In keeping with the Division of the Navy, The Navy Meritorious Civilian Service award is the third highest medal a civilian can obtain and it’s given to those that present “excessive worth contributions having far reaching, command-wide influence on the Directorate, Program Govt Workplace (PEO), or Echelon 3 Command Stage”. This award must be accepted by a one-star Commander PEO, Directorate, Echelon 3 Command or greater.
“Ms. Checchio has pushed the DDG 51 electrical design by a number of upgrades throughout her profession, together with her capstone accomplishment being the brand new Flight III electrical plant on DDG 125. Given the huge variety of Destroyers delivered to the fleet, every of which with a 40-year service life, there are actually 1000’s of sailors that may profit from Ms. Checchio’s efforts to make sure the DDG 51 Electrical Plant is protected and dependable,” Naval Sea Methods Flight (FLT) III Improve Supervisor PMS 400D Michael Dugan stated in reflecting of Checchio’s achievements for the Navy.
“In recognition of her excellent profession accomplishments, it was my pleasure to current her with the Meritorious Civilian Service Award, signed by Rear Admiral Tom Anderson,” he added.
In 1983, Checchio’s profession started on the Naval Ship Methods Engineering Station (NAVSESS), presently recognized at NSWCPD, as a co-op within the Particular Frequency part. After graduating from Drexel College with a Bachelor’s diploma in electrical engineering, she returned to NSWCPD to work within the space {of electrical} energy technology and distribution. In 1987, she grew to become an in-service engineer on the Land Primarily based Engineering Website (LBES). She oversaw {the electrical} development, integration, and testing of the DDG-51 Class mills, auxiliaries, and software program on the LBES.
In the course of the late Nineteen Eighties, the Navy launched a brand new and improved Equipment Management System (MCS) that might be used over a digital community referred to as the Information Multiplex System (DMS) to regulate the electrical plant, major propulsion and injury management. The LBES staff supplied coaching designed across the DMS and MCS, in addition to electrical plant familiarization, to make sure the Sailors had been educated earlier than they went to the fleet.
Later, by her expertise with a wide range of dwell hearth and survivability tasks, she gained an understanding of varied weapons results on the DDG-51 Class ships. This led to Checchio and the staff to create new electrical plant survivability briefs with a concentrate on optimum plant configurations for battle situations and electrical plant casualty restoration put up injury eventualities.
On Aug. 9, 2022, Checchio gained the AEGIS Excellence award for her efficiency within the FLT III program. Because the Lead Electrical Engineer for the DDG 51, Checchio started engaged on the FLT III ship’s design idea in 2011 till the ship’s approval in 2015. Checchio was additionally accountable for vendor oversight and integration of the FLT III Hull Mechanical and Electrical (HM&E) techniques. She held an integral function to implement vital coaching for the primary FLT III Arleigh Burke Class Guided Missile Destroyer, USS Jack H Lucas (DDG 125).
Checchio is ready to retire from the Navy on Feb. 28, 2023. Her efforts have positively impacted Sailors. Though it is a bittersweet second for her, she appears to be like ahead to extra time together with her household and to journey for enjoyable.
“It’s an honor to obtain such a prestigious award and I’m so very humbled. In mild of my upcoming retirement, I’m deeply grateful to be acknowledged by the Program Govt Officer, Ships, for my dedication to the Navy and to the Arleigh Burke Class Destroyers,” Checchio stated. “I’m so proud to have spent nearly all of my years of service engaged on the DDG 51 Class Shipbuilding Program. Extra so, it’s been a privilege to work with a exceptional, proficient and dedicated staff at NSWCPD, SEA 05, SupShips and PMS 400D. Collectively we completed a lot in such a short while.”
“Whereas working with Toni as her supervisor for twenty-four years she has demonstrated dedication, innovation, and has expertly carried out her duties that positively impacted the Land Primarily based Engineering Website, DDG 51 Class Ships, and the U.S. Navy,” Floor Built-in Energy System & Superior Energy Methods Department Head Pete Tahopoulos stated in discussing of Checchio’s influence to the Navy.
“She applied extraordinary processes that elevated the effectivity of our staff by her excellent management. She selflessly supplied her immense data {of electrical} engineering to junior workers to make sure the NSWCPD imaginative and prescient is met: To form the Navy’s future by constantly increasing the Warfighter’s benefit,” he continued.
NSWCPD employs roughly 2,800 civilian engineers, scientists, technicians, and assist personnel. The NSWCPD staff does the analysis and growth, take a look at and analysis, acquisition assist, and in-service and logistics engineering for the non-nuclear equipment, ship equipment techniques, and associated gear and materials for Navy floor ships and submarines. NSWCPD can be the lead group offering cybersecurity for all ship techniques.
