for the Northeast Region. She worked with diverse groups, managing the Area Census Offices to provide timely, orderly, and efficient conduct of the 2010 Decennial Operation. She received outstanding performance ratings, cash awards, and cash bonuses for her outstanding performance.

Daniels served as a volunteer employee assistance coordinator for the Army Substance Abuse Program and as an income tax associate for the Office of the Staff Judge Advocate, where she saved Soldiers and their families more than $100,000 in tax preparation fees and received over 1 million dollars in tax refunds.

In 2012, Daniels was employed with the Department of Defense/Pentagon, Washington Headquarters Services, Pentagon Building Management Office where she served as a management analyst under the Federal Services Directorate. She culminates her civilian service career as an acquisition analyst with the DEVCOM C5ISR Center.  After several breaks in service, she completed 17 dedicated years of government service.

“Service is clearly part of her nature,” Miranda said. “From her time serving the country both in and out of uniform, Joyce goes above and beyond to support others.”

Daniels plans to spend her retirement spending time with family and volunteering with her church community. She officially retired on July 29, 2023.

Daniel Paijean

Daniel Paijean received the Civilian Commendation Medal, the Department of the Army certificates of appreciation and retirement, and retirement pin. He also received a two star note from DEVCOM Commanding General Maj. Gen. Edmond Brown and a Senior Executive Service note from the DEVCOM C5ISR Center Director Joseph Welch. Paijean’s wife, Regina Paijean, received the DA certificate of appreciation.

Paijean was born in Teaneck, New Jersey, and grew up on the Jersey Shore in Ocean and Monmouth Counties. He graduated from Manchester High School in 1981 and went on to attain his Bachelor of Science in electronic engineering from Monmouth University in 1986.

Shortly after graduation, he accepted a position with the Airborne Systems Branch of the Avionics Research and Development Activity at Fort Monmouth. AVRADA was the key developer for the Kiowa Warrior helicopter platform and would play a major role in many of the Army’s key aviation programs for many years to come. While learning as much as he could about helicopter systems, he established himself as a leading authority in MIL-STD-1553 Cockpit Display Unit programming.

During his career, he supported many cutting-edge technologies including the Army Airborne Command and Control System; Blue Force Tracker/BCP; and was involved in the first iterations of Task Force XXI fielding and testing at the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, California. These programs allowed Paijean the opportunity to fly countless hours in Army helicopters and left him with many stories to tell about his travels around the country during the technology boom of the 90s.

He also supported the Improved Data Modem program for more than 25 years. In 2011, his job was relocated to APG as part of Base Realignment and Closure. After supporting the IDM team for a few more years, he decided to join a start-up program working on science and technology initiatives in support of Army Command Posts. He joined the Computing Platforms Branch of the Mission Command Capabilities Division where he contributed to the development of the Display Viewer Application, or DVA, and would eventually take over for the software development team.

The entire Expeditionary Mission Command team would be recognized in 2018 for Employee of the Year, Team category for the work performed in support of the advancements in Command Post vehicle integration.

Paijean was later matrixed to the Command Post Integrated Infrastructure, or CPI2, team as the S&T advisor, bringing his EMC experiences into the early design phases of the program. Paijean would continue to support the DVA effort and assumed the role of Command Post Display System team lead for CPI2.

“Dan, thank you for your innovation, ingenuity, and commitment all these years,” Miranda said.

He officially retired on June 16, 2023. In his retirement, Paijean plans to pursue software development as a contractor supporting the Army. He also hopes to spend more time with family, traveling, playing guitar, and taking long rides on his motorcycle.

Kim Whitaker  

Kim Whitaker received the Civilian Service Achievement Medal, the Department of the Army certificates of appreciation and retirement, and a retirement pin. Her husband, Dr. William Whitaker III received the certificate of appreciation.

Whitaker was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and later moved to Palmer Spring, Virginia. She attended Park View Senior High School and graduated in 1980. After graduation, she returned to Pennsylvania and accepted a position as a teacher’s aide at the Hawthorne Private School for first through sixth grade.

In August 1983, she began a career with the U.S. Army Reserve, and on October 1991, she enlisted in the U.S. Army and returned to the USAR in April 1993. She retired from the USAR in 2014.

In 1985, she began her federal career with the U.S. Postal Service. During her 15-year tenure, she served as a distribution clerk machinist, and a distribution clerk.

In 2001, she transferred to the Department of Defense. She culminates her civilian service career as an engineering technician for DEVCOM CBC’s Collection Protection and Joint Service Ground Mask Branch. In this position, she studied mask testing and fitting.

“Kim thank you for your steadfast service, inclusivity of your team, and upbeat spirit,” Miranda said during her remarks.

Retired Col. Thomas Saltysiak gave a few remarks about Whitaker’s career. Saltysiak, who was her supervisor, praised her for her innovation and described her as “silent professional that gets the job done.” She provided critical support to the warfighter with her “keen attention to detail.”

“Chemical biological defense is the type of thing no one cares about it until you really need it, and then all the sudden it is a life-or-death situation,” he said.

In retirement, she plans to celebrate her accomplishments, vacation with her family, and start her own small business. Whitaker will officially retire on Sept. 30, 2023, with more than 37 years of dedicated government service.

Anthony Hale

Anthony Hale received the Department of the Army certificates of appreciation and retirement and a retirement pin. His wife, Kristie Hale, received a DA certificate of appreciation.

Hale was born in Havre de Grace, Maryland, and graduated from Aberdeen High School in 1988. His federal service began on APG in January 1989 when he accepted a position as a service order clerk for the then Directorate of Installation Operations (now the Directorate of Public Works).

By mid-1990 he had moved into the DPW shops as a plumbing helper and for the next 16 years had advanced upward through the different positions to become a pipefitter. In 2007, he took his first supervisory position with the Army Corps of Engineers as a pipefitting supervisor at the Washington Aqueduct in Washington, D.C. He worked there until 2009 when he once again returned to the APG Directorate Public Works and accepted the position of DPW site manager on APG South (Edgewood). The position was accepted knowing that he would be part of rebuilding the DPW Facilities, Maintenance and Operations Division shops back to the level they were at in years past.

In 2016, he was selected to do a 120-day detail as the first executive officer for the APG Garrison commander. This opportunity allowed him to learn more about garrison operations and gain leadership knowledge from the commander, deputy commander, and the command sergeant major. Hale said this was the proudest moment in his career.

In 2021, he was selected for his current position with DEVCOM C5ISR Center as the chief of the Facilities and Equipment Branch, Engineering and Systems Integration Directorate.

Some of his awards and accomplishments include being awarded the Army Civilian Achievement Medal on two occasions, overseeing the energy savings project for LED lighting in the APG South (Edgewood), and streamlining of facility operations also in APG South.

“Anthony, thank you for your years of service, your willingness to tackle a challenge, and your friendly attitude,” Miranda said.

Hale said he is grateful for the career he has had at APG and knows it is something that will never be forgotten. He officially retired on July 29, 2023, with more than 34 years of service. During his retirement, he plans to travel and attend more concerts.

Ramona Golden     

Ramona Golden received the Department of the Army certificates of appreciation and retirement and a retirement pin. Her husband, Courtney Golden, received the DA certificate of appreciation.

Golden was born and raised in Dallas, Texas. She began her career with the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command on Jan. 18, 2011, as a supply intern.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in organizational management and human resources from Colorado Christian University and a master’s degree in supply chain management from Towson University.

Golden currently serves as a team lead for the Procurement Planning and Contracts Division, part of the CECOM Integrated Logistics Support Center.

“Ramona thank you for your incredible work ethic, diligent efforts, and commitment during your service,” Miranda said.

Joyce Gasby, a friend of Golden and former supervisor, said she was a role model employee. Supply chain management is challenging to master, but Golden took on her new role “like a champion.”

“She is self-driven, sets high-performance standards for herself, and is always willing to share her knowledge with others,” she said.

Golden said her most constant motivators are serving God, her family, CECOM, the warfighter, and the Army. She looks forward to traveling more and spending time with family. She will officially retire from the U.S. Army on Sept. 30, 2023, with 12 years of civilian service.

For more photos, visit https://www.flickr.com/photos/usagapg/albums/72177720310199954.