Fort Belvoir, Va. –
Temple Wilson, Deputy General Counsel, was recently announced as this year’s Grechanik-Collins Professional Employee of the Year award recipient. The Grechanik-Collins Professional Employee of the Year award honors a distinguished DCAA supervisor, manager, or management official outside the audit community in grades GS-13 or higher.
Temple’s extensive knowledge of labor law and innovative initiatives have positively affected DCAA’s management practices. She improved supervisors’ knowledge of practical legal insights, advised management during the return to office process and led the development of an improved Reasonable Accommodation process.
Since joining DCAA as Labor Relations Director in 2015 and later transitioning to the Office of the General Counsel (OGC) in 2018, Ms. Wilson has consistently delivered outstanding results in litigation, labor relations, and legal strategy. As Deputy General Counsel (Employment & General Law) since 2023, she has elevated DCAA’s labor and employment law practice by integrating legal considerations into agency decision-making and fostering confidence in DCAA’s legal positions across stakeholders and the broader DoD legal community. Her innovative initiative, "Lunch with Lawyers," has empowered over 2,100 supervisors with practical legal insights, enhancing workforce professionalism and engagement.
Ms. Wilson’s leadership has been instrumental in navigating complex labor relations challenges, including renegotiating contract terms and implementing the President’s 2025 return-to-office directive without union challenges. Her strategic approach preserved management rights while fostering productive relationships with union officials, setting the stage for future collaboration. Additionally, she played a pivotal role in revamping DCAA’s Reasonable Accommodation (RA) process, resolving a backlog of over 150 cases in just eight weeks and establishing standardized policies to ensure timely and legally sound decisions. Her efforts not only mitigated legal risks but also strengthened DCAA’s Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) program during a critical period of organizational change.
Beyond the legal arena, Ms. Wilson has driven impactful initiatives that enhance DCAA’s operational efficiency and financial stewardship. In 2023, she led a rapid improvement event to address problematic manpower processes, identifying root causes and recommending solutions that influenced broader reforms in DCAA’s workforce management. Her leadership in managing employment cases valued at $8M per year has protected millions of taxpayer dollars, with liability reduced to less than 0.1% in FY2025. Ms. Wilson’s ability to tackle complex challenges, inspire confidence, and deliver results exemplifies distinguished service, making her highly deserving of the Grechanik-Collins Professional Employee of the Year Award.