May 9, 2014 | Vol. 3 | Issue 6
DAILY DIGEST
COMMAND CLIMATE SPECIALIST The new face of equal opportunity
PSC Joseph O’Malley, right, speaks with PS3 Julia Barrios.
Story and photo by MCSN (SW) Victoria Ochoa
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s the Navy expands the equal opportunity advisor (EOA) program to focus on command climate, Nimitz welcomes a new EOA, or as it’s now called, the command climate specialist. “The equal opportunity program once known as EO has been renamed and repurposed to fit a wider spectrum of issues in the Navy related to command climate,” said Chief Machinist’s Mate Joshua Jackson, from Frankfort, Ind., one of the current Nimitz command climate specialists. “We’re the direct point of con-
tact for equal opportunity, discrimination and sexual harassment complaints.” As the new primary command climate specialist (CCS), Chief Personnel Specialist Joseph O’Malley from Princeton, Ky., is adamant about his passion for equal opportunity in the Navy. “Everyone is important from E-1 to O-10,” said O’Malley. “We should coexist, work together and respect one another.” The process to become a CCS requires a training period and a thorough evaluation of
a candidate to qualify, but anyone who was a prior EOA that had a 9515 NEC was renamed to CCS immediately after the change. “Everyone who was an EOA automatically became a CCS,” said Jackson. “To get the 9515 NEC we had to go to a threemonth school in Cocoa Beach, Fla. at the Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute (DEOMI) at Patrick Air Force Base.” Command climate is exactly what it sounds like. The Navy is made up of a large variety of people from different Continued on page 3
NIMITZ
Sailor of the Day
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I like to do work, and I really don’t like to waste time. I always try to use it wisely. Stay productive all day. - ET3 (SW/AW) Corey Williams Combat Systems CS-5 Division
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May 7, 2014 Executive Officer Capt. J.J. Cummings Media DIVO
Ensign John Mike
Media LPO MC1 Michael Cole
Commanding Officer Command Master Chief Capt. Jeff Ruth
Public Affairs Officer Lt. Cmdr. Karin Burzynski
Editor
MC2 Phillip Ladouceur
CMDCM Greg Renick Media LCPO
MCC Gregory Roberts
Lead Designer
MC3 George J. Penney III
Media Department
MC2 Jacquelyn Childs | MC2 Devin Wray | MC2 Ryan Mayes | MC2 Jacob Milner | MC2 Jess Lewis | MC3 Shayne Johnson | MC3 Linda S. Swearingen | MC3 Vanessa David | MC3 W. J. Cousins | MC3 Nathan McDonald | MC3 Joshua Haiar | MC3 Kaitlyn Haskett | MC3 Eric Butler | MC3 Siobhana McEwen | MC3 Samuel Souvanason| MCSN Aiyana Paschal | MCSN Andrew W. Price | MCSN Kelly Agee | MCSN Victoria Ochoa | MCSN Eli Buguey | MCSN Lauren Jennings | MCSN Derek Volland | MCSA Kole Carpenter
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Nimitz News accepts submissions in writing. All submissions are subject to review and editing. “Nimitz News” is an authorized publication for the members of the military services and their families. Its content does not necessarily reflect the official views of the U.S. Government, the Department of Defense, the Department of the Navy, or the Marine Corps and does not imply endorsement thereby.
up. Back in homeport there’s still potential for stressors, but Sailors have more options. “While we’re in port Sailors have outs,” said Jackson. “They can go home, they go see movies and they leave the ship.” According to OPNAVINST 5354.1F and article 1164 of the Navy regulations, CCS’s deal with command climate, but more importantly deal with discrimination toward Sailors because of their sex, race, color, religion, or national origin. We are here to support and guide Sailors through the processes that are put in place by the Navy for them to exercise their rights and to make formal or informal complaints if
COVER STORY
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backgrounds and beliefs that must work together to achieve a common goal. Discord and disagreements are bound to happen, so the CCS’s purpose is to target the problem and fix it. “The purpose of a command climate specialist is to educate leadership and make sure that Sailors are aware of equal opportunity at their command,” said O’Malley. “The idea is to create an environment that is free of hostility.” At sea, working long hours, waiting in lines and missing family and friends can take a toll on Sailors mentally and physically. Tempers flare, opinions clash and stress levels go
they have been discriminated against, said O’Malley. If you need to report discrimination or a command climate issue, Jackson and O’Malley both have an open-door policy. “Just come by and knock on the door or shoot us an email,” said O’Malley. “We’re always available. If you see one of us walking around the ship just walk up to us and say, “Hey, Chief can I talk to you?”’ CCS’s are the new and improved EOAs. They’re ready and willing to support our Sailors and help make Nimitz a better place.
DODGEBALL TOURNAMENT Saturday May 10, 2014
Single Elimination Style Festivities Begin at 7 p.m. 7-Player Teams
Register team by 6:30 p.m., on night of event - Hangar Bay 2
FOR MORE INFORMATION - CONTACT THE FIT BOSS 3
FLEETWIDE CELEBRATING DIVERSITY
James C. Meng Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Enterprise Business Solutions
Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Observance Story by Army Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone C. Marshall Jr.
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his year’s Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month observance is a celebration of the ability to excel despite limited opportunities, a senior Navy official said here today. James C. Meng, deputy assistant secretary of the Navy for enterprise business solutions, discussed the Defense Department’s observance, with a theme of “I Am Beyond,” and the department’s efforts in diversity. “This [theme] was picked by the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center,” he said, “to … represent Asian-American and Pacific Islanders’ strong tendencies to excel despite very limited opportunities provided for us. “If you think retrospectively from the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1883 to [1943],” Meng continued, “and then Executive
Order 9066 that interned the Japanese-Americans in 1942, America really has come a very long way in evening the playing field for all its citizens.” Meng expressed his “sincere gratitude” for the sacrifices made in the U.S. civil rights movement. Asian-American and Pacific Islanders represent about 30 countries and ethnic groups, Meng noted, and they speak more than 100 different languages. “It represents a very diverse culture, he added. Meng noted President Barack Obama’s national defense strategy emphasizes a pivot to the Asia-Pacific region, and he said the AsianAmerican and Pacific Islander community has an opportunity to make more contributions to bridge any culture gaps in those initiatives. He cited former U.S. Sen.
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Daniel Inouye, Rep. Tammy Duckworth and Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric K. Shinseki as a few examples of distinguished service members who made a contribution defending American values and also being part of the community contributing to American society.” “They not only made those contributions,” Meng said. “They served as role models for the rest of the Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders to replicate that type of contribution.” It’s important for DOD to recognize their contributions, and also to remind the constantly renewing workforce that Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders are continuing to make contributions, he added. Multiple DOD initiatives, through its Office of Diversity Management and Equal Opportunity have been leveraging external nonprofit orga-
nizations, such as the Federal Asian-American and Pacific Islander Council and AsianAmerican Government Executive Network for mentoring, leadership and outreach, Meng said. “I have to say that I’m very, very impressed,” he added. “Due to my position over the past 10 years since I’ve been assigned to Washington, D.C., I have been exposed to [much] of the great work that they’ve been doing.” Meng noted he has worked with several chiefs of naval operations, including Adm. Mike Mullen, Adm. Gary Roughead and now Adm. Jonathan W. Greenert. “They have made enormous strides,” he said. “Back in 2008, we had only one Asian-American Pacific Islander flag officer,” he said. “But through their consistent effort, bringing about an emphasis [on this], now there are 12 flag officers, so in six years they had a 1,200 percent improvement.” That kind of change, he said, clearly delineates the commitment of the Navy’s leadership in making those changes. “I’m pretty sure the other services have made similar progress,” he said. “But since I work for the Navy, I’m more aware of it. Overall, I’m very impressed by what DOD and each service has been doing.” Meng encouraged young professionals to seek some of the many opportunities the DOD has to offer.
“There are so many opportunities for young professionals -- not just for Asian-Americans -- for all Americans,” he said. “I personally feel that this is a very fertile ground for young professionals to cultivate and pursue their passions.” He specifically noted opportunities in language, science, engineering and technology, where he said he believes that if people are willing to work for the department, they will have very productive careers. “Personally, I have been enormously grateful for the opportunities I’ve been given since I came to work for the
have helped him a great deal in accomplishing his missions. “The other important part is my ethnic background, which is very different from Western culture,” he said. “My professional experience and technical expertise [bring] a very different perspective and angle which, a lot times, contributes to finding the solutions that would otherwise be overlooked.” That aspect, Meng said, is a “fundamental reason” why the department is pursuing diversity, because many problems have been solved from bringing diverse approaches to the table. Meng again expressed his gratitude for DOD’s diversity and the many people who have shed their blood, overcome bias and engendered fair thinking. “Without their sacrifices, we would not be able to talk about those things that - Meng people like myself can contribute,” he said. “I perNavy for 27 years,” he said. sonally felt that I have made a Meng said he’s been “truly unique contribution.” challenged” by the eight difMeng also noted that Deputy ferent senior executive service Defense Secretary Bob Work, positions he’s held, and that then undersecretary of the they’ve been “very, very differ- Navy, listened to his recoment.” mendations to establish an ex“On the other hand,” he ecutive diversity council for the said, “without those high stan- Navy almost three years ago. dards, … when I look back, I “This is real progress,” he would have never been able to said. “These are real people accomplish what I have been dealing with real issues. I have able to contribute,” he said. full confidence that the Navy Meng said he believes his and other services are looking Asian culture is intrinsic of re- at the best practices to help acspecting people’s dignity, and celerate meeting overall diverhis collaborative tendencies sity management initiatives.”
America really has “come a very long way in evening the playing field for all its citizens.
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IN FOCUS
FR Douglas Blundell welds a pipe in the machine shop. -Photo by MCSN (SW) Kelly Agee
Sailors watch flight operations from the flight deck. -Photo by MC3 (SW) Siobhana R. McEwen
HM2 Paul Duarte, left, and Lt. Cmdr. Sarah Lawson perform oral surgery on Machinist’s Mate 3rd Class Tyler Boman.
Sailors move a training jet using the mobile crash crane during a drill on the flight deck. -Photo by MC3 (SW) Eric Butler
- Photo by MCSN (SW) Aiyana Paschal
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