BREMERTON, Wash. -- A senior manager at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility is among the Department of Defense personnel selected for 2017 honors by the NAACP.
Dwight K. Otis, PSNS & IMF’s product line production manager, was named a 2017 recipient of the NAACP Roy Wilkins Renown Service Award. The award is presented annually to DoD members who distinguish themselves by promoting civil and human rights, equal opportunity, human relations, and or public service.
A veteran of 36 years at the PSNS & IMF, Otis was a founding member of the command’s Diversity Leadership Council. The DLC supports the mission of PSNS & IMF by promoting diversity and inclusion policies, guidance and activities that benefit the command and its 13,500 civilian employees.
Otis currently serves as a co-chair of the DLC and is a primary mentor of the command’s African American Employee Resource Group. The DLC provides oversight and assistance to several employee resource groups, including the African American ERG, Hispanic ERG, Professional Women's Employee Networking Group, Cross Abilities ERG, Filipino-American ERG, and PRIDE for LGBT employees. A veterans' ERG is in development.
“Mr. Otis' exceptional approach is built on a humble appreciation for all people and his passion to offer opportunity without obstacles, particularly toward under-represented communities,” wrote Capt. Howard Markle, PSNS & IMF commander, when nominating Otis for the award. “His experience and guidance help shape the command's approach to building a diverse and inclusive workforce and improving quality of life issues for our employees.”