Her Story
About Ana
Ana Delvalle brings over 25 years of experience in public service with the Department of Defense. She began her career in the Marine Corps after joining in June 2001 as a political amnesty refugee from El Salvador seeking to serve her adopted country. Following 9-11, she re-enlisted and was selected to become a commissioned officer, serving 22 years and 8 months on active duty in roles including manpower officer and legal officer, with collateral duties in suicide prevention and other areas. She retired due to injuries sustained during force integration training and subsequently worked as a contractor for Space Force before accepting a government service appointment at the Office of the Secretary of Defense for nearly two years. A senior expert in manpower management and human resources, Ana specializes in project management, program management, morale and welfare, teamwork, mentoring, and coaching. She is known as a change maker and advocate for out-of-the-box, multidisciplinary thinking in strategic planning and policy development. Her work has contributed to department-wide policy and influence affecting military and defense agencies. Passionate about mental health awareness and preventative interventions for young adults, she draws from her experiences mentoring young Marines and is a member of the Women Marines Association, Military Officers of America, and Who's Who. Now residing in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Ana continues to focus on leadership development and holistic approaches to professional growth.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Ana
01What do you attribute your success to?
Radical self-accountability. The tokens of wisdom my senior leaders imparted into me as a young Marine echoed like parental lecture phrases you remember without wanting to. The tokens were cheesy at the time, but they rang in my ears for years. Sayings such as; "Bloom where you're planted", which made me feel like a dandelion growing on the cement cracks if I'm being honest, "the buck stops with you", a saying that guided me when I transitioned from enlisted service to commissioned officer, or "you are your biggest competition", which forced me to develop self-discipline in physical standards training on my own. and most impactful when I was being mentally too hard on myself, " who are you to question God's unconditional love for you and your life-purpose?" This kept me going during hard times of challenges.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I ever got was, "Knowledge and preparation are great, but discernment, which requires your judgement for the right time to loudly speak truths is a far more valuable skill to develop."
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Give yourself grace. If you chose this industry you are already demanding of yourself, competitive, and have the internal drive it takes to succeed, allow your grit and tenacity to come through!
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The perceived stigma of women being the weaker link in this industry. The constant going above and beyond male peers and colleagues just to prove yourself as a capable leader.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Inspiring and helping others develop into their greatest potential.
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