At ACI, our people are the driving force behind every mission we support. Nowhere is that more evident than in the accomplishments of Gary Stafford, who has been selected as the 2025 Chris Augustine Employee of the Year. This award recognizes individuals who embody ACI’s values, demonstrate exceptional technical and leadership excellence, and consistently elevate the performance of the teams around them. Gary’s work throughout 2025—particularly his contributions to the Modeling and Simulation (M&S), Analysis, Engineering, Networking, and Experimentation Support (MAGNES) team—exemplifies these qualities at the highest level.
Gary’s impact was felt across multiple high‑visibility events between July and September, where he played a pivotal role in advancing the Next Generation Command and Control (NGC2) ATEC Data Mesh demonstration. Serving as both architect and hands‑on engineer, Gary designed the implementation framework using ACI’s Collector tool, delegated tasks, tracked progress, and personally executed several of the required software modifications. His ability to collaborate seamlessly with teammates, troubleshoot emerging issues, and adapt the architecture in real time ensured the demonstration’s success.
That success was on full display at Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG), where Gary integrated system components for a live demonstration of the Collector. Over three days, VIPs observed the system execute multiple threads flawlessly. The demonstration was showcased again in September at the Combined Joint Systems Integration Laboratory (CJSIL), this time using simulated data, further reinforcing the robustness of the architecture Gary helped shape.
While supporting the MAGNES mission, Gary simultaneously tackled another technically demanding challenge. Under intense pressure, he developed and tested multiple software variations to accommodate both standard and prototype radios. His work eliminated the need for manual configuration of each radio—enabling centralized control and dramatically improving efficiency. This capability proved essential during a major scalability test at Lakehurst involving 40 radios, where the updated M‑Pi software performed flawlessly.
Beyond his engineering achievements, Gary continues to strengthen ACI’s growth trajectory through his technical writing contributions on multiple proposals. His ability to translate complex technical concepts into clear, compelling narratives has been invaluable in positioning ACI for future opportunities.
Gary’s commitment to excellence, deep technical expertise, and unwavering mission focus made him an obvious choice for ACI’s September 2025 Employee of the Month—and now, for the organization’s highest annual honor. The Chris Augustine Employee of the Year Award celebrates individuals who not only deliver exceptional results, but who elevate the entire organization through their leadership, integrity, and dedication. Gary embodies all these qualities and more.
Please congratulate Gary on this well‑deserved recognition. His contributions continue to strengthen ACI’s mission, our clients, and the communities we serve.