Connecticut Veterans Hall of Fame To Induct Newtown Woman

NEWTOWN, CT — A Newtown woman has been selected as part of the 20th class of honorees for induction into the Connecticut Veterans Hall of Fame.

Administered and sponsored by the Connecticut Department of Veterans Affairs and the Connecticut Military Department on behalf of the Office of the Governor, the Connecticut Veterans Hall of Fame was established in 2005 and inducts a new class annually. With the addition of this year’s class, there will now be 215 honorees inducted.

On Tuesday, Gov. Ned Lamont announced that US. Army veteran Donna A. Monteleone was among the 14 Connecticut vets selected as part of the 20th class of honorees who "have continued making significant impacts in their communities after leaving military service."

According to her biography prepared by the state, Monteleone graduated from New York Polytechnic Institute in 1978 and was in the second class where women were commissioned through ROTC. She served on active duty in the U.S. Army Signal Corps from 1978 to 1983. She served with the 2nd Infantry Division in Korea and worked with the White House Communication Agency during President Carter’s visit in 1979.

At Fort Hunter Liggett, California, Monteleone served as executive officer and was the sole female officer on a joint U.S. Army and Marine Corps Project featuring then-state-of-the-art vehicle mounted TV cameras, lasers, and audio equipment to conduct “war games.”

Monteleone attended Signal Officer Basic Course and Signal Officer Advanced Course at Fort Gordon, Georgia and Telecommunications Staff Officer College (Joint Branches) at Keesler Air Force Base. During both assignments, she served as International Military Liaison with allied officers from Africa and Middle East.

In 1983, Monteleone was hired by Exxon Corporation as senior telecommunications engineer and was assigned as a purchasing agent for telecommunications and computer needs. In 1990, she was hired by Witco Corporation to oversee the purchase of raw materials to make intermediate products. In 1993, she was offered a promotion to senior purchasing manager at Unilever Corporation in New York, when she met her future husband, Neil P. Randle.

After marrying, they accepted assignments with Unilever in Mexico and the Czech Republic. She was involved in both countries with the U.S. Consul Office as a liaison and advocate for newly arriving Americans.

In 2005, her family moved back to the U.S. and put down roots in Newtown.

Monteleone is a member of the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and Western Military Officers Association. She has been chairing “Valentines for Troops” for 19 years, which partners with local organizations and schools to create and send cards and care packages to active-duty military members. According to her bio, she is a "fervent advocate for veterans in her community who may not be connected to local, federal, or state services. Likewise, she is impassioned about raising awareness on issues affecting female veterans, and has participated in meetings with U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal and U.S. Senator Chris Murphy."

State Sen. Tony Hwang issued this statement: "I join state officials in congratulating Donna Monteleone and all the honorees. Donna Monteleone has dedicated her life to serving her country in the U.S. Army and to our community. We are grateful for those many years of service."

The focus of the Connecticut Veterans Hall of Fame is on veterans’ service to their communities after they have left military service. Many of the honorees are veterans who have been leaders in a variety of areas, such as the arts, education, public service, volunteer organizations, and community and business leadership.

The honorees are nominated throughout the year by members of the public, and then a committee – consisting of the commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Veterans Affairs, the adjutant general of the Connecticut National Guard, members of the legislature’s Committee on Veterans and Military Affairs, and a group of veterans from the state – reviews the nominations and selects inductees.

This year’s class will be celebrated during an induction ceremony that will be held at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025, in the Gold Star Families Memorial Auditorium on the campus of the Connecticut Department of Veterans Affairs in Rocky Hill.