DAHLGREN, Va. –
How did a geology major end up working for the Department of Navy as a systems engineer? For Lindsey Guthrie, this question brings to mind an act of happenstance and a willingness to be open to possibilities, which set the course of her career at Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division (NSWCDD).
Guthrie fondly recalls the opportunities presented to her as a candidate with a unique, nontraditional background and invaluable skillset.
As a college student pursuing a bachelor’s degree in geology from the College of William and Mary, Guthrie confidently knew which direction she wanted her career path to follow. Her love for geology, anthropology and archeology provided the driving force in her educational journey early on.
However, Guthrie also expressed a high interest in other areas of science and in mathematics. She sought to incorporate those disciplines into her career as well. “I always had an interest in the math and science fields, but it wasn’t until I majored in geology specifically that I realized I had a knack for it,” said Guthrie. She aimed at applying concrete equations and verifiable solutions to her area of study and according to Guthrie, “I completely jumped right into it!”
Upon her graduation, Guthrie explored diversifying her job options. With encouragement from her family, she considered NSWCDD as a potential career destination. “My father worked for the Department of Navy, as a federal employee and a contractor throughout his career. He urged me to look into various opportunities at Dahlgren and determine which ones best coincided with what my resume had to offer,” she said.
Guthrie sent her resume to various contacts and quickly secured an interview with the Systems Safety Engineering Branch at NSWCDD. She accepted a position as a systems safety engineer, launching a career path. “At the time, I considered myself fortunate that an individual saw me as a motivated, moldable scientist who could become a dynamic, contributing team member rather than a just prescribed area of study,” said Guthrie. “At Dahlgren, I discovered a passion for project management, program management and for systems engineering. Passions I never knew existed until integrating into the workforce.”
In July 2021, branch leadership from Future Combat Systems Capabilities presented Guthrie with an opportunity – working in agile software development – to provide systems engineering support to The Forge Software Factory Ecosystem Program.
Currently, she serves as product owner for a future site scheduling tool application and works in partnership with Integrated Warfare Systems acquisition efforts for the Forge.
“Serving in my current role grants me the ability to span across the technical and people-oriented aspects of my career. I am completely involved with the technical details and define the application requirements while continuing to work with stakeholders and my team, driving toward excellence in our products and capabilities,” stated Guthrie.
In the five years since joining NSWCDD, Guthrie commendably led government teams, spearheaded developmental efforts and supported various projects and initiatives.
Guthrie received esteemed recognition and was presented with multiple awards and merits of achievement for her work serving the NSWCDD workforce and the warfighter.
“I am thankful and appreciate the many individuals at Dahlgren who mentor, support and ultimately invest in fellow peers. It is truly a rewarding experience to know that Dahlgren is an interwoven community dedicated to providing continuous developmental best practices to you professionally and personally,” said Guthrie.
She is pursuing her master’s degree in material science and engineering from the University of Virginia. Additionally, Guthrie works seasonally as a diamontologist – studying and classifying diamonds – for a nationally renowned jewelry company, nurturing her passion for gemology.