THE SOURCE • july 2014
3
Navy civilians engage in “Flash Mentoring” to overcome career challenges as Asian American & Pacific Islanders By John Joyce
NSWC Dahlgren Division Corporate Communications Dahlgren — An engineer’s quest to boost the careers of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Navy civilian professionals and increase their representation in “high grade” government positions is becoming reality. Navy engineer Gaurang Dävé’s vision is to achieve the Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division (NSWCDD) AAPI mission – create and sustain an environment that attracts, assists, promotes, and invigorates the careers of command AAPI personnel. Dävé, the NSWCDD AAPI Special Emphasis Program manager, didn’t have to look far. He heard about recent “flash mentoring” success stories and quickly made the connection. “Once I learned about flash mentoring events, I saw its ability to make our Asian American and Pacific Islander program’s vision and mission a reality,” said Dävé. “Where else can the AAPI community find an opportunity to network with eight mentors in two hours?” Dävé – who is also the NSWCDD Chemical, Biological and
Radiological Analysis, Testing, and Systems Engineering Branch head – contacted the command’s mentoring program coordinator Audrey Lohr to discuss their mutual goals. “It was an exciting opportunity to support the objectives of both the NSWCDD AAPI special emphasis program and the mentoring program, weaving together event topics that were of particular interest and significance to the AAPI community, while also pertinent to non-AAPI employees throughout the NSWCDD workforce,” recounted Lohr, NSWCDD’s New Employee Development manager. Lohr and Dävé scheduled an AAPI-sponsored ”flash mentoring” event in the wake of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month held throughout May with a national theme of “I Am Beyond,” capturing the aspirations of the American spirit and how Americans of Asian and Pacific Islander decent have sought to excel beyond the challenges they have faced over the years. Jim Yee, the command’s AAPI senior leader champion, collaborated with Dävé to create and develop this unique human resources initiative. Together, they briefed
the benefits of flash mentoring to 40 Navy civilian mentees at the event held on the University of Mary Washington Dahlgren campus June 9. “The event presented a unique opportunity to bring together both AAPI and non-AAPI senior leaders and workforce personnel to discuss topics essential to professional development and career enhancement,” said Yee, NSWCDD Engagement Systems Deputy Department head. “It’s the first in a series of events we are planning that will focus on building community and enhancing communication among our AAPI workforce.” NSWCDD mentors led discussions in small group settings on four topics: increasing success in your current position; development opportunities; mentoring; and career planning. The eight mentors – including six leaders with AAPI heritage – shared their experiences and perspectives with mentees while guiding the conversations. “I personally enjoyed learning more about the AAPI community and culture and employee feedback indicates participants benefited from the opportunity to network and share lessons learned,” said
Lohr. “Many mentioned it motivated them to pursue further mentoring opportunities and many indicated it helped them generate ideas for developmental opportunities to achieve career goals.” The mentees networked with other employees in similar roles to learn about best practices and success stories. They engaged in discussions about the challenges they face as well as the development opportunities within and outside of their positions. “We are seeking to cultivate a sense of community and vision within the NSWCDD Asian American and Pacific Islander population,” said Yee. “We informed employees about the special emphasis program and associated challenges faced by our community.” Yee, Dävé and their NSWCDD AAPI Special Emphasis Program team are looking into various venues, such as the flash mentoring event, that will promote understanding and help overcome barriers to the recruitment and advancement of Asian and Pacific Islanders. “Our desire is that those in attendance (at the flash mentoring event) will spread the word within their respective organizations that
Gaurang Dävé - mentors Navy civilians at an NSWCDD “flash mentoring” event. our AAPI leadership is very interested in helping the AAPI community come together, providing much needed support for professional development and growth,” said Yee. “Based on feedback, the event was a resounding success, both among AAPI and non-AAPI alike.” This was the fifth in a series of NSWCDD flash mentoring events since November 2012, with the next event likely taking place this fall. For more information about the history of Asian and Pacific Islanders and their numerous contributions to the Navy, visit http:// www.history.navy.mil/special%20 highlights/asian/asian-index.htm.
Secretary of the Navy Names His Safety Excellence Award Winners
NSWCDD Commended for “Safety Integration in Acquisition” Washington — Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus announced that the System Safety Engineering Division team at Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division (NSWCDD) is one of his 2014 Safety Excellence Award recipients. The NSWCDD team – among 18 winners spanning seven categories – represented the Safety Integration in Acquisition Award category, according to a July 1 press release issued by the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Safety Public Affairs. “This award recognizes many years of hard work, dedication, and innovation in the field of system safety,” said Andy Knott, acting deputy NSWCDD Engagement Systems Department head. The Secretary of the Navy’s Safety Excellence Awards - created to showcase Navy and Marine Corps commands that exemplify exceptional and sustained safety excellence – recognizes commands and programs that have gone above and beyond normal duties to ensure the safety of Sailors, Marines, civilians, and resources. The Safety Integration in Acqui-
sition Award category commends teams with an acquisition mission that made a significant impact by integrating safety into their programs, projects or systems. “The Systems Safety Engineering Division at NSWCDD has been on the cutting edge for developing and advancing system safety engineering practices, processes and methodologies for decades,” said Melissa Lederer, NSWCDD Systems Safety Engineering Division head. “As an organization we have been forward focused in developing new and innovative approaches to system safety engineering for systems of systems and new and emergent technologies.” On the horizon at NSWC Dahlgren Division are integration and interoperability safety, and the application of system safety within a mission engineering approach. “The strategic planning and innovative approaches implemented within the organization are expected to facilitate new methods as we engage in these advanced disciplinary concepts,” said Lederer. “It is this See Safety, page 4
WASHINGTON - An artist’s rendering shows the Office of Naval Research-funded electromagnetic railgun installed aboard the joint high-speed vessel USNS Millinocket (JHSV 3). The railgun - a long-range weapon that launches projectiles using electricity instead of chemical propellants - is undergoing testing at Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division (NSWCDD). (U.S. Navy photo illustration/Released)
AMERICAN STANDARD INSURANCE AGENCY, INC.
Northern Neck Insurance Co. Carrie Scott
(540) 663-0190 (Corner of Dahlgren Rd. & Rosedale Dr.)
• Dahlgren, VA