Every August, military and civilian employees below the rank of General Officer and Senior Executive Service in the Army Materiel Command are nominated for a prestigious award named in honor of Louis Dellamonica, the Department of Defense’s oldest and longest serving employee when he retired in 2007 at the age of 94, after 65 years of service.

Two summers ago, the Army Materiel Command tapped an engineer from the U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command’s communications-electronics center, or CERDEC, for a Louis Dellamonica Award.

“I am deeply honored and very appreciative of receiving this recognition,” said Moses Kpakpo Mingle. As of this year, I’ve done 14 years of service. I don’t know how Mr. Dellamonica did 65 years, but that’s pretty impressive to me.”

Moses K. Mingle, a branch chief for the Electronic Warfare Systems Ground Branch in CERDEC’s Intelligence & Information Warfare Directorate, was awarded for his work in the design, development, testing, evaluation, fielding and support of radio frequency countermeasure sensors and systems used throughout the world to defeat improvised explosive devices, or IEDs.

“Moses Mingle distinguished himself by providing outstanding leadership and performance. His efforts have significantly improved organizational awareness, education, and understanding of diversity and leadership initiatives and programs by providing direction and motivation while accomplishing the mission,” said Jill Smith, CERDEC director.

In his role as the chief engineer in the Intelligence and Information Warfare Directorate or I2WD, Mingle led a team of 15 engineers and scientists in maintaining fielded Counter Radio Controlled Improvised Explosive Device Electronic Warfare – CREW – systems against a constantly changing and expanding set of threats.

Mingle and his team are credited with enhancing the performance and reliability of CREW systems and have saved the Army over $150 million in total life cycle ownership costs.

I2WD is the center for research and development of advanced cyber operations, electronic warfare, signals intelligence technologies, radar, and intelligence analysis, exploitation, and dissemination capabilities.

“Mr. Mingle is a dedicated engineer, leader, mentor and manager who sincerely cares about the well-being and growth of his staff, as well as, those around him. He takes pride in what comes from their efforts and contributions, as they help to save lives,” said Ralph Troisio, I2WD Electronic Warfare Air/Ground Survivability division chief, in his nomination of Mingle.

Mingle has received many commendations throughout his career, including the 2012 C4ISR Top Ten People of the Year Award, 2012 Superior Civilian Service Award, 2006 Department of the Army Research and Development Achievement Award for Technical Excellence and multiple Department of the Army Civilian Service Achievement Medals.

In 2013, Mingle was named BEYA’s Most Promising Engineer for his contributions in the field of electronic warfare countermeasures.

He was responsible for design, development, test, and support of two radio frequency countermeasure systems used by the U.S. Army in Iraq and Afghanistan to defeat improvised explosive devices (IED) Both IED programs, Electra and Whisper, received the 2006 and 2008 “Top 10 Greatest Army Inventions” awards from the U.S. Army. This is a prestigious honor because it is voted by war fighters in the field.

Over his 15 years as a federal employee, he has held a variety of technical and management positions. Currently, he is s a supervisory electronics engineer for CERDEC,

“His technical capabilities, insights into the problem and innovative solutions that he has proposed and implemented along with his team have been extraordinary and very successful in dealing with the problem [of IED], thus saving numerous lives,” said Ralph Troisio, I2WD Electronic Warfare Air/Ground Survivability division chief who nominated Mingle for the BEYA.

The BEYA award recognizes “technology leaders for their career achievements and their efforts in strengthening the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) pipeline” by inspiring young people to pursue careers in STEM.

“This award speaks highly of not only Mr. Mingle’s dedication to his work and the greater Army mission as a civilian, but his expertise and leadership that are invaluable to CERDEC,” said Henry Muller, I2WD director. “His work has helped save countless lives. He serves as a role model to his peers and young students striving for a quality education and a meaningful career.”

“I’ve never been a Soldier, but being able to get on the phone with a Soldier, hear their needs and work to meet them — it’s a great feeling,” said Mingle. “You know you’re doing something meaningful.”

Born in Ghana, Mingle moved to the United States at the age of 10 to follow his parents who had moved to New York in search of a better life. Mingle’s uncle was an engineer and from him he found inspiration.

At the age of eleven, he took apart a broken VCR in an attempt to fix it. His uncle told him that is what engineers do — fix problems, create solutions, build things to make life better — and in that moment Mingle knew he wanted to be an engineer.

Mingle earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Fairleigh Dickinson University, a master’s degree in electrical engineering from New Jersey Institute of Technology, and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Phoenix.

“From my own experience, I know how very important it is to promote STEM to the next generation,” said Mingle. “My uncle was an example for me and now young students can see what I’ve been able to achieve. We must keep STEM education alive and prospering.”

“While an award like this recognizes me, it just as much recognizes those around me: my team, those above me, and everyone who works with me,” said Mingle. “I’m grateful to all those who support me. This is an award for my team, for I2WD, for CERDEC, for RDECOM and the US Army.”

Mingle serves as the Vice President of the Association of Old Crows and the chairman of the Education Foundation within AOC’s Susquehanna Chapter.

In his spare time, he coaches youth sports and volunteers for the Maryland Scholars Speakers Bureau, a program that organizes professionals to talk with 8th or 9th graders in their classrooms about where they want to go in life and how to get there.