NAVAL SURFACE WARFARE CENTER, PHILADELHIA DIVISION –
Naval Surface Warfare Center, Philadelphia Division (NSWCPD) held its first targeted job fair for wounded warriors and Schedule A eligible candidates on Oct. 23 during National Disability Employment Awareness Month.
According to the Department of Labor, Schedule A refers to a hiring authority that allows Federal agencies to hire talented individuals with disabilities without going through the standard competitive hiring process.
“One of the Command’s missions is to foster a diverse and inclusive workforce, and disabilities are an element of diversity,” said Anya Fishbaugh, who serves as the Command’s Equal Employment Opportunity Specialist. “As a model employer the Department of the Navy must ensure that we lead the effort and make sure that everyone has an opportunity.”
More than 60 candidates attended the job fair at Penn State on The Navy Yard to learn more about opportunities available within the Command.
“Events like this showcase the extraordinary opportunities available at NSWCPD to support the warfighter and the Navy. We want to provide everyone an opportunity to work for us,” said Alonzie Scott, NSWCPD’s talent manager and senior executive advisor.
This job fair directly supports the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) foundational line of effort to build a talent pipeline and further connects the Command to the community. Targeted job fairs also help NSWCPD build a workforce that brings a diverse background to the team.
“These types of events are so important because it educates the workforce about hiring qualified individuals from this demographic,” Fishbaugh said.
Prior to the event, NSWCPD’s Equal Employment Opportunity Office and Recruitment Office highlighted the benefits of hiring this type of candidate, including how Schedule A employees can be brought into the workforce much faster than the traditional hiring process.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, people with disabilities who hold bachelor’s degrees and higher are three times less likely to be hired than a person without a disability and a similar degree.
“From a recruitment standpoint, it is really important that we shine a light on this within our own Division,” said Victoria Gonzalez, NSWCPD’s Recruitment Coordinator.
While this career fair was the first targeted at candidates with disabilities, it won’t be the only event that NSWCPD’s hiring managers consider Schedule A employees.
“The goal is to continue to highlight this effort throughout the fiscal year, not just the month of October,” Gonzalez said.
NSWCPD employs approximately 2,600 civilian engineers, scientists, technicians, and support personnel doing research and development, test and evaluation, acquisition support, and in-service and logistics engineering for Navy ships. NSWCPD is also the lead organization providing cybersecurity for all ship systems.