PANAMA CITY, Fla. –
Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division (NSWC PCD) hosted the Joint Warfare Center’s Women’s History Month Observance event, March 24.
Entitled ‘Women of the Warfare Centers’, this highlight featured the significant contributions made by women in various roles such as scientists, engineers, training specialists, administrative specialist and human resources throughout the organization.
Lauren Sikes, NSWC PCD Equal Employment Opportunity and Diversity & Inclusion (ED&I) specialist explains what went into this event’s success.
“We wanted to commemorate and encourage the observance and celebration of the essential roles of women within the 10 Warfare Centers by showing how they contribute to the Naval Sea System Command’s (NAVSEA) Warfare Center Strategic Plan [which consists of five strategic goals and five foundational values],” said Sikes. “Each Warfare Center was assigned either a strategic goal or foundational value, nominated one woman who embodied that respective goal or value, and were encouraged to select their nominee from any level within their organization.”
During the virtual event, Dr. Brett Seidle, SES, executive director of the NAVSEA Warfare Centers, discussed the importance women have within the Warfare Centers.
“Events like these are important because it allows us to recognize the women throughout all the Warfare Centers, along with the contributions they have made,” said Sikes. “I hope people walked away from our event with a sense of pride and appreciation. We are One Team and we are all in charge of how we empower and inspire each other, whether it is knowingly or unknowingly. Bringing awareness and education to the command about Women’s History Month and how the women impact our very own Warfare Centers made this a successful event.”
Monica Queen, Deputy Director of ED&I at NSWC PCD, said the united Women of the Warfare Centers event enabled each Division to demonstrate and recognize those who exemplify and embrace the NAVSEA Warfare Centers Strategic Plan in everything they do in support of our nation’s warfighter.
“What better way to demonstrate the strategic plan in action than by recognizing 10 women from across the 10 NAVSEA Warfare Centers who emulate one strategic goal and one foundational value per Division,” said Queen. “Bringing together women from a variety of geographic locations, backgrounds, careers, and years of service not only show diversity of our workforce, but shows the inclusion of the One Team Warfare Center.”
Capt. David Back, NSWC PCD commanding officer, said Women’s History Month is a celebration of women’s contributions to history, culture and society.
“We honor our women from all levels in our community – both military and civilian – for their significant contributions towards protecting the United States and embodying the Department of Defense’s values that unite us all as One Team,” said Back.
Every year, each Warfare Center is assigned to a certain month and charged with hosting an observance as a Joint Warfare Center event in collaboration with the other Warfare Centers. Sikes explained why it was an honor for NSWC PCD to host Women’s History Month.
“Women’s History Month seeks to give credit where credit is due and this event specifically recognizes the women who have impacted our warfighters by embodying the qualities of our strategic plan in so many different ways,” she said. “This event is important to me personally because the Women of the Warfare Centers are also wives, mothers, sisters, friends and so much more. We get to lift up these amazing women and let them know their contributions to the workforce and their Command are not going unnoticed. We celebrate every One Team woman.”