Irene L. Biddy

BRENTWOOD, NH-Irene L. (Michitson) Biddy, 80, formerly of Chelmsford, MA, died October 15, at Rockingham County Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, after a prolonged illness, surrounded by her loving family.
Born in Somerville, MA, Irene was the daughter of the late Harold G. and the late Anna M. (Ciccarelli) Michitson. She was raised and educated in Somerville, and was a graduate of Somerville High School. During her teenage years, she worked at her family's restaurant, Harold's Luncheonette (Ball Sq.) in Somerville.
After graduation from high school in 1961, Irene began her career in the U.S. Government as a procurement clerk with the Army Corps of Engineers in Waltham, MA. In 1962, she was competitively promoted and transferred to the Air Force as a GS-4 procurement clerk at Hanscom Air Force Base (AFB). Diligently working her way up through the ranks, she garnered more than 40 years of government experience, including 28 years in systems acquisition, eventually holding a Contracting Officer's Warrant with unlimited dollar liability and was Level III Certified in Systems Acquisition. She retired from the Electronic Systems Center (ESC), Hanscom AFB, Lexington, MA, as the Principal Assistant to the Director of the ESC Acquisition Support Team, and Chief of the Source Selection Branch where she was responsible for directing all of the Center's procurements (valued in the billions of dollars). During this period, she developed and implemented a new, innovative split proposal process (subsequently adopted by the AF) which significantly improved the quality and success of AF-wide source selections. Recognized for her incomparable expertise, she was the "first stop" when Pentagon senior acquisition officials and Program Executive Officers (General Officer level) visited Hanscom AFB (or requested her to visit them at the Pentagon) to solicit her advice on proposed acquisition plans and/or conduct independent reviews of their proposed strategies. In short, she was renowned
(both locally and nationally) as "THE" unequivocal authority on the Department of Defense source selection process to the extent that the Air Force Senior Acquisition Executive designated her as a "Source Selection Expert Advisor."
Her exemplary work was recognized by over thirty-five major awards including the ESC outstanding Civilian (Harold M. Wright) Award, two Air Force Systems Command (AFMC) Certificates of Merit, and her nomination for both the AFMC Outstanding Civilian in Contracting Award, and the Secretary of the Air Force Professionalism in Contracting Award.
Subsequent to government service, Irene joined OASIS Systems as their Business Development Specialist where she assisted in attracting and securing new business for this small business acquisition support contractor.
A selfless volunteer, Irene served on the Program Committee for the Military Affairs Council of the North Suburban Chamber of Commerce for a host of years. Her work was so outstanding that the Chamber awarded her both their Volunteer of the Year Award in 1993 as well as their Business Person of the year award in 1999.
Then too, Irene also dedicated over forty-four years and incalculable hours supporting the Lexington-Concord Chapter of the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association (AFCEA); a non-profit, international organization which facilitates collaboration among government, industry, and academia to support global security, leadership development, and education in the scientific, technical, engineering and math (STEM) fields. Through the years, Irene headed various committees and then rose to the Executive Committee serving as Second Vice President (VP) First VP, President, and ultimately, Chairwoman of the Board of Directors.
Additionally, at the request of AFCEA International, she was a featured guest lecturer on the source selection process and acquisition contracting at many other US-based chapters; a representative to a number of International's national conventions, and a valued member of the International Awards Committee.
Her work on behalf of the Lexington-Concord Chapter and its prestigious scholarship program is legend. She spearheaded the first-ever $1,000 (now $1,500) scholarship award to Middlesex Community College given annually in honor of the late Tom O'Mahoney, retired Air Force Electronic Systems Center Executive Director and Chapter VP of Education. She contributed substantively to raising hundreds of thousands in revenue to support the Chapter's premiere annual Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) and High School Fellowship scholarships and guided untold Chapter events including social and professional over the years.
For more than twenty years, in addition to her other duties, she chaired the Chapter's annual Valentine Dinner/Dance, affectionately called the "Biddy Ball." She volunteered countless hours planning, coordinating and attending to every single detail. Her superb leadership and tireless personal commitment marked this as the Chapter's signature social event; raising over $300,000 for scholarships under her astute leadership.
For her monumental contributions to the Chapter, Irene was the recipient of numerous prestigious, high-level International awards, including the Meritorious Service Award (1990) the Medal of Merit (2013) and the prized James M. Rockwell AFCEAN of the Year Award (1994)-at the time, the second highest individual award given by AFCEA International.
In addition, Irene also volunteered for the Paul Revere Chapter of the Air Force Association (AFA) serving with distinction for more than 20 years. Once again rising to the top, she directed the Chapter as its President from 1998-1999. Among her favorite roles, she served as Vice President of Community Partners, bringing together more than 40 companies each year to celebrate the Chapter and donate to its mission. For untold numbers of events, you could find Irene at planning committee meetings and at registration tables during actual events, ensuring a smoothly-run gathering that did not forget the lessons learned of the past. These included multiple AFA C4ISR Summits, golf tournaments, annual parties for veterans at the Bedford Veteran Administration Hospital, and Chief of Staff Scholarship Dinners. For her significant contributions, she received the AFA Medal of Merit in 2010 and the AFA Exceptional Service Award in 2013. She will always be remembered as a stalwart member of an active chapter that made a difference in the lives of the greater Hanscom AFB community.
The "energizer bunny," she also volunteered selflessly for the Association of Old Crows (AOC), Patriots' Roost, another international organization focused on connecting government, defense contractors, military, and academia to promote an exchange of ideas and recognize advances and contributions in the fields of Electronic Warfare (EW), Electromagnetic Spectrum Operations (EMSO) and Information Operations (IO). In this organization as well as the others, she quickly became an invaluable leader holding positions including President, Chairwoman of the Board of Directors (BOD), etc. She was recognized a multitude of times, including receipt of the AOC Distinguished Service Award, for her leadership and hard work which resulted in almost a million dollars of scholarships for young people and support for Hanscom Community activities. Irene leaves a legacy of stewardship and volunteerism which is unmatched by anyone in any professional and charitable organization.
Irene lived in Chelmsford, MA, for over 40 years, where she loved decorating her home in theme-filled rooms. Spending weeks before Christmas, Irene proudly decorated her home with all her holiday treasures from family and friends. Irene was indefatigable; devoted to her late husband, Jimmy, her son, Gary, and her extended family; a highly-esteemed professional; a tremendous friend; and a fabulous cook known for hosting large gatherings of family and friends with enough food and desserts to feed a small army. Irene's keen sense of humor led to many loving nicknames from family and friends such as, "Biddy Bop", "Turkey Trash", "FYI", -- just to name a few. She loved to travel throughout the United States, but her three favorite destinations were here in New England: a friend's Loon Mountain timeshare, "Haven By The Sea" Bed and Breakfast in Wells, Maine, and her leaf-peeping fall destination at her timeshare in Stowe, Vermont.
Irene was predeceased by her husband and love of her life, James W. Biddy, to whom she was married to for more than 40 years. She is survived by her equally beloved son, Gary Biddy and his fiancée, Stacey Vando, and granddog, Shadow of Raymond, NH; brother, Jonathan "Jay" Michitson of Somerville, MA; and many nieces, nephews, and life-long friends. Irene is predeceased by both her parents, her sister Jeanne P. Riding, her brother Harold "Butch" Michitson. and her family pets, Patches, Checkers, and Casey, as well as her son's pets, Angel and Halo.
Relatives and friends are invited to her funeral service which will be held at the Dracut Funeral Home, 2159 Lakeview Avenue, Dracut, MA 01826 on Saturday, October 19, 2024, with visiting hours from 9-11 am; in-house service at 11 am; followed by a burial service at St. Mary's Cemetery, 90 River Road, Tewksbury, MA. Expressions of sympathy may be made in Irene's memory to Brookhaven Hospice, 114 Turnpike Road, Ste 206, Westborough, MA 01581 or directly online at https://www.brookhavenhospice.com.