DISA Takes Top Honors in WMA 2009 WebAwards

Arlington, Va. – The Defense Information Agency continued its winning streak in Web design and development with the announcement that they’ve taken the Web Marketing Association’s 2009 WebAwards  for “Best Military Web Site" and "Best Government Web Site." These awards follow an earlier clean-sweep of the National Association of Government Communicators Gold Screen Awards, in which DISA took first and second-place from among outstanding local, state, and federal government Web sites. 

“This is the latest in a string of remarkable accomplishments for DISA’s Web team,” said John Garing, DISA’s Director of Strategic Planning and Information. “WMA’s nod acknowledges what our agency already knows –our elite Web team members are simply the best.” Jason Schiavoni, leader of the agency’s three-person Web team, added, “We strive for excellence in aesthetic design, and believe our focus on creating usable, intuitive Web sites with accurate, reliable content is what makes DISA Web products such valuable resources.”

WMA’s international WebAward’s had competitors from more than 47 countries vying for honors in 96 industry categories.  Three or more expert judges evaluated each entry by starting with its URL and then assumed the role of a target user to review the site.  With seven criteria scoring between 0-70 points, the highest scorer in a given category won Best Website for that industry, with entries scoring 60 or greater receiving the Outstanding Website WebAward. Remaining entries scoring above their industry average but below 60 points receive the Standard of Excellence WebAward. DISA.MIL captured “Best Military Web Site" with an overall score of 63, besting the industry average of 49 and also surpassing the competitor’s average of 51.9. DISA’s BRAC portal won “Best Government Web Site with an overall score of 65.5, vanquishing the industry average score of 48 and competitors’ average score of 51. See the other 2009 WebAward winners at http://www.webaward.org/winners.asp.

DISA.MIL’s primary audiences are the military Services and other defense agencies, mission-related industry partners, and job-seekers, serving approximately 21,000 weekly visitors. DISA’s BRAC portal is a new site that’s the primary information source for agency employees, their families, and our new neighbors and partners in the Ft. Meade region. As a result of the Base Realignment and Closure Act of 2005, DISA will be moving to Fort Meade, Md starting in 2010.  Both sites have recently launched a new service, which allows visitors to sign up to receive email updates when site content is updated. Users then enjoy immediate access to new information based on whatever subscription topics they choose.

DISA, a Combat Support Agency, engineers and provides command and control capabilities and enterprise infrastructure to continuously operate and assure a global net-centric enterprise in direct support to joint warfighters, National level leaders, and other mission and coalition partners across the full spectrum of operations.  We are leaders enabling information dominance in defense of our Nation.