WEST BETHESDA, Md. –
The engineers, scientists and support staff at Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division in West Bethesda, Maryland, work every day to improve America's fleet. Behind the scenes making Carderock's operations run like clockwork is Tamar Gallagher, leading her team of more than 200 employees.
As the head of the corporate operations department and the director of business integration for Carderock, Gallagher assists command leadership with coordinating short- and long-term business planning, resource management and benefit/cost analysis. Gallagher's attention to detail on a daily basis helps set Carderock up to achieve technical excellence.
Since starting at Carderock in 1994, Gallagher has received several awards, including the Navy Meritorious Civilian Service Award. She is also the recipient of one of the command's prestigious "Magnificent Eight" awards, the Grace Hopper Award for outstanding accomplishments in the area of management and technical ability, which, according to Gallagher, ensured the successful implementation of the Navy Enterprise Resource Planning Program (ERP) at the command.
"One of Tamar's greatest skills is her ability to make quick and accurate decisions on all the questions that come across her desk in a day," said Kathy Stanley, Carderock Division's chief of staff. "She's been able to leverage the breadth and depth of everything she has seen and worked on at Carderock to more successfully integrate the business and technical sides of the division."
Gallagher earned her bachelor's degree in computer and information science from the University of Maryland University College and has a graduate degree in management information systems from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Gallagher credits her leadership skills to having great mentors that guided her throughout her career.
"The single most important thing I would advise any person starting a career would be to find a great mentor, somebody who you connect with on professional level and is truly interested in seeing you succeed," Gallagher said.
She remains an integral part in Carderock's day-to-day operations as head of the corporate operations department (Code 10), overseeing seven divisions: human resources, infrastructure, corporate communications, information technology, security, corporate business office and property management.
"There's always something that my team and I can do to improve operations. It's a matter of prioritizing tasks and making sure we follow through," Gallagher said. "Customer service is our main focus. Code 10 is here to support the customer."
According to Gallagher there are many "fires" that may arise every day, and her job is to make sure they get put out without affecting Carderock's operations. Whether it's phone or internet outages or inclement weather, Gallagher makes sure that her team is prepared to act accordingly.
"I emphasize to my team to act with integrity in everything we do. Always be responsive to our customers' needs. Treat everyone with respect and dignity. Embrace different perspectives. Work together as a team in support of the mission, and be flexible and willing to change to accommodate evolving situations," she said.
Gallagher added that she tries to lead by example, and she trusts her team to help carry out the Carderock mission. She said she is thrilled to see the warfare centers working together because, at the end of the day, it is about the warfighter and keeping the country safe.
With more than two decades of service to Carderock, Gallagher said that she enjoys her work and that every day always promises something different to keep her on her toes. When Gallagher is not at Carderock seeing to the many daily operational needs of the command, she said she's often at the soccer field or basketball court supporting her children with their recreational activities.