CAMP DARBY, Italy — Recognizing a remarkable 40-year career, the 839th Transportation Battalion inducted Monica Simoncini as the first member of the 839th Distinguished Surface Warrior Lifetime Achievement Wall on July 16, 2026, at Camp Darby.
Simoncini retired from the 839th Transportation Battalion Headquarters in October 2024. She spent her entire professional life supporting the global deployment and distribution enterprise throughout Europe and Africa. She is one of many Italian, Greek and Turkish local national teammates within the 839th who faithfully serve for decades within the formation, ensuring readiness and expertise executing the U.S. Army Transportation Command (ARTRANS) mission to deliver joint combat power and sustainment where required.
Simoncini, who ultimately became the cargo control manager for the battalion in the 839th operations section, built her transportation expertise from the ground up. Throughout her career, she demonstrated a deep commitment to the mission of the organizations pre-dating ARTRANS, starting with the Military Traffic Management Command (MTMC) in 1985 and concluding her service under the Surface Deployment and Distribution Command (SDDC).
“Monica Simoncini is the epitome of an expert and a professional,” said Lt. Col. Aaron Hiatt, 839th Transportation Battalion commander. “Throughout her 40-year career, she ensured my predecessors fulfilled their mission and served as the continuity to a formation with a revolving cast of leadership. She served under 20 battalion commanders and built a reputation that has lived on beyond her retirement. Monica Simoncini is the emblematic giant that has enabled the 839th to achieve a history of great feats, all accomplished on the foundation for which she largely established and maintained.”
Beginning her government career in May 1985 as a clerk-typist in a Non-Appropriated Funds office supporting the Morale Support Activity, Simoncini quickly transitioned into a permanent role with the 1321st Medium Port Command, MTMC. Over the next four decades, she steadily advanced through multiple roles, taking immense pride in mentoring military personnel and participating in high-level planning for commanders and the combatant commands during both contingency and peacetime operations.
Her extensive operational knowledge made her an invaluable asset across multiple functional areas. She was part of a select group of strategic transportation specialists tasked with developing the Global Air Transportation Execution System (GATES). This multi-year effort required deep knowledge of port operations and adherence to established doctrine, involving extensive collaboration with system developers at SDDC Headquarters.
“I spent most of my life doing my job with pleasure and really enjoying what I do. You must do your job the best you can and that’s just the way it is.” Simoncini said. “I will always hold the memories from my job dear to my heart and remember all of the people I have met during my time with the SDDC.”
Throughout her career, Simoncini traveled the globe to support numerous named operations, missions, port openings and exercises, including Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm, Kosovo Force (KFOR) deployments, Exercise Bright Star in Egypt, and support to Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, along with countless others.
Simoncini was a remarkable asset and teammate within the 839th Transportation Battalion and is highly deserving of this recognition for her lifetime of achievements.
Social Sharing