Alpha Award: Aspis Consulting Announces Garcia Smith as Employee of the Year
Aspis Consulting is proud to announce Garcia Smith as the recipient of the Alpha Award – Employee of the Year, recognizing her outstanding contributions, unwavering dedication, and exceptional performance in support of our federal partners.
This recognition is especially meaningful as Garcia recently celebrated five years with Aspis Consulting in December. Five years marked by professionalism, reliability, and a steadfast commitment to excellence.
Garcia currently serves as a Senior Executive Assistant at the USDA (CPOC) through Aspis Consulting’s contract. In this role, she provides executive-level support across the Privacy and ICAM divisions, ensuring seamless operations, proactive coordination, and consistent follow-through in a fast-paced, high-visibility environment.
A Trusted Partner and Operational Anchor
Garcia’s impact is felt daily by leadership across USDA. Her ability to anticipate needs, manage complex schedules, and serve as a central point of coordination has made her an indispensable member of the team. As Scherida Lambert, Chief Privacy Officer and Director of the Privacy Division, shared:
“While I’ve only been at USDA for less than a year, my transition to the department and to the role of the Chief Privacy Officer would not have been seamless without Garcia Smith’s support. Garcia not only keeps me on track as my Senior Executive Assistant, but she also helps to keep operations running within the Privacy Division. She has played a pivotal role in serving as the gatekeeper for all our privacy tasks and has gone above and beyond to fill in gaps that we so desperately needed. Garcia helps me troubleshoot issues and provides my division with weekly metrics that I often use to report to CPOC senior leadership. Garcia’s balance between being professional and personable is unmatched – she is a delight to work with!”
— Sherida Lambert, Chief Privacy Officer, Director of the Privacy Division
Driving Results Through Dedication and Teamwork
One of Garcia’s most notable accomplishments this year was her role in helping eliminate the Privacy Compliance Backlog. An intensive effort that required precision, persistence, and collaboration. Alongside her colleagues, Garcia helped review, triage, and complete more than 183 privacy compliance documents, making a measurable impact across the division. Quanisha Jones, Branch Chief, recognized the team’s efforts:
“The USDA Privacy Office recognizes the hard work and dedication of Musudine Williams, Amy Lin, and Garcia Smith during the FY25 Q3, triaging, reviewing and seeing through the completion of over 183 privacy compliance documents. Their attention to detail, consistency, and follow-through played a major role in eliminating the Compliance backlog. We appreciate Musudine Williams, Amy Lin, and Garcia Smith’s efforts and the impact they made across the division. Phenomenal job!”
— Quanisha Jones, Branch Chief
A Leader Behind the Scenes
Garcia’s excellence extends beyond task execution. She is a trusted advisor, a steady presence during high-pressure moments, and a teammate who consistently elevates those around her. Brittany Smith, Aspis Administrative Services Manager, reflected on Garcia’s impact:
“I am delighted to recognize Garcia Smith as our Employee of the Year. Throughout the year, she has consistently demonstrated an exceptional level of professionalism, dedication, and reliability that truly sets her apart. As an Executive Assistant, she has become an integral part of our team’s success supporting CPOC and the Privacy and ICAM divisions. Her ability to anticipate needs before they arise, manage complex schedules with precision, and maintain seamless communication across departments has had an immeasurable impact on both Directors and our team as a whole.
Whether coordinating high-visibility meetings, navigating last-minute changes with calm efficiency, or stepping in to support colleagues without hesitation, she embodies the highest standard of excellence. One of the most notable examples of her impact this year was her assistance and hard work during the elimination of Privacy’s Compliance Backlog period (see Kudos below), when she and 2 other staff members reviewed, triaged, and completed over 183 privacy compliance documents. Her initiative, attention to detail, and unwavering commitment have directly contributed to all of the division’s success.
Garcia Smith has not only been outstanding in her role—she is a true team player, someone who lifts others up, makes us laugh, brings solutions instead of problems, and leads by example every single day. Her work ethic, attitude, and consistent follow-through make her deeply deserving of this honor.
Congratulations, Garcia Your contributions are seen, appreciated, and celebrated. We are incredibly fortunate to have you on our team.”
— Brittany Smith, Aspis Administrative Services Manager
Excellence Across Divisions
Garcia’s support also extends to the ICAM division, where her organizational skill and proactive communication have been invaluable. John Shuey, Acting ICAM Director, shared:
“It is a pleasure to recognize Garcia Smith for her exceptional contributions in providing executive support to me as the Acting ICAM Director.
Garcia Smith has been instrumental in keeping my schedule coordinated with precision, ensuring that I am always where I need to be, when I need to be there. Her attention to detail and proactive communication have made a significant impact on my ability to stay focused and effective in my role.
Beyond managing my schedule, Garcia has consistently tracked deliverables with diligence and clarity, helping me meet deadlines and maintain momentum across multiple initiatives. Garcia also ensures I maintain awareness of key developments and priorities across our organization. Her thoughtful updates and timely reminders have helped me stay informed and engaged, even during the busiest times. Garcia exemplifies professionalism, reliability, and a deep commitment to excellence. I am truly grateful for her support and proud to see her recognized with this well-deserved award.”
— John Shuey, Acting ICAM Director
Congratulations, Garcia!
The Alpha Award represents Aspis Consulting’s highest recognition for excellence, leadership, and impact. And Garcia Smith embodies each of these qualities. Her five years of service, her dedication to our mission, and her positive influence on clients and colleagues alike make her truly deserving of this honor.
Congratulations, Garcia, on being named Aspis Consulting’s Employee of the Year. We are grateful for all that you do and proud to have you on the Aspis team.