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Army veteran and acclaimed poet visits Tobyhanna

Acclaimed spoken word poet Edward “Obbie West” Wilson visited Tobyhanna Army Depot (TYAD) on Wednesday, May 3, to speak about the importance of sexual assault awareness and prevention at TYAD’s “Not Just April” event.

Army veteran and former warrant officer Wilson, or Obbie West as he is known on stage, served as the keynote speaker at the event. West was born and raised in South Central Los Angeles. He was a witness to regular violence on the LA streets and grew up in an abusive household. Wilson enlisted in the U.S. Army at 17 and his military career spanned 21 years, including a deployment to Iraq. Before retiring in 2019, Wilson called four states and three countries home. Serving our Nation afforded Wilson the opportunity for, in his words, “vast growth.” He attributed this growth to the different people, beliefs, cultures, countries and more he was exposed to during his time in the military.

One particular instance of growth came when West was introduced to a craft that would afford him the opportunity to share his story with the world. In 2011, Wilson was introduced to poetry in Killeen, TX, through the Killeen Poetry Slam. Wilson found “his lung” in poetry – a passion that has seen him speak all over the world. Poetry gave Wilson a newfound outlet through which he could share his message. In 2017, Wilson decided to focus his poetry on a cause for which he is a major advocate – sexual assault awareness and prevention. Members of Team Tobyhanna may have seen Wilson’s work in this U.S. Army Sexual Harassment /Assault Response and Prevention (SHARP) video.

Employee Services Center (ESC) Chief Ricardo Horn said following a successful training centered around West’s SHARP video, members of ESC were keen to bring West to TYAD.

“Feedback from the training was so positive, this was something we were really excited to make happen.”

Each April, TYAD observes Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month (SAAPM) to reaffirm the commitment toward maintaining a safe and healthy working environment, in which all members of Team Tobyhanna can thrive.

The centerpiece of this year’s SAAPM observance was “Not Just April.” The event occurring outside of April was an intentional choice meant to serve as a reminder that sexual assault awareness and prevention is a cause that is to be championed all 12 months of the year.

In introducing West at the event, TYAD Chief of Staff Kristyn Smith reiterated Tobyhanna’s commitment to making this topic a yearlong discussion.

“Today’s presentation drives home the point that even though April has passed, SHARP is a topic that needs to be discussed all year long – not just April,” said Smith.

During the almost hour and a half presentation, West covered several topics including his own backstory and experiences with abuse, self-awareness, emotional intelligence, bystander intervention and leadership.

West detailed how we cannot control our emotions, but we can control the way we react to them, adding we must first recognize our internal emotions before we can recognize our external emotions. He noted that assault can happen to both genders and that the reaction should be the same.

West emphasized empathetic styles of leadership that seek to understand and empower survivors of sexual harassment or assault, saying “the absence of understanding breeds callousness.” He also spoke at length about bystander intervention. According to West, intervention is a process that cannot simply be boiled down to an order, but instead requires education and empowerment to prevent the “armed robbery of someone’s rights.”

For the many people in attendance, different aspects of the dynamic presentation resonated with them.

Representatives from the United States Army Communications-Electronics Command (CECOM) SHARP Fusion Directorate visited TYAD for the presentation and were thrilled with it.

“The presentation was awesome. It was great to hear how he incorporated personal experiences into bystander intervention and continuum of harm. It tied back into the 2023 SAAPM theme of ‘Intervene, we are a team: There is an US in trust. Can they trust in you?’,” said members of the directorate.

The presentation was received very well by several members of the audience, including Mike Sherin, Chief, Air Defense and Counter Fire Engineering Branch, Production Engineering Directorate and Paul Borosky, Director, Systems Integration and Support.

Sherin said, “I loved the presentation; it was very informative and will stick with me.”

Borosky said, “It was extremely moving to hear Obbie share his personal experiences. His poetic performance helped deliver the message in a more impactful way.”

Ricardo Horn, who was instrumental in getting West to TYAD, lauded West’s presentation and said it was the perfect way to put a bow on TYAD’s 2023 SAAPM events.

“Mr. West’s art compels us to reflect on our commitment to preventing sexual harassment and assault. His message is inspiring and challenges the audience to acknowledge personal biases that may interfere with bystander intervention. It is a privilege to have him wrap up Tobyhanna’s Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month with such a poignant experience, knowing his words will have a lasting influence in our community’s prevention efforts.”

After the presentation, Depot Commander Colonel Daniel L. Horn and Deputy Commander Rob Lantka presented West with a plaque as a token of gratitude for his presentation.

In presenting the award, Lantka read a portion of the inscription on the plaque, thanking West “for his unfiltered, thought-provoking presentation and commitment to the SHARP program.”

Col. Horn echoed the positive sentiments of many members of Team Tobyhanna and called on everyone to combat sexual violence.

“The presentation was astounding. We all must do more to combat sexual harassment and assault in the workplace and in the world.”

The Obbie West presentation and the SHARP program are TOBY2035 initiatives aligned with the Invest in Our People and Shape the Future lines of effort. The plan, which has two additional focus areas, strives to position Tobyhanna for success in the coming years as the Department of Defense’s premier worldwide C5ISR readiness provider.

Tobyhanna Army Depot is a recognized leader in providing world-class logistics support for command, control, communications, computers, cyber, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (C5ISR) systems across the Department of Defense. Tobyhanna’s Corporate Philosophy, dedicated work force and electronics expertise ensure the depot is the Joint C5ISR provider of choice for all branches of the Armed Forces and industry partners.

Tobyhanna’s unparalleled capabilities include full-spectrum logistics support for sustainment, overhaul and repair, fabrication and manufacturing, engineering design and development, systems integration, post production software support, technology insertion, modification, foreign military sales and global field support to our joint warfighters.

About 3,100 personnel are employed at Tobyhanna, located in the Pocono Mountains of northeastern Pennsylvania. Tobyhanna Army Depot is part of the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command. Headquartered at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, the command’s mission is to empower the Soldier with winning C5ISR capabilities.

Tobyhanna Army Depot Celebrates Arrival of Navy Transporter

Personnel at Tobyhanna Army Depot marked the expansion of the AN/APX-123 common transponder workload with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on May 2.

An airborne identification friend or foe (IFF) system, the APX-123 is used in several branches of the U.S. Armed Forces. IFF systems are commonly used for command and control operations, utilizing a transponder to positively identify friendly aircraft. Thousands of aircraft fly with the APX-123. While Tobyhanna has had a robust APX-123 program for the U.S. Army, the ribbon-cutting denotes the beginning of depot support for the U.S. Navy’s version of the asset.

Depot Commander Col. Daniel L. Horn presided over the ceremony, which was also attended by depot senior leadership, personnel from Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Naval Supply Systems Weapons Systems Support – Philadelphia, representatives from BAE Systems, and members of the depot workforce who support the project.

In his remarks at the event, Horn praised Tobyhanna’s cooperative efforts across the joint services.

“Today is a great opportunity to celebrate another collaboration with the U.S. Navy. Team Tobyhanna is proud of its enduring support to America’s warfighters,” he said.

Electronics Mechanic Supervisor Frederick Granoski leads the C4ISR Directorate’s Transponders Branch; his team will execute both a repair and test/inspect programs for the APX-123. Granoski said he is excited about the possibilities ahead.

“The APX-123 represents a significant growth for our mission, allowing us to support more of this critical asset.”

Jason Kilmer agreed.

“Not only is our workload increasing, we are also increasing our capabilities by conducting more comprehensive testing on this important equipment,” he noted. Kilmer is an electronics mechanic leader in the Transponders Branch.

Representatives from the Navy are also very excited about the new collaboration, said Capt. David Neall.

“My team and I are thrilled; we’ve been working on this project for several years and it is great to reach the finish line.” Neall serves as the Deputy Program Manager for Combat Identification Systems.

Tobyhanna is slated to repair several hundred assets for the U.S. Navy APX-123 program through at least 2030.

The acquisition of new workload such as the APX-123 is directly aligned with Tobyhanna’s long-range strategic plan, TOBY2035. The plan, which focuses on posturing the depot to be competitive in the future, has lines of effort dedicated to expanding Tobyhanna’s portfolio through securing new workload and connecting with the community. The APX-123 represents growth for the depot’s expansive support of Naval weapons systems.

Tobyhanna Army Depot is a recognized leader in providing world-class logistics support for command, control, communications, computers, cyber, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C5ISR) systems across the Department of Defense. Tobyhanna’s Corporate Philosophy, dedicated work force and electronics expertise ensure the depot is the Joint C5ISR provider of choice for all branches of the Armed Forces and industry partners.

About 3,100 personnel are employed at Tobyhanna, which is located in the Pocono Mountains of northeastern Pennsylvania. Tobyhanna Army Depot is part of the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command. Headquartered at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, the command’s mission is to empower the Soldier with winning C5ISR capabilities.

Tobyhanna Honors Leader with Supervisor of the Quarter Award

Tobyhanna Army Depot’s newest Supervisor of the Quarter was named last week at the organization’s quarterly leadership meeting.

Edward Bentler received the accolade for his leadership of the Installation Services Directorate’s Roads & Grounds Branch during the first quarter of 2023. The branch has a vast mission, shouldering responsibility for snow removal, wastewater treatment, potable water, masonry, roofing, locksmithery, grass cutting, maintenance of cargo door equipment, and emergency repairs to critical underground utilities such as water mains and sewer lines.

Supervisors of the Quarter are selected by a panel of judges based upon four criteria: accomplishment of their duties; how effectively they set an example to others; efforts to improve the depot productivity; and how they display selfless service in accordance with Army values.

Bentler was nominated for the award by William Ramey, Director of Installation Services.

“Ed leads from the front, takes on the most challenging tasks, and does so with the utmost level of professionalism,” Ramey said. “Without Ed’s leadership, the most basic utilities on our installation would not work as efficiently as they do. He is a servant leader that puts the needs of his team and the installation before his own.”

The formal recognition and associated praise came as a total shock, according to Bentler.

“Being named as Supervisor of the Quarter was totally unexpected – I didn’t even know I was in the running! I am grateful and humbled to even be considered for this honor,” adding that he wishes the award could be shared.

“Any success I have had is because of my team,” he said. “We are a small team and everything we achieve, we achieve together.”

A native of Northeastern Pennsylvania, Bentler is no stranger to servant leadership. He served in the U.S. Air Force for six years on active duty. Bentler then remained in the Air Force Reserve for another fourteen years, deploying to Southwest Asia for the third time in 2009 – an assignment that saw Bentler missing the birth of his second child.

Since joining Team Tobyhanna, Bentler has worked as a maintenance worker, locksmith, and mason in the Roads & Grounds Branch as well as an engineering technician elsewhere in Installation Services. He sought out the leadership role in his former branch to make a difference for his teammates.

“When I decided to pursue this position, I did it because I wanted to grow the team and heighten visibility of their impact on Tobyhanna’s mission. Having worked there myself, I knew how important it was to help them understand that they are worth more than they think,” he noted.

Describing himself as a “people-first leader,” Bentler emphasized the need for supervisors to act as part of the team.

“Work alongside your team – not ‘over’ them. Train them to be empowered, share as much information with them as you can, and, most important, be accountable. Acknowledge your mistakes so they feel comfortable doing the same.”

While he has appreciated the opportunity for recognition, Bentler said it pales in comparison to seeing his team succeed.

“There’s nothing better than seeing the team celebrate when they complete a task they didn’t think they could do. I am proud to be their leader.”

The Supervisor of the Quarter award – and its companion Employee of the Quarter awards – are TOBY2035 initiatives aligned with the Invest in Our People line of effort. The plan, which has three additional focus areas, strives to position Tobyhanna for success in the coming years as the Department of Defense’s premier worldwide C5ISR readiness provider.

Tobyhanna Army Depot Orientation Event

Tobyhanna Army Depot (TYAD) hosted local and Pennsylvania state elected officials for an Elected Officials Day orientation event. Attendees had the opportunity to tour the 1,336 acres of mission area that make up TYAD’s world class facilities – employing about 3,100 of their constituents. The purpose of the visit was to allow local leaders the opportunity to see everything TYAD does in support of our Nation’s warfighters so that they may advocate in favor of the depot – and national defense funding – in the future.

While brief, the event provided elected officials with a comprehensive overview of the depot as well as a tour of the organization’s modernized facilities. Tour highlights included the depot’s Engineering Analysis and Solutions lab – home to the burgeoning microelectronics mission – and the 25,000 square foot Wideband Integration Center – a critical satellite support mission that brought nearly 50 new technology jobs to the region. Officials also learned about the depot’s growing cybersecurity mission and the opportunities it provides for job seekers.

Depot Commander Colonel Daniel L. Horn noted that events like Elected Officials Day are essential to both building and maintaining strong relationships with the community surrounding TYAD.

“I want to thank every individual who was able to attend and make today’s event such a success,” said Horn. “Ensuring strong relations with our local and state elected officials allows TYAD to remain top-of-mind when it comes to gaining work in areas where we can be of support.”

Depot Chief of Staff Kristyn Smith echoed Colonel. Horn’s sentiment, say she believes hosting events such as Elected Officials Day directly aligns with the Connecting with the Community sub-effort of Tobyhanna’s long-range strategic plan, TOBY2035.

“We believe it is important for Pennsylvania local and state elected officials to come to TYAD so that they have the opportunity to see not only the multi-billion dollar annual economic impact the depot has on the region, but also how we are striving to provide meaningful employment to members of their community,” said Smith. “We are grateful for their continued support of Tobyhanna Army Depot.”

Among the attendees were representatives from the Northeastern Pennsylvania (NEPA) Alliance, who have a longstanding relationship with TYAD. Their President and CEO Jeffrey Box emphasized the organization’s commitment to working with TYAD for years to come.

“We want to make sure this fine installation remains effective with the economic impact and number of jobs it brings to northeastern Pennsylvania,” said Box. “We are proud to continue having an enduring relationship with TYAD.”

Monroe County Commissioner Sharon Laverdure said she was impressed by TYAD’s worldclass facilities and was grateful for the opportunity to see the work the depot does to support the warfighter on a daily basis.

“The tour around the depot was amazing,” said Laverdure. “To see the work [Tobyhanna Army Depot] does for security and safety across the United States was incredible and it is right here in Monroe County. It is important that people understand the value of what is done here.”

Elected Officials Day and other community visits align with Tobyhanna’s long-range strategic plan, TOBY2035 – specifically the Strategic Communications line of effort which features a Connecting with the Community sub-effort. The plan aims to posture the depot for success in the coming years as the Department of Defense’s premier worldwide C5ISR readiness provider.

Tobyhanna Army Depot is a recognized leader in providing world-class logistics support for command, control, communications, computers, cyber, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C5ISR) systems across the Department of Defense. Tobyhanna’s Corporate Philosophy, dedicated work force and electronics expertise ensure the depot is the Joint C5ISR provider of choice for all branches of the Armed Forces and industry partners.

Tobyhanna Army Depot Collaborating with U.S. Army Information Systems

Employees at Tobyhanna Army Depot are leading the charge to connect warfighters in the field with their leadership back at home.

The depot is now collaborating with the U.S. Army Information Systems Engineering Command to lead the Mission Command Facility (MCF) workload across the Department of Defense.

The MCF effort is an offshoot of the Home Station Mission Command Center effort, which established and modernized joint operations mission centers around the world. Similar to a situation room, the facilities are outfitted with high-end teleconferencing equipment such as projectors, video monitors, microphones, and speakers for real-time communication, visibility and decision-making.

Taking over the mission represents a classic opportunity to meet a customer need and own a niche market, according to Robert Hagenbaugh.

“Although the formal HSMCC program concluded, units across the world were eager to get their own command centers to increase communication,” he said. “Tobyhanna quickly stood up our own program to fill a gap in the market, and we have a heavy demand for these state-of-the-art installations.” Hagenbaugh is an engineering technician in the Production Engineering Directorate.

Tobyhanna’s initial support for HSMCCs provided electricians and equipment installers. The quality product provided by those teams led to an expanded scope of work, which included custom cabinetry, wood fabrication, networking support, wireless installation, and full-spectrum engineering support – all of which has endured through the new MCF program.

Hagenbaugh noted positive word of mouth was a big driver in the workload’s expansion.

“Our customers love us. I’m proud to say we have never left a job with an unhappy customer. That level of work speaks for itself – and every happy customer leads to another opportunity for this workload.”

A MCF mission begins with a site survey, where engineering personnel develop exact customer needs. Personnel then develop the installation proposal, acquire equipment once the proposal is approved and assemble the installation team. To accomplish this broad scope of work, the MCF program requires support from a cross-functional group of employees across the depot. Mission teams include employees from a variety of Tobyhanna organizations, to include C4ISR, Production Engineering and Systems Integration and Support. The teams also have support back on-post at Tobyhanna from Production Management and other mission support organizations.

MCF installations are part of a bigger push across the services to modernize facilities and increase communication stability.

“The Army now operates in a multi-domain battlefield. The MCF updates/ installations gives joint Commanders the latest technologies to monitor and execute missions real-time, every single day,” said Hagenbaugh.

Because of the high demand for the MCFs and the complex nature of the mission, volunteers are always needed, said Engineering Technician Patrick Mullen.

“We are always looking for members of Team Tobyhanna willing to travel the world in support of this dynamic workload – specifically those with audio-visual, telecommunications, or information technology backgrounds. Desirable certifications and/or trainings include those from Avixa, BICSI, and Crestron. We welcome all qualified members of Team Tobyhanna who want to be a part of the MCF mission team!”

Ronald Kolment, Chief of the SATCOM Integration and Testing Engineering Branch, lauded the entire team that supported the MCF workload.

“This is a great team, and I’m very proud of the work that they do.”

Upcoming MCF missions will take place in Alaska, Florida, Hawaii, Japan, Korea, and Texas. Current depot employees interested in volunteering for an MCF mission should contact the MCF Coordinator at (570) 615-8087.

MCFs are a critical part of warfighter readiness, and the mission directly aligns with Tobyhanna’s long-range strategic plan, TOBY2035, which has four focus areas: Investing in Our People, C5ISR Readiness, Shape the Future and Strategic Communications. TOBY2035 aims to posture the depot for success in the coming years as the Department of Defense’s premier worldwide C5ISR readiness provider.

Tobyhanna Army Depot is a recognized leader in providing world-class logistics support for command, control, communications, computers, cyber, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C5ISR) systems across the Department of Defense. Tobyhanna’s Corporate Philosophy, dedicated work force and electronics expertise ensure the depot is the Joint C5ISR provider of choice for all branches of the Armed Forces and industry partners.

Tobyhanna Army Depot Takes on Mission

When it comes to making a world class business operate efficiently, good teamwork is essential. Never has this been truer than when talking about one of Tobyhanna Army Depot’s newest workloads — installation kits for the Stryker Brigade Combat Team, or SBCT.

The SBCT is a mechanized infantry force structured around the Stryker, a family of eight-wheeled armored fighting vehicles equipped with both four and all-wheel drive. SBCTs serve as a stopgap measure between the U.S. Army’s light mobile infantry units and heavier armored units.

Tobyhanna’s support of the SBCT installation kits is the epitome of a cross-functional effort. The work spans multiple different teams across the depot to ensure its completion.

Hands-on work is expertly handled by artisans in the Systems Integration and Support Directorate, who fabricate cables and bracketry. Logistics support for the kitting effort and project management skills are provided by the Production Management Directorate, while engineering support comes from the Production Engineering Directorate.

A short turnaround window makes the diverse mission even more complex. While the dynamic mission was certainly a challenge, Team Tobyhanna was ready, willing, and able to take it on.

Before even beginning to work on certain components to Stryker, depot artisans were required to obtain numerous unique certifications. There were also challenges working with new metals and crafting cables compatible with the Stryker system. Depending on the vehicle type and the role it is serving, there are up to 18 different Stryker installation kits that can be configured. Despite these many hurdles, the team behind the project has managed to reduce turnaround time by approximately 50%.

Electronics Technician Blake Small is one piece of this large puzzle. He said that even though the team knew it was a challenge, he was confident in their ability to complete whatever was thrown at them.

“The workload presented to us at Tobyhanna to support the Second Cavalry Regiment Stryker integration effort was no easy task. Thankfully, we have a diverse and knowledgeable workforce willing to accept the challenge and execute beyond our customer’s expectations,” said Small. “The SBCT was tremendously impressed with the quality and workmanship of the products Tobyhanna delivered. They even commented on the preservation of product and how components were packaged to mitigate damage through shipping.” Small works in the Production Engineering Directorate’s Communications Engineering Branch.

Small added that the quality of Team Tobyhanna’s effort plays a big part in the successful completion of the work.

“This was truly a great team effort. Starting with leadership addressing concerns and adjusting focus where needed which, in turn, conveyed down to the skilled laborers taking each task head on,” said Small. “It goes to show, Team Tobyhanna can achieve great tasks when challenged.”

Jesse Tutino, chief of the Systems Integration and Support Directorate’s Preproduction & Development Branch agreed.

“We all collaborated and cooperated to overcome a monumental challenge to deliver quality cables for the SBCT kits on time. We pooled our resources to work through some difficult situations, showing our resilience and ability to adapt in the face of adversity. I am proud to be a part of this team.”

Support for the SBCT installation kits is directly aligned with Tobyhanna’s long-range strategic plan, TOBY2035 — specifically the C5ISR Readiness line of effort. Additional focus areas for the plan include investing in our people, shaping the future and strategic communications. TOBY2035 aims to posture the depot for success in the coming years as the Department of Defense’s premier worldwide C5ISR readiness provider.

Tobyhanna’s unparalleled capabilities include full-spectrum logistics support for sustainment, overhaul and repair, fabrication and manufacturing, engineering design and development, systems integration, post-production software support, technology insertion, modification, foreign military sales and global field support to our joint warfighters.

Tobyhanna Army Depot Shines Spotlight on Employee Hobbies

For anyone who steps foot inside Tobyhanna Army Depot’s (TYAD’s) gates, or is familiar with the work done here, it is easy to see that Team Tobyhanna’s passion for supporting our Nation’s warfighters is the driving force of the depot. What may not be as apparent is the vast array of hobbies our workforce is passionate about in their free time. These various interests further bolster the ideal of a workforce diverse in talents, skills, and passions.

In observance of National Hobby Month, get to know members of Team Tobyhanna who have interesting hobbies.

Supply Technician Johnathan Ives and his fellow team members meticulously ensure the proper functioning and application of tactical radio to keep our Nation’s warfighters safe. In his free time, Ives enjoys a hobby which also requires meticulous attention to detail – miniature painting.

He describes miniature painting, along with blacksmithing, as a pandemic passion.

“The miniature painting I’ve always been really curious about. I didn’t really start getting into it until about roughly around the pandemic… when you (had) more time at home,” said Ives.

The figures and game board pictured can be used to play battle games like Marvel Crisis Protocol, but Ives said he is more into the painting/assembling side of the hobby rather than the gameplay. The figures all come attached to a plastic sprue. Ives then assembles the figures and paints them to parade standard, meaning he doesn’t stop at just putting a few colors on the figures, but instead also adds highlighting, weathering, and layering to the pieces he paints.

“The weathering – special effects, if you will – are the most fun on the model because I feel like it brings the model to life and tells a story,” said Ives. “I like to try to tell a story of what the characters do or where they’re at.”

In addition to all the figures he’s painted, Ives is particularly proud of his game board. Several players just roll out a mat to play, but Ives created his game board, which allowed him to put his own creative spin on it by adding things like Stephen King references.

Ives said the work/life balance at TYAD allows him to pursue his passion and makes him better served to support TYAD’s mission.

“I feel like a lot of your creativity, what you do outside of work, can really reflect on what you do here at work. I feel like I come into work every day, and I have a purpose to help the warfighter – someone who is helping us at the same time.”

Management Assistant Casey Stevens’ hobby is a family affair. The entire Stevens clan – including Stevens, her twin sons, husband, siblings, parents (including father, Bill, a depot retiree), cousins, and nieces – enjoys traveling together to Walt Disney World (WDW) in Florida.

The family’s first trip took place when Stevens and her two siblings were children, after many years of enjoying all things Disney right here in Northeastern Pennsylvania.

“We took many trips to Montage Video to rent films like The Parent Trap and Pollyanna, so getting to finally visit this magical place felt like a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” Stevens explained, adding that the vacation was “classic Griswold, complete with an excruciatingly long road trip.”

The family made a return trip to WDW when Stevens’ niece and nephew were born, taking in all that a Disney holiday event had to offer. After that, the entire family was hooked – especially Casey.

“I was taken by the feeling you have when you walk onto the property. It’s just a sense of happiness, especially in the Magic Kingdom. I’ve been to Disney five times in the past ten years, and I even honeymooned there!”

According to Stevens, the Disney brand has permeated other parts of her life as well.

“We have an all-Disney Christmas tree that goes up in our basement, the kids’ birthdays are Disney-themed, we love going to Disney on Ice, and each year, my twins dress up as Disney characters for Halloween,” noting that she often makes their costumes herself – such as last year’s homemade Rocket and Groot costumes depicting characters from Guardians of the Galaxy. The family also has a weekly movie night where they enjoy Disney films together.

Stevens says the collective hobby is all about family bonding across generations.

“Our trips are a great opportunity for us all to spend time together. I am so thankful my children can make these memories with my parents and their cousins – and I get to as well!”

Christopher D’Amico from the Production Engineering Directorate has a unique hobby inspired by his occupation: the cybersecurity specialist collects Tobyhanna Army Depot memorabilia.

He says the hobby was inspired by a lifelong interest in local history.

“I grew up in Gouldsboro and drove by the depot along Tobyhanna Road frequently. I always wondered what went on behind the gates, and, when I joined Team Tobyhanna in 2010, I became even more interested how our organization and mission has evolved over 100-plus years.”

Since then, D’Amico has amassed an impressive collection of depot relics, dating back to the earliest days of the Army’s presence in Northeastern Pennsylvania. The assortment includes hundreds of photos depicting construction of the buildings now part of Tobyhanna Army Depot; handwritten estimates for excavation of depot property; dozens of challenge coins; pins; postcards; patches; and a swath of newspaper clippings spanning decades.

The collection has become popular across the depot and continues to grow, according to D’Amico.

“I source a lot of items from eBay. You would be surprised how many Tobyhanna related items are out there,” he said. “Generous co-workers have also donated items since they know I enjoy them,” adding that he’s still searching for a special something to round out the collection.

“Because I also collect Zippo lighters, my holy grail item would be a Tobyhanna-branded Zippo – merging the two things I enjoy collecting.”

Perhaps the most treasured item among D’Amico’s collection is a newspaper clipping outlining how a crane operator crushed a car during the early days of depot construction, only to find out later it was the crane operator’s own car.

“I just appreciate the humor in it,” he said.

TYAD’s long-range strategic plan, TOBY2035, strives to position Tobyhanna for success in the coming years as the Department of Defense’s premier worldwide C5ISR readiness provider. The plan has four focus areas: C5ISR Readiness, Invest In Our People, Shape the Future, and Strategic Communications.

Tobyhanna Army Depot is a recognized leader in providing world-class logistics support for command, control, communications, computers, cyber, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C5ISR) systems across the Department of Defense. Tobyhanna’s Corporate Philosophy, dedicated work force and electronics expertise ensure the depot is the Joint C5ISR provider of choice for all branches of the Armed Forces and industry partners.

Tobyhanna Army Depot Recognizes Employee of the Quarter

Tobyhanna Army Depot (TYAD) employs nearly 3,500 of northeastern Pennsylvania’s best and brightest individuals, so choosing just two employees to be honored as Employee of the Quarter (EOQ) is no easy task. Although there are many great candidates that help our world class business run daily, this quarter Donna Derenick of the C4ISR Directorate and Olivia Corum of the Production Management Directorate have been selected as the junior and senior honorees respectively.

Derenick began her career at TYAD nearly 13 years ago and takes pride in her current role as a Secretary within the C4ISR Sensors Division. She is responsible for keeping time, the management of branch and division tasks, calendar meetings and appointments for employees and consistently provides proper coverage, communications, and successful on-time completion of all division deadlines.

Derenick has never been one to back away from a new challenge or opportunity to support her team. During her tenure at TYAD, she has completed multiple different developmental assignments, most recently having spent 120 days in the Resource Management Directorate’s Financial Analysis Division. In addition to her duties as secretary. Derenick also currently serves as her division’s safety star point. Recently, she ensured periodic safety briefings were communicated and documented for audit compliance and also inspected/updated all division safety requirements, leading to zero-findings on the division’s recent ISO 45001 internal audit.

Chief of the C4ISR Sensors Division Russell Wright said Derenick is always there whenever the team needs a hand.

“She is always willing and able to take on new responsibilities to help others, backfill critical roles as needed and always goes an extra step in supporting the mission,” said Wright. “Whether she’s providing training, volunteering for the Combined Federal Campaign or sitting in wherever help is needed, she is a true team player.”

Although there are many things, she enjoys about her job at TYAD, at the end of the day, she just loves helping others.

“There are many people that come together to make the depot operate. It isn’t up to one person to make the business run so I like to help out wherever I can so that others can do their work to the best of their ability,” said Derenick. “I like to do the best job that I could do so that it helps everybody in the long run. I just really enjoy helping others.”

Derenick said she was pleasantly surprised to learn of her selection as EoQ.

“I know there’s so many deserving people across the depot, so I feel very grateful and honored to have been selected and I hope more people continue to be recognized,” said Derenick. “At the end of the day it’s a nice feeling to be appreciated and recognized just for doing something I enjoy.”

Corum joined Team Tobyhanna five years ago and currently is part of one of TYAD’s newest organizations, the Business Intelligence Team. Among her responsibilities is helping the team develop new visual tools that supervisors can use to see how their shops are performing in easily digestible ways. She also helps to maintain existing business intelligence tools currently used on the depot.

Corum’s work has proven to be of tremendous benefit to depot operations. She recently served as project manager and designer of TYAD’s Command Dashboard, an analytical dashboard that monitors the health and productivity of the organization. Her experience and effort have led to significant cost savings and is projected to result in even more savings over time. She has also served as co-creator and a trainer on multiple different performance dashboards in use across TYAD, all with the goal of providing the right data at the right time in the right format so managers and users can make well-informed, actionable decisions.

Chief of the Business Intelligence Team Matthew Raup said that Corum’s tremendous work ethic and selfless service make her not only a great asset to his team, but to TYAD as a whole.

“Ms. Corum executes the duties of her position description thoroughly and effectively, yet still finds time both on and, voluntarily, off duty to assist, build, and enhance multiple Tobyhanna Data Analytics tools,” said Raup. “She is an entirely approachable and endlessly helpful member of the Tobyhanna Team and always makes herself available to assist and share her expertise with anyone who asks.”

Corum said her favorite part about working with the Business Intelligence Team is the opportunities to creatively come to new solutions when it comes to supporting our Nation’s Warfighters.

“It is very exciting to see how the things we do impact the Warfighter on a regular basis. If you look at project management for example, we can see how the tools that we’ve created are allowing users to manage projects more efficiently, which means we have the opportunity to get workload out the door faster and onto the battlefield where they’re needed most,” said Corum. “Having opportunities to be creative when it comes to finding ways to visually see results and make an impact is very rewarding.”

Like Derenick, Corum said that she was surprised to learn of her selection and feels honored to have been chosen amongst a large workforce.

“It feels great to be recognized for what you’re working on especially when it is something you enjoy doing,” said Corum. “Although I certainly didn’t expect an award, it is very nice to see that people across the depot notice each other’s hard work.”

The Employee of the Quarter awards and other employee recognition programs align with Tobyhanna’s long-range strategic plan, TOBY2035 – specifically the Investing In Our People line of effort. The plan aims to posture the depot for success in the coming years as the Department of Defense’s premier worldwide C5ISR readiness provider.

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