Tobyhanna Army Depot Recognizes Gilchrist as Supervisor of the Quarter

Tactical Missile Branch Chief Don Gilchrist has once again been recognized for his leadership at Tobyhanna Army Depot (TYAD), earning the installation’s Supervisor of the Quarter award for the third quarter of Fiscal Year 2026.

The honor marks the second time Gilchrist has received the recognition. He was first named Supervisor of the Quarter in 2024, highlighting his continued commitment to leadership and excellence throughout his career.

Supervisor of the Quarter nominees may be submitted by subordinates, peers or supervisors. A panel of judges evaluates each nomination based on four criteria: accomplishment of duties, effectiveness as an example to others, efforts to improve local productivity, and demonstration of the Army’s core values.

Gilchrist brings more than 34 years of professional experience to his role. An Air Force veteran, he spent 16 years serving and working for the Air Force before transitioning to Army civilian service more than a decade ago. Since joining the Army civilian workforce, he has applied his technical expertise to depot operations and earned the respect of colleagues and employees.

Gene Haikes, Chief of the Mission Execution Directorate’s Avionics & Sensors Division, submitted Gilchrist’s nomination and highlighted his commitment to his employees, the mission and professional development.

“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 performance during the quarter also contributed to his selection. According to Haikes, Gilchrist and his team maintained a strong record of completing projects efficiently while supporting continuous improvement across the branch.

“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, effective supervision extends beyond performance metrics. Building trust and accountability within a team is central to his leadership philosophy. Reflecting on receiving the award for a second time, he pointed to the principles that have guided him throughout 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.

Tobyhanna Army Depot 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. The depot provides cradle-to-grave lifecycle support through depot-level repair, systems integration, software and cyber engineering, and field support.

As a key contributor to operational readiness for joint and allied forces around the world, TYAD uses emerging technologies to expand the Department of War’s organic capabilities in areas including 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.

Through its ability to rapidly increase production, deploy field support teams and scale operations for contingency and theater-level missions, TYAD continues to play an important role in strengthening strategic readiness and operational reach.