TOBYHANNA, Pa. – Tactical Missile Branch Chief Don Gilchrist has once again been named Tobyhanna Army Depot’s (TYAD’s) Supervisor of the Quarter.
The recognition, awarded for the third quarter of Fiscal Year 2026, marks the second time Gilchrist has received the honor during his career. Gilchrist was first recognized for supervisory excellence in 2024.
Supervisor of the quarter honorees are nominated by subordinates, peers or their superiors; a panel of judges then assesses nominations based upon four criteria: accomplishment of duties; how effectively the nominee sets an example to others; efforts to improve local productivity; and how the nominee embodies the Army’s core values.
An Air Force veteran, Gilchrist carried on a proud family tradition by serving and working for the Air Force for 16 years. Over a decade ago, he transitioned to Army civilian service, bringing a wealth of technical expertise to depot operations. With over 34 years of total experience, he remains highly respected by peers and subordinates alike.
Gene Haikes, Chief of the Mission Execution Directorate’s Avionics & Sensors Division, penned the nomination packet for Gilchrist, lauding his dedication to duty and selfless service.
“Don's stellar conduct and professional presence serve as a powerful source of inspiration and motivation for his staff, peers, and fellow leaders across the depot. He is eager to step forward to help other people and takes complete accountability for his team's actions, no matter what consequences may arise from their work. Committed to progress, Don consistently guides and mentors various employees, helping them recognize and pursue pathways for professional advancement.”
Gilchrist’s mission-focused leadership also earned rave reviews from Haikes.
“During the quarter, Don achieved an exceptional 100% frozen performance to promise average for all branch projects, marking the highest rate in the division and exceeding the depot standard by 11%. Working closely with his dedicated team, he routinely completes highly complex and challenging taskers well ahead of scheduled deadlines. He remains actively engaged in vital mid-month progress reviews, providing critical oversight. Furthermore, Don provides the necessary resources and support for his personnel to explore innovative methodologies, empowering them to find better, safer, and more efficient ways to accomplish the Tobyhanna mission.”
For Gilchrist, a successful supervisor must do more than track numbers; they must build genuine human connections. When asked what receiving this second honor means to him, Gilchrist echoed the same core leadership tenets that have defined his career.
“It’s like TYAD Commander Rob Lantka says, and it’s right from the military - respect, trust, accountability – I expect that in my workers, and my workers should expect that in me. Accountability is very important – we all have a mission to do, and we owe it to the warfighter to deliver a top product,” he said.
TYAD is designated as the Center of Industrial and Technical Excellence for Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, 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.
TYAD’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.
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