On 9 March 2021, NATO Supreme Allied Commander Transformation, General André Lanata awarded Ortiz the Junior Officer Member of the Year award for her work at the CSU.
"The development of the virtual technical assistance centre has been exceptional. Your contribution has put HQ SACT on better footing to execute its mission effectively and safely," General Lanata said at the ceremony.
On receiving this award, we asked Ortiz to answer a few questions about her work.
What do you do?
I oversee the Technical Assistance Centre, user training and virtual teleconference services for Agency customers, including the headquarters of Allied Command Transformation, NATO's Joint Force Command Norfolk and outlying NATO units in North America.
Why is your work important for NATO?
The team I lead is the first point of contact for all questions and IT incidents experienced by NATO personnel in North America. We make sure that they can get on with their work, supporting NATO's mission.
As we are based in Norfolk, we can provide this help when it is needed, deflecting much of the burden from the Agency's Centralized Service Desk in Belgium.
What does this recognition mean to you?
This recognition is only offered once a year from the Supreme Allied Commander Transformation. It was very special, not only for me, but for the NCI Agency team. It showed that our hard work did not go unnoticed. I am very honoured to represent not only the NCI Agency, but also the US military in a very positive way.
What is the most interesting project you have worked on, and why?
We have supported many projects this past year and while all have been demanding, they have been equally rewarding. I have learned so much from helping to plan and execute multiple projects, from the standing up of the new Joint Force Command Norfolk to the deployment of 700 secure laptops. The most important lesson I learned is that by being able to bring people together through communication and inclusion, any difficult challenge can be overcome.
How did you become interested in technology?
Before I joined the army, a career in technology always seemed far-fetched for me, as it was mainly male-dominated. Pursuing a career in IT came up as an option during my army recruitment, I was quick in selecting it as it had always intrigued me. 19 years later, I can say that it has been challenging, enjoyable and rewarding. Starting out as a server technician, my technical role has transformed into more of a leadership role, but I still love the occasional opportunities to help troubleshoot and find solutions to everyday technical issues.
What advice would you give to someone interested in your job?
NATO and the Agency are excellent assignments both due to the numerous challenges and opportunities they bring, but also due to the strong international community. If I were to provide a few words of advice to someone taking my job, I would say to grab the opening with enthusiasm and drive. It is an awesome chance to spread your wings both professionally and personally.
