Fort Huachuca, Ariz. – Erin Beam, director of the U.S. Army Garrison Personnel Directorate (DHR), is one of this year’s De La Monica Award winners.

The Della Monica Award is given to people who have improved their work environment, motivated and inspired people, and been positively evaluated by their peers, subordinates and superiors.

Della Monica winners embody the values ​​of integrity, innovation, leadership and dedication.

“I was shocked to find out I was nominated,” said Beam. “I’m not the type of person who likes public recognition, but it was nice to know that what was important to me was actually recognized and that other people saw it. increase [embody those qualities] It’s every day, so I’m glad I was able to realize that I really have to do it. ”

It all started less than a year ago when Beam was hired to head DHR. Change was inevitable from the beginning, she said.

“I was the complete opposite of what people used to be,” she said.

She explained that her experience is in teaching and that she has worked in several education centers since 2006.

“My background is as a guidance counselor,” Beam said. “It’s not often that an education director becomes the next DHR director. But my degree is in organizational psychology, so for me it was all about change.”

When Beam first came to the organization, morale was low, turnover was high, and the various departments covered by DHR were scattered.

“When I joined, it was important to me to bring inclusivity and transparency, so I felt like everyone was on the same page,” she said. “We started by coming up with a unique set of values ​​for the organization, where everyone in the organization had 100% of her participation and everyone had a say. And I think that was how it all started. increase.”

Beam has improved teamwork and job satisfaction by conducting “live your values ​​and stick to them” sessions with the entire board.

“She listened to employees’ concerns and identified challenges with mid-level leadership,” said Garrison Commander Col. John Ives. “In a short period of time, she transformed an organization that had been frustrated for various reasons into one empowered to change the environment.

“The entire organization has worked together to develop and define the following values: respect, professionalism, leadership (leading by example), caring and a healthy environment.”

The second big shift within the organization was inevitable. A catastrophic roof leak occurred in a historic building that housed part of the organization, forcing the search for a new building to house the entire team.

“We had to buy a whole new building,” she said. “But the new building used to be a medical clinic, and the walls were all tiled.

This work not only brought everyone together figuratively, but literally.

“This brought everyone together under one roof,” Beam explained. “This allows us to be a one-stop-shop, so soldiers don’t have to go to several different places to get their missions, ID cards and everything else they need.”

The director moved his office to a new building, something that had never happened before.

“As a director, I didn’t want to feel alone,” she says. “So I moved my directorship to this building so I could be part of the team. So now I’m here in the trenches with the team. Instead, I’m going to go into the trenches with them!”

Mr. Beam leads a human resources organization focused on serving soldiers, supporting quality of life and maintaining readiness, the garrison commander said.

“Her recognition of the organization’s challenges and her courage to lead the agency through difficult times with a servant’s heart are commendable,” Ives said.

Beam stresses that while her name may be on the De La Monica Awards, it’s the team as a whole that really counts.

“I work every day with an amazing team of professionals as I strive to be a transformative leader,” she said. “It’s all down to the team and how they accepted me. They could have stayed the way they are, or they might have been reluctant to change. But that’s not the case. They were very open, their morale was up, they were empowered and they kept running with it.

“For many of these people, it’s not just a job,” she continued. “They are so passionate about helping soldiers, families and people. This award also recognizes the team that surrounds me and I thank them for their support.”

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Fort Huachuca is home to the U.S. Army Intelligence Center of Excellence, U.S. Army Network Enterprise Technology Command/9th Army Signal Command, and supports over 48 tenants representing a diverse and multidisciplinary workforce. Our unique environment includes 946 square miles of restricted airspace and 2,500 square miles of protected microwave ovens, which are critical elements of our national defense mission.

Located in Cochise County in southeastern Arizona, about 25 miles north of the Mexican border, Fort Huachuca is a frontier military installation with a rich history. Founded in 1877, the fort was designated a national landmark in 1976.

We are the home of the Army.Learn more about https://home.army.mil/huachuca/.