Elliott retires after 37 years' service to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Huntsville Center Public Affairs
Published April 4, 2017
Col. John Hurley, Huntsville Center commander, presents Gina Elliott with a Meritorious Civilian Service Award during Elliott's retirement ceremony March 31. Elliott served as Huntsville Center deputy commander for four months in 2014 and most recently served as Huntsville Center's Facilities Division chief. Elliott retires from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers with 37 years of service.

Col. John Hurley, Huntsville Center commander, presents Gina Elliott with a Meritorious Civilian Service Award during Elliott's retirement ceremony March 31. Elliott served as Huntsville Center deputy commander for four months in 2014 and most recently served as Huntsville Center's Facilities Division chief. Elliott retires from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers with 37 years of service.

After 37 years of service to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Gina Elliot has retired.

Throughout her career, Elliott successfully managed complex, high priority projects spanning design, procurement, construction and service acquisitions.

While attending Tulane University Elliot began her Corps career in 1980 as a student intern at the New Orleans District. After she received a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering in 1982 she worked full time with the district as a civil engineer in construction administration.

In 1985 Elliott moved to Huntsville, Alabama and began working at what was then the Huntsville District. Elliot filled various positions here to include cost engineer, value engineer, quality engineer, and project/program manager.

Her leadership positions began in the Utility Monitoring and Control Systems Program where she served as branch chief. 

Elliott also served as the civilian deputy commander for Huntsville Center for four months in 2014, a position normally held by an Army engineering officer.

“As a commander who has been involved with three or four major support commands, I know they don’t ask any civilian to be a deputy commander— It really takes someone special to do that,” said Col. John Hurley, Huntsville Center commander, said during Elliott’s retirement ceremony.

After serving as deputy commander, her last career assignment was as chief of the facilities division with a program portfolio that included Information technology services, facility repair and renewal, facility reduction, access control points, base operations, and DLA-Fuels maintenance and service. 

During the ceremony Hurley said he had emailed several of her peers prior to the ceremony asking them to give him a couple of words to describe Elliott.

“There were four words repeated three or more times completely independently and those words were dedicated, passionate, knowledgeable and professional,” Hurley said.

“If there’s anything to remember about Gina, it’s that list of words.”

Addressing the audience during the end of the ceremony, Elliott said that through all the programs and projects, it’s the friendships and relationships that matter the most, but the mission is important too.

“Hopefully I left something behind for each one of you because each one of you have certainly left a mark on my heart,” Elliott said.

“There were many influential people in my life that taught me lessons and skills and gave me opportunities that I embraced. What USACE and Huntsville Center does for this country truly matters, so come to work each day knowing that you and what you do matters and give all you have to the job.”

Elliott held certifications as a Project Management Professional, an Associate Value Specialist, and an Army Acquisition Corps member.

After retirement, Elliott and her husband, Allen, plan to relocate to Florida, spend time with family and friends and travel.