Naval Surface Warfare Center, Philadelphia Division, Pa. –
Naval Surface Warfare Center, Philadelphia Division’s “Many Voices” team won a Silver Medal during the annual Philadelphia Federal Executive Board (FEB) Excellence in Government Awards Ceremony conducted at the William J. Green Federal Building in downtown Philadelphia on May 4, 2022.
Held each year during Public Service Recognition Week the first week of May, the awards ceremony celebrates achievements in public service by recognizing Philadelphia regional federal government personnel in a number of categories including Outstanding Achievement (Supervisory/Manager and Non-Supervisor), Outstanding Mentor/Coach, and Steadfast Achievement, among others.
This year, the Philadelphia FEB received 66 nominations from 15 federal agencies representing 760 federal employees in nine categories (seven individuals and two groups). There were 40 nominations for individuals and 26 nominations for groups.
“Many Voices” won in the Adele Mayo Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO)/Leadership Award that recognizes “outstanding achievements in promoting and contributing to the effectiveness of EEO/Diversity Programs, as well as demonstrated commitment to building or maintaining a fully integrated workforce through effective actions and communications with employees and management,” according to the awards ceremony program.
“This award is the culmination of the hard work and time put in by the team to create a diverse workforce and to transform our command into the workplace of the future,” said NSWCPD’s Deputy EEO Robert Turner upon receiving the silver.
Originally kicked off in April 2021, NSWCPD’s “Many Voices” initiative stems from the 2020 “Many Voices – One NAVSEA (Naval Sea Systems Command) - A NAVSEA Forum: Candid Conversations Dealing with Conversations on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion,” a response to an annual command climate survey and focus groups constructed to improve the work environment. This six-month “Many Voices” pilot program consisted of five groups totaling 83 employees who participated in lively monthly sessions to tackle complex topics to help the workforce embrace diversity and inclusion. At the end of the pilot program each small group presented their “capstone project” to NSWCPD leadership. Topics briefed included equity in the promotion process, communication is key, building effective and inclusion teams that value all career fields, digital tools strategy, and emotional intelligence.
“Many Voices” team members recognized in addition to Turner were: Nigel Thijs, Theresa Steck, Dawn Ware, Karen Dunlevy Miller, Matthew Iannone, Cynthia Esposito, Rayann Surel, Scott Harris, Margaret Kenyon, Crystal Roach, Schalor Blackshear, Pamela Rogers, Edwin Rosa, Noah Zorzi, and Karen Gutmaker.
In addition to the “Many Voices” team, after the official ceremony a number of NSWCPD personnel were recognized with Distinguished Nominee Certificates, including:
• Collaboration Champions category: COVID Contracts Cost/Price Team (CARES) Team with NSWCPD members Latoya Deaton, Peter Moskalow, and Joseph Ward, and from Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA Mark Oertel)
• Outstanding Achievement in the COVID Environment-Group category: Total Ship Information Management System (TSIMS) Development Team: Michael Roantree and Timothy Lamey
• Outstanding Achievement Non-Supervisory category: Michael D’Elia
• Outstanding Mentor/Coach: Vickie Miller
• Steadfast Achievement category: John Reed
Also, recognized during the ceremony as incoming FEB Partners in Equality (PIE) Council Chairs were NSWCPD’s Crystal Roach and Alexandra “Alex” Minichino. According to the awards ceremony program “PIE Council members are involved in diversity, inclusion, and EEO, and strive to create a workplace that is welcoming and supporting of all. The PIE Council plans the EEO/Diversity Day of Training each year and offers three additional quarterly meetings on EEO, diversity, leadership, and management issues. The PIE Council manages the ADR/Shared Neutrals program and supplies mediators for Philadelphia FEB agencies that request a mediation. They also represent federal agencies at college career fairs and other recruitment events.
In addition, Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) awards and Vietnam War Veterans were recognized during the in-person event that was also live streamed.