TOBYHANNA, Pa. — On Feb. 5, Tobyhanna Army Depot memorialized its Wideband Integration Center (WIC) in memory of Tania Perciaccante, a respected engineer whose work was pivotal to America's national defense.
Depot Commander Col. Benjamin L. Kilgore presided over the memorialization ceremony, which was also attended by Maj. Gen. James D. Turinetti IV, Commanding General of the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command. Other attendees included family and friends of Ms. Perciaccante, members of the depot workforce, and Perciaccante’s colleagues from across the wideband integration community.
The ceremony commemorated Ms. Perciaccante’s colossal impact on Tobyhanna’s satellite mission, the Department of the Army, joint services, and the Department of War overall. She passed away on July 19, 2025, after a brief illness.
Over nearly two decades, Perciaccante’s work supported critical communications requirements for warfighters worldwide. She started her federal career in the early 2000s, where she quickly became a leader in the satellite communications community. Along with her colleagues, Perciaccante played a critical role in engineering the software that controlled the Defense Satellite Communications System – known as the backbone of military communication at the time.
As technology evolved in the satellite field, Perciaccante remained at the forefront of the technical sector. She was a key player in testing and integrating the next generation of technology, which led to the Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS) system used today. WGS handles nearly three quarters of Department of War communications worldwide today.
Among Perciaccante’s most notable achievements is maintaining mission readiness when the mission’s infrastructure was moved twice: once from Ft. Monmouth to Aberdeen Proving Ground, and a second time from Aberdeen to Tobyhanna Army Depot. Her leadership and vision ensured no interruption of mission support while simultaneously ensuring the establishment of a world-class facility in the WIC. Under Perciaccante’s leadership, the WIC dramatically increased its testing capacity, growing to over 300 testing events each year. At the same time, personnel seamlessly integrated cyber capabilities, enhancing the security and reliability of the WGS.
In remarks during the ceremony, Col. Kilgore celebrated Perciaccante’s immense contributions to warfighter readiness, pledging that they will not be forgotten.
“Tania served this organization and our Army mission with distinction. As a Division Chief, she brought expertise, leadership, and a deep sense of responsibility to everything she touched. The memorial plaque unveiled today will stand as a permanent tribute to her service and leadership, ensuring her legacy remains part of this installation for generations to come.”
Jeremy Buratt, Chief of the Wideband Control Test Division, and Col. Kilgore unveiled a bronze plaque that will be mounted outside the WIC. It reads, “In memory of Tania Perciaccante for over 15 years of dedicated service to the Satellite Communications community.”
In remarks offered during the ceremony, Buratt said the plaque is a fitting tangible reminder of Tania’s legacy.
“From this day forward, Tania will forever be a part of the lab she worked so hard to create. She led with compassion, loyalty, consistency, and empathy and would take on the weight of the world to protect her employees,” said Buratt.
Product Office Director, Wideband Control, PdM Wideband Enterprise Satellite Systems, Mr. Issac Gusman Jr. echoed Buratt’s sentiments and said the people who attended the ceremony out of respect and admiration for her and her leadership are who will keep her tradition of excellence alive.
“Tania’s legacy is the people she cared for – she loved her family and friends and cared for and appreciated her team and the mission. In turn, her team cared about her and the mission as well. She made you feel special and cared about who you were – I encourage her team to continue her legacy.”
Tobyhanna Army Depot is designated as the Center of Industrial and Technical Excellence for Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (also known as C5ISR), electronics, avionics, and missile guidance and control. TYAD provides cradle-to-grave lifecycle support through depot-level repair, systems integration, software and cyber engineering, and field support. A key enabler of operational readiness for Joint and Allied Forces globally, TYAD leverages new and emerging technologies to further expand the Department of War’s organic capabilities for microelectronics, secure communications infrastructure, unmanned aerial systems, Joint All-Domain Command and Control, Integrated Air and Missile Defense, and the Army’s Next Generation Combat Systems. Tobyhanna’s ability to rapidly surge production, deploy field support teams, and scale for contingency or theater-level operations makes it a vital contributor to strategic readiness and operational reach.
---Public Affairs Specialist Nicolo Manzo provided additional reporting for this article.
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