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DISA PROCUREMENT EXECUTIVE TO RETIRE IN JUNE 2008

ARLINGTON, VA, Apr 3, 2008 – Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) Director Lt. Gen. Charles E. Croom Jr. announced today that the DISA Director for Procurement and Chief, Defense Information Technology Contracting Organization (DITCO), Evelyn M. DePalma, will retire from federal service on June 3, 2008.  DePalma also served as head of contracting activity (HCA) and agency source selection authority (SSA) for the past six years.

“Mrs DePalma truly believes in DISA's procurement mission of linking requirements to contractor solutions, keeping the warfighter first and foremost in mind. She is a faithful servant, tireless patriot and master of all she undertook over a long and very impressive career. She will be missed by all of her federal, Defense Department and DISA customers,” Croom said.

A native of Erie, Pa., DePalma graduated magna cum laude in 1975 from Mercyhurst College with a bachelor of arts in history, and in 1984, she earned a master’s degree in systems management from the University of Southern California, specializing in information systems.  She began working for the Defense Communications Agency (predecessor of DISA) on July 21, 1975, as a computer programmer for the World Wide Online System. 

During her career at DISA, she served in many positions for a variety of directorates to include program analyst for the Office of the Comptroller, program manager for the Global Combat Support System (GCSS), engineering manager for GCSS, principal deputy for engineering management, and resource manager for the Joint Electronic Commerce Program Office (JECPO).

Croom praised DePalma for her leadership as the DITCO business base grew from $2.2 billion in fiscal year 2002 to more than $4 billion in FY07 while at the same time reducing the DITCO fee by 38 percent, saving customers more than $44 million. 

“Mrs. DePalma made significant contributions to [the Defense Department].  Due to her leadership, the department is now using several eBusiness systems, the agency awarded a suite of contracts to support GIG Bandwidth Expansion and the department avoided spending more than $52 million in FYs 06 and 07,” said Croom

DePalma’s awards include the Secretary of Defense Award for Excellence and recognition as DISA’s 2000 Intern Mentor of the Year, and she is listed as a member in the National Register’s “Who’s Who in Executives & Professionals,” 2006-2007 edition.

The Defense Information Systems Agency is a Department of Defense combat support agency and provides real-time information technology (IT) and communications support to the president, vice president, secretary of defense, the military services, and the combatant commands. From its Arlington, Va., headquarters and through worldwide field activities, DISA offers IT services and capabilities that enable our nation’s military to accomplish their missions.

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