2015 US Black Engineer & Information Technology | HOMELAND SECURITY - VOL. 39, NO. 4

A Look Back at 10 Years of Stripes & Stripes at the BEYA STEM Conference

Admiral John M. Richardson Chief of Naval Operations U.S. Navy

Admiral Cecil D. Haney Commander U.S. Strategic Command

Admiral Michelle J. Howard Vice Chief of Naval Operations U.S. Navy

Military to Civilian Successful Transitions from the Military to Corporate America

NAVY’S FIRST FEMALE FOUR-STAR ADMIRAL

USBE&IT Homeland Security, Government & Defense Edition 2015 www.blackengineer.com

Y R T S U IND IEW OVERV ETs FOR V

NOW THE MOST READ BLACK TECHNOLOGY MAGAZINE REACHING OVER 100,000 READERS IN THE UNITED STATES, UK, AND SOUTH AFRICA

CONTEN US BLACK ENGINEER & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

BRINGING TECHNOLOGY NEWS TO THE STEM COMMUNITY

Publisher’s Page..................................................3 FEATURES

Highest-ranking woman in the Navy .16 Cover Story: Michelle Howard is a history of

firsts. She is the Navy’s first female four-star admiral and first woman to serve as vice chief of naval operations.

Stars & Stripes: A Portrait of Greatness......................60

Photo Essay of Stars and Stripes over the decade.

Leading Black defense employees with vital roles in securing America and preserving our freedoms...................21 ➥ Top Blacks in the United States Military ➥ Top Blacks in Senior Executive Service

Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO) Adm. Michelle Howard (U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Peter D. Lawlor) 2 USBE&IT I WINTER 2015

➥ Generals and Admirals share Leadership Secrets www.blackengineer.com

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Vo l u m e 3 9 N u m b e r 4 PROFILES IN INNOVATION

People and Events.................... 6 GW VALOR Wins Veterans Services Award.

One on One................................ 8

Adm. Cecil Haney on STEM Careers in the Military.

BEST PRACTICES FOR SUCCESS

Career Voices.......................... 10 From the high seas to high corporate rank.

Corporate Life......................... 12 Having a plan helps vets to transition to corporate careers.

First Steps.............................. 14 Diversity and the Success of Entering Classes at West Point, Colorado Springs, and Annapolis.

PUBLISHER’S PAGE

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lack Engineer magazine wraps up 2015— as we’ve done for more than a decade— with a spotlight on the achievements and contributions of Blacks in the defense community.

Looking back, our armed forces have faced a lot of challenges in 2015, but despite it all, the U.S. Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard have played as decisive a role as they have throughout the history of the United States.

The Department of Defense, which is America’s oldest and largest government agency, with 1.4 million active duty service members in the Army, Air Force, Navy, and Marines, provides the military with what is needed to deter war and to protect the security of our country. According to one defense research directorate, science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education enables the U.S. to remain an economic and technological world leader.

Recent data also shows that the United States spends $554.2 billion annually with significant capabilities in both defense and power projection thanks to its advanced and powerful equipment and its widespread deployment of force around the world.

By developing talent in science, mathematics, technology, and engineering, students advance research for current and future generations of young people pursuing careers in STEM fields. The Department of Defense, the nation’s largest employer has a long history of supporting STEM initiatives at local, regional, and national levels.

The department is also always on the lookout for what is the best for America. They seek applicants from all backgrounds, from students to veterans in the National Guard and Reserve forces and 800,000-strong civilian personnel.

Starting off Black Engineer of the Year Awards’ (BEYA) 30th year on this note, I cannot but wish you success. Black Engineer magazine hopes that 2016 will hold even better prospects.

EDUCATION

Education................................ 76 Sustained mentoring program has Goal of stocking stem pipeline.

Book Review........................... 78

Tyrone D. Taborn Publisher and Editorial Director

Retired Army paratrooper puts out call to action with The Work

CAREER OUTLOOK...............79 ➲ Veteran-Friendly Employers ➲ 2015 Freedom Award recipients ➲ Military Veterans Make Great Entrepreneurs

GOING STRONG Count Us In: Standing on the Shoulders of Excellence

February 18-20, 2016 | Philadelphia, PA www.beya.org For more information, call us at 410-244-7101

GOING STRONG

years

GOING STRONG

USBE&IT I WINTER 2015 3 GOING STRONG

ďƒœSave the Date EXECUTIVE OFFICE Tyrone D. Taborn, Publisher and Editorial Director Jean Hamilton, President and CFO EDITORIAL Rayondon Kennedy, Assistant Editor Lango Deen, Technology Editor Michael Fletcher, Contributing Editor Gale Horton Gay, Contributing Editor M.V. Greene, Contributing Editor Frank McCoy, Contributing Editor Garland L. Thompson, Contributing Editor Roger Witherspoon, Contributing Editor GRAPHIC DESIGN Sherley Taliaferro, Art Director Joe Weaver, Global Design Interactive Bryan Clapper, Contributing Graphic Designer CORPORATE DEVELOPMENT Eric Price, Vice President, Recruitment and Training Lisa Crawford, STEM Recruitment Specialist Rod Carter, Recruitment Specialist, College Relations Matt Bowman, Veterans Affairs Angela Wheeler, Manager, Foundation for Educational Development Genevieve Kester, Recruitment Specialist Ty Taborn, Corporate Development Imani Carter, Corporate Communications Specialist SALES AND MARKETING Alex Venetta, Associate Publisher, Manager of Partner Services Gwendolyn Bethea, Vice President, Corporate Development Devin Oten, Senior Account Manager Sheri Hewson, Account Executive ADMINISTRATION Aisha Eversley, Admin Support CONFERENCE AND EVENTS Ana Bertrand, Conference Coordinator Monica Emerson, Women of Color STEM Conference National Chair Sheila Richburg, College Coordinator Toni Robinson, 360 MMG Rutherford & Associate 17304 Preston Road, Suite 1020, Dallas, Texas 75252 ADVERTISING SALES OFFICE Career Communications Group, Inc. 729 E. Pratt Street, Suite 504, Baltimore, MD 21202 Phone: (410) 244-7101 / Fax: (410) 752-1834

Count Us In: Standing on the Shoulders of Excellence

February 18-20, 2016 Philadelphia, PA Don’t miss this historic event! www.beya.org For more information, call us at 410-244-7101

US Black Engineer & Information Technology (ISSN 1088-3444) is a publication devoted to engineering, science, and technology and to promoting opportunities in those fields for Black Americans. The editors invite submissions directed toward the goals of US Black Engineer & Information Technology. In particular, we wish to present ideas and current events concerning science and technology, and personality profiles of successful Blacks in these fields and related business pursuits. Fully developed articles may be sent for consideration, but queries are encouraged. US Black Engineer & Information Technology invites letters to the editor about any topics important to our readership. Articles and letters should be sent to: US Black Engineer & Information Technology, Editorial Department, 729 E Pratt St., Suite 504, Baltimore, MD 21202. No manuscript will be returned unless accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope. US Black Engineer & Information Technology cannot be responsible for unsolicited art or editorial material. This publication is bulk-mailed to 150 colleges and universities nationwide. Subscriptions are $26/year. Please write to US Black Engineer & Information Technology, Subscriptions, 729 E. Pratt St., Suite 504, Baltimore, MD 21202. Copyright (c) 2015 by Career Communications Group, Inc. All rights reserved. Printed in the U.S.A.

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PROFILES IN INNOVATION We celebrate the men and women who are reinventing and reenergizing STEM, business, and government.

People and Events

by editors@ccgmag.com

GW VALOR WINS VETERANS SERVICES AWARD

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ice Admiral (Ret.) Mel Williams, George Washington University’s associate provost for military and veterans affairs, accepted an award from Mission Complete November 2015 in acknowledgment of GW’s record of service to the veteran and military communities.

George Washington University’s Veterans Accelerate Learning Opportunity (GW VALOR), which coordinates the several university offices that help military members, veterans, and their families succeed at GW, received an inaugural Vetty Award from Mission Complete in acknowledgment of its record of service to the veteran and military communities.

The GW VALOR team helps veteran and military students network, navigate their benefits, and find jobs or scholarships.

Vice Admiral Williams accepted the award at Lisner Auditorium, located on the campus of George Washington University.

“It’s a true honor and very unexpected,” Adm. Williams said. “We accept this award on behalf of the more than 1,500 students who are helped by GW VALOR in honor of their service and sacrifice.”

In an interview, Victoria Pridemore, associate director of military and student services, said GW Valor’s work is “a labor of love.”

“Any time an outside organization recognizes that, it’s very humbling and gratifying,” she said.

Vice Admiral (Ret.) Mel Williams, George Washington University’s associate provost for military and veterans affairs, accepts inaugural award for military veterans.

OBITUARIES Lt. Gen. Frank E. Petersen Jr., the first Black American Marine Corps pilot, died August 25, aged 83. He was promoted to brigadier general on February 23, 1979, becoming the first African American to hold that rank in the Marine Corps.

During his career, Petersen flew more than 350 combat missions and more than 4,000 hours in military aircraft. He earned the Distinguished Flying Cross for his performances on 64 combat missions in Korea, and he received the Purple Heart for being wounded when he had to eject because his plane was struck by anti-aircraft fire. Born March 2, 1932, in Topeka, Kansas, he was commissioned in the Marine Corps in 1952 after serving two years in the Navy. Petersen retired as a lieutenant general in 1988.

Claude M. Bolton Jr. died July 28. Bolton retired from the Air Force in 2002 as major general. In 2008 he 6 USBE&IT I WINTER 2015

became Executive-inResidence of the Defense Acquisition University. As the commanding officer of the Air Force Security Assistance Center 2000–2002, Bolton was responsible for overseeing sales of $90 billion in military equipment. In 2002 President Bush nominated Bolton to be Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology. Bolton held this office from 2002 to 2008. He was born in 1945 in Iowa and received a bachelor’s in Electrical Engineering in 1969 at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.

During the course of the Vietnam War, Bolton logged 2,700 hours and later became a command pilot. Bolton spent the next phase of his career in program management of the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor System for the General

Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon, and for fighter and bomber programs in Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Acquisition).

No one knows how many young Black men went through the “Tuskegee Experience,” but quite a few of that pioneering group of World War II fighter pilots and service personnel have passed away. According to Chuck on Brigade. com, the Tuskegee Airmen lost two more members in 2015. Clarence Huntley Jr. and Joseph Shambrey both died in Los Angeles on January 5. The two men, who were lifelong friends and born within six weeks of one another, were 91.

Joseph Shambrey (left) and Clarence E. Huntley Jr. enlisted in the Army

www.blackengineer.com

Cmdr. Zeita Merchant greets Dr. Olivia Hooker during a dedication ceremony at Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington, DC, June 11. The Dr. Olivia J. Hooker Training Center was named after the first African-American woman in the Coast Guard. U.S. Coast Guard (photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Patrick Kelley)

HONORING LIVING HISTORY

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n the seventh floor of Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington, DC, Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Paul Zukunft dedicated a training center within the building in Dr. Olivia Hooker’s honor in June.

Hooker was the first African-American woman to enlist in the Coast Guard. In March 1945, after hitting a snag while trying to enlist in the Navy because of racial barriers, Hooker was accepted into the Coast Guard, where she served as a yeoman in Boston typing discharge paperwork in the separation center. In June 1946 the Coast Guard’s SPAR program, derived from the Coast Guard’s motto “Semper Paratus, Always Ready,” disbanded, and she left the office as a petty officer 2nd class.

After her service in the Coast Guard, Hooker went on to earn her master’s in psychological services from Teachers College at Columbia University and then received her doctorate as a school psychologist from the University of Rochester. She retired at 87 years old. This year she proudly reached the age of 100. www.blackengineer.com

EVENTS

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OCKS, Inc. has scheduled its 2nd Annual Conference for April 21–23, 2016. The organization has positioned itself as an essential leader in providing developmental guidance to members of the Army officer corps and Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) cadets.

The Military Officers Association of America held its 2015 Annual Meeting October 29–31 at the Buena Vista Palace Hotel in Orlando, FL. Events included a military- and spouse-friendly career fair, the Community Heroes Award Night, and lunch with the chairman.

The Air Force Association held the 2015 AFA Air and Space Conference September 14–16 at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland. This year’s theme of “Reinventing the Aerospace Nation” was the focus of the three-day conference.

The National Naval Officers Association 2015 Professional Development and Training Conference was held July 28–30 at the Admiral Kidd Center on Point Loma Naval Base in San Diego. This year’s conference theme was “NNOA, Many Backgrounds…One Mission!”

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PROFILES IN INNOVATION

One on One

by Lango Deen ldeen@ccgmag.com

ADMIRAL CECIL HANEY GETS THE WORD OUT ABOUT MILITARY CAREERS worked at the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) in Crystal City, south of downtown Washington, DC. NAVSEA designs, builds, delivers, and maintains ships and systems for the U.S. Navy.

“Although I used to label that as a program to get us knuckleheads off the street, it was a good program,” Haney recalls.

“It took us to different labs all around the area.”

One of those laboratories was NAVSEA’s Carderock, MD, division, known as the birthplace of naval technology. Carderock provides support for imU.S. Strategic Commander Adm. Cecil D. Haney (left) observes as the Ohio-class proving the performance ballistic missile submarine USS Kentucky’s assistant weapons officer, Lt. Rick of ships, submarines, Bates, gives instructions during the 156th successful test flight of an unarmed Trident II D5 missile, Nov. 7, 2015. Strategic weapons tests, along with exercises military water craft, and and operations, demonstrate the readiness of the nation’s nuclear triad, assuring America’s allies and deterring potential adversaries. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass unmanned vehicles as Communication Specialist 1st Class Byron C. Linder) well as research for military logistics systems.

Haney’s main job at Crystal City was as xperts say some of the most popular reasons young a key punch operator for mainframes—room-sized computers people give for joining the military include a chance to used for big enterprise applications and bulk data processing. see the world and gain new experience as well as tangible There, his supervisors encouraged him to learn software coding, benefits such as education, training, and pay.

COBOL and FORTRAN programming languages, which gave For young Cecil Haney, born in Washington, DC, to a hardhim a leg up. Haney was such a good intern that they wanted to working, low-income family, he simply needed a job that could hire him fulltime. But he had his heart set on the Marine Corps, help him save for college and medical school. Back then, Haney saving money, and putting himself through college. When his didn’t really know much about military colleges, service acadsupervisors heard that, they teamed him up with a Navy captain, emies, or the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program. who shared information about the many opportunities that were All he knew of the Army and Navy was that they came together available. on the football field.

“He enlightened me about the ROTC program and the acadA product of Washington, DC, public schools, Haney reemies,” Haney said. members two high school teachers who gave him a “jumpstart” Haney applied to all the service academies — Army, Navy, into science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). They Air Force, Coast Guard — fulfilling his dreams of going to colstretched him in class and labs and got him exploring science at lege and joining the military. local fairs in the district and at even bigger competitions in San Later that summer, as he stood in line as a new plebe at Diego and Illinois. the U.S. Naval Academy, he got handed a paper that said the From that early exposure came an internship that would premedical program had been cancelled. make all the difference. For two summers in a row, Haney

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8 USBE&IT I WINTER 2015

www.blackengineer.com

“I had to go look at what else I might do,” he said.

During the fast-paced boot camp-style orientation that begins four years of preparation of Midshipmen for commissioning as naval officers, Haney learned about submarines, things he knew nothing about in high school.

“Going through the Admiral Rickover interview gave me an opportunity to be a submariner,” he said.

Admiral Hyman George Rickover, known as the “Father of the Nuclear Navy,” drove the production of more than 200 nuclear-powered submarines and 23 nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and cruisers over 30 years.

A 1978 Naval Academy ocean engineering degree gave Haney access to that exclusive world and a rewarding military career.

Today, Admiral Haney commands one of the nine Unified Combatant Commands in the Department of Defense. The U.S. Strategic Command is responsible for space operations, cyber space operations, strategic deterrence, and the global command and control of U.S. strategic forces to meet national security objectives, providing strategic capabilities and options for the President and Secretary of Defense, from deep beneath the seas to geosynchronous orbits in space.

Before taking command at the U.S. Strategic Command in 2013, Haney was commander of the U.S. Navy’s Pacific Fleet.

From January 2012 to October 2013, the admiral was at the helm of the world’s largest fleet, leading a new generation of 125,000 sailors, Marines, and civilians, who operate about 180 ships and 2,000 aircraft.

Haney said things are no different from when he was a “young pup.”

“Whether they are submariners, Air Force, soldiers, or Marine Corps professionals in the uniformed service or going into civil service supporting the military, we have great people in that regard,” he said.

“It’s been an interesting journey,” the admiral says of his 37-year career.

Success for any person at the level he is at today lies for the most part in working with people that help you along the way, he added. “It starts, of course, with my parents, who had no college education. But you couldn’t have met people who were more fired up about me and my siblings going to college, even though our ability to afford to do so wasn’t there,” he said.

“Then I was exposed to sailors, commanding officers, and leaders who were passionate about the job they were doing and ensuring you had help along the way. My first commanding officer and chief petty officer were folks that didn’t look like me or have the same background, but they made sure you had the requisite training, mentorship, and building on the appetite for learning that had already been instilled by my parents. And that repeated itself from tour to tour,” Haney said.

Along the way, there were opportunities to study more engineering at the Naval Postgraduate School operated by the United States Navy in Monterey, California, go out to underwater labs in Rhode Island and Florida, travel in a variety of different www.blackengineer.com

submarines, serve on shore assignments, and learn about how to manage up and down the human resources line.

Every assignment he took was a growth spurt, with people above or below him in military rank ready to help.

At the National War College of the United States, a school in the National Defense University in Washington, DC, he got to understand the military’s strategic mission. A congressional liaison position helped him to see firsthand how Washington works.

As a naval professional, he also got to travel the world and experience wonders of the world such as the Panama Canal, Surigao in the Philippines, the Korean Peninsula, Nagasaki Peace Park, and most recently New Zealand.

“Look at where my journey started,” Haney said.

“Getting exposed to the military before I joined the military was a seminal event. That one officer planting a seed of opportunity at the academies in a kid who couldn’t afford to go straight to college and had an appetite for the military is what I call a very important piece,” Haney reflected.

“Throughout my career, particularly when I had fewer responsibilities than I do today, I’ve spent a lot of time going to JROTCs in public schools, to the Rickover Academy in Chicago, and Navy ROTCs in schools across the nation,” he said. “Going around the country, I would look for those opportunities to reach out and influence our young people.”

Robotics fairs, career days at local high schools, and volunteering at the U.S. Naval Academy have also been avenues that the admiral has taken advantage of to get the word out about opportunities in the military.

“Do we have more work to do? We always have more work to do, and we have to keep at it, whether in civilian clothes or uniform,” the admiral said.

Thinking about a service academy?

Admiral Haney has 5 tips: 1. C heck out the plethora of opportunities 2. T ake advantage of the many options and programs 3. Learn as much as you can 4. Use the easy access to the services 5. K eep your nose clean so you can pass security clearances Contact your local U.S. Armed Forces recruiter or visit the Internet for more information.

USBE&IT I WINTER 2015 9

BEST PRACTICES FOR SUCCESS Some of the brightest minds in STEM, business and government offer their insights and advice about living and working to one’s best potential.

Career Voices

by Garland L. Thompson gthompson@ccgmag.com

FROM THE HIGH SEAS TO HIGH CORPORATE RANK LOOKING OVER THE CAREER OF GENERAL MOTORS’ KEN BARRETT, SEVERAL TRUTHS STAND OUT: 1. Experience counts.

And in uniformed service in the U.S. military, experience in the operating ranks rolls out fast and furious. That experience, as Barrett might be the first to say, puts a young career climber into situations — handling multi-million-dollars’ worth of high-tech gear and leading high-performing team members — few civilian workers ever get to match. That experience provides preparation that the service veteran carries with him or her once the veteran leaves active military service.

In Barrett’s case, as a young liberal arts graduate and Naval ROTC midshipman out of Holy Cross College, he went to sea as a line officer, working his way through posts as a shipboard deck officer in the amphibious fleet, aboard aircraft carriers, and even on a destroyer, where he rose to become Operations Officer.

Aboard the amphibious ship Belleau Wood, he served a tour as Executive Officer. He also served as a staff officer in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, a proving ground from which many former U.S. servicemen and women emerged as high performers in later corporate careers.

2. Military service offers unparalleled opportunities for enhanced education, all at government expense.

Barrett, who majored in political science at Holy Cross, spent 28 years in active naval service, on the way earning a master’s degree in national security and strategic studies from the Naval War College as well as an executive master’s degree from the Naval Post-Graduate School. Continuing his education while in uniform, Barrett, a graduate of the Armed Forces Staff College, also completed the Federal Executive Senior Fellow Program at Harvard University.

That preparation not only equipped Barrett for high leadership responsibilities in uniformed ranks but also helped him develop skillsets directly applicable for major, corporation-wide responsibilities at General Motors, where he is now Chief Diversity Officer.

3. Military service pushes a uniformed careerclimber to learn to face social issues as well as technological ones in order to solve management problems also of major import to the corporations to whose ranks veterans migrate after their days in uniform are over.

Barrett, who had served on admirals’ staffs in the Fleet, rose to the rank of Captain, USN, and also served as Naval Advisor to U.S. Ambassador Bill Richardson at the United Nations. He also was able to lead naval recruiting efforts while stationed in San Diego, and that began his preparation for his work leading diversity efforts at GM. 10 USBE&IT I WINTER 2015

4. Strong performance in military ranks can resound far outside the military’s command structure.

At the Pentagon, Barrett led the Navy’s Strategic Diversity Working Group, which won recognition by the Association of Diversity Councils as the nation’s No. 1 Diversity Council.

Recognition continued when DiversityInc. also selected Kenneth J. Barrett, General the Navy as the Top Federal Motors, Chief Diversity Officer Agency.

Barrett won multiple honors in uniform, including a Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal with two stars, a Navy Commendation Medal with three stars, and the Navy Achievement Medal, as well as other awards for unit excellence and campaign medals.

But one of his highest kudos came when his efforts as lead of the Navy’s Task Force Work/Life won recognition with a Ted Childs Work Life Excellence Award.

Toward the end of his service career, Barrett began to think about what he’d do next. Interviewed for this article, he said that networking was critical in helping him sharpen his approach to civilian career posts. He’d served as the Under Secretary of Defense’s Acting Director of the Office of Diversity Management and Equal Opportunity in Washington, D.C., Barrett said, and he first believed he’d remain in the D.C. area, working for one of the many consulting companies that serve official Washington.

Shifting to Different Targets What he learned in those networking sessions opened his eyes to the very different possibilities for a person with his experience for career moves far outside the Capital Beltway.

Listening to the advice of others and modifying his resume to better target the kind of posts for which Barrett’s military experience best fitted him led him to Detroit to apply at GM, where he’s served as Chief Diversity Officer for three years, working in an environment where his reach extends across the spectrum of corporate HR issues, decisions, recruitment, and employee retention efforts.

Thus, at GM, Barrett continues to work with top decision makers just as he did in naval uniform. The bottom line, he says, is that anyone seeking to bring change and implement new programs must have the ear of the CEO to get things done. Without that, diversity talking points can get lost in the shuffle. With the CEO’s sign-off, as Barrett says, “It’s less about talking and more about doing.” www.blackengineer.com

BEST PRACTICES FOR SUCCESS

Corporate Life

By Gale Horton Gay Contributing Editor

HAVING A PLAN HELPS VETS TRANSITION TO CORPORATE CAREERS

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erving in the military benefits the country and can be tremendously advantageous to those soldiers that make up our armed forces.

Drilled and groomed to be part of a team, military men and women are taught to follow commands, operate under pressure, persevere under extreme circumstances, make tough decisions, and lead others in accomplishing goals. And when their service comes to an end, some soldiers are capitalizing on these skills and experiences to transition to careers in corporate America — many with outstanding success.

Harry Wingo is one of those success stories.

Wingo is a former Navy Seal who has used his military training and experience to build a stellar career. Since leaving the military in 1995, Wingo has excelled in various jobs, including as a federal lobbyist and entrepreneur in cyber security.

When it was time to leave the Navy after six and a half years, Wingo decided to follow in his father’s footsteps and become a lawyer. After graduating from Yale Law School, Wingo worked in communications law for several years before other opportunities came his way. He has worked for the Federal Communications Commission and Google. He’s now president and CEO of the DC Chamber of Commerce, where he oversees the nonprofit’s $3.5 million budget. He said the experience he gained from working in diverse professional capacities has been invaluable.

Wingo said soldiers are trained to persevere, pay attention to detail, be resilient, be committed, and, most importantly, work well with others on complex assignments, often in adverse circumstances. These characteristics are particularly beneficial in business environments — both for the individual and corporations.

In order to have a smooth transition to civilian life with a corporate career, Wingo suggests beginning work well before being discharged, networking extensively and developing a strategic plan.

“You have to find people to be your mentor, to help you, invest in your success, and grow as a civilian,” he advises.

Wingo is just one of many veterans who are finding the marketable value of their military experiencing and are parlaying that into benefits in post-service careers. Others include Jemal Gibson, who was an infantry officer. Since leaving the Army, he’s held positions of increasing responsi12 USBE&IT I WINTER 2015

bility. He’s currently senior regional director of sales for pharmaceutical company Alkermes and previously worked for Pfizer, AstraZeneca, and others, according to his LinkedIn profile.

“He’s had responsibility for selling and marketing over 30 brands, some are the most successful brands in the history of pharmaceuticals; 14 generating 1 billion or more in sales. Jemal has launched more than 10 new drugs playing a major role in various aspects of the launch plans from sales force optimization, marketing strategies, message development, customer alliances, sales force training and more,” states his profile.

Corporate life can be richly beneficial for veterans as well as for the companies that hire them.

“For companies, you can’t find a more loyal employee than a vet,” said Wingo.

Many corporations apparently agree.

General Electric, for example, states on its website that it doesn’t hire veterans simply because they’re veterans but because they are qualified.

“Your service made you a leader and a disciplined, strategic thinker with a level of loyalty that is unmatched,” states GE on the “Jobs for Veterans” page of its website. “At GE, we recognize and value your strengths, which makes us a great choice for your civilian career.”

Raytheon Co. makes a direct pitch to vets that are leaving the military in a section tagged “transitioning military.”

“The Raytheon culture has enormous respect for military service. Our customers are the men and women defending our nation,” the site states. “A number of our employees also serve in the Reserves, National Guard or are military veterans themselves.

“As a premier supplier of technologies to the U.S. military and our allies, Raytheon values the strategic and tactical talents that only veterans can offer,” states Raytheon in the careers section of its website. “Working with us provides an opportunity to bring your battlefield skills to the private sector for a successful transition into the civilian workforce.”

And Forbes Magazine reported in April 2015 that aerospace and engineer giants Lockheed Martin, Boeing, and Northrop Grumman were the top three employers of veterans.

Photo by Joanne lawton

Harry Wingo, President and CEO, District of Columbia Chamber of Commerce www.blackengineer.com

BEST PRACTICES FOR SUCCESS

First Steps

By Lango Deen ldeen@ccgmag.com

DIVERSITY AT U.S. MILITARY ACADEMIES

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iversity of experience, talent, ideas and perspective give the United States military advantage in achieving mission success and maintaining the highest state of readiness, but the service academies still don’t reflect the public they serve and the forces they lead.

The service academies, also known as the United States military academies, are federal academies for the undergraduate education and training of commissioned officers for the United States Armed Forces.

They include the U.S. Military Academy (Army) in West Point, New York; the U.S. Naval Academy (Navy/Marine Corps) in Annapolis, Maryland; the U.S. Air Force Academy (Air Force) in Colorado Springs, Colorado; the U.S. Coast Guard Academy (Coast Guard) in New London, Connecticut; and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, New York.

The academies provide tuition-free, four-year undergraduate education and prepare entrants to be officers of the U.S. military services. Graduates are commissioned as officers for a minimum

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of five years.

In July 2007, Congress expressed concern about the diversity of cadets/midshipmen selected by the nation’s military service academies and asked the Secretary of Defense to conduct an assessment of the recruiting efforts, admission policies, graduation rates, and career success rates of entrants and graduates at the USMA, the USAFA, and the USNA. Building the bench It’s been five years since the landmark report “Diversity of Service Academy Entrants and Graduates” was published, yet Blacks still have lower graduation rates than Whites. And, despite, recent increases, this continues to be the case.

The report examined data on the academies’ classes over the past ten years to evaluate past trends. They also had data on classes that graduated between 2010 and 2013. According to the 2010 report, differences in graduation rates were 3 percentage points in the USMA, 5 percentage points in the USAFA, and 11 percentage points in the USNA. www.blackengineer.com

Increased diversity is an important part of a dynamic and vibrant Academy and maritime community.

The Secretary of Defense was asked to provide an action plan detailing ways to improve diversity and representation among the nation’s service academies.

Some service academies — overseen by the three military departments of the Department of Defense (the Army, Air Force, and Navy, respectively) have explored Project Outreach, the primary minority recruitment tool.

At West Point, for example, five recent graduates spend a 13-month tour traveling throughout selected U.S. regions to identify and nurture candidates.

Other programs include having prospective recruits make weekend visits to USMA and the United States Military Academy Prep School, or outreach officers and the minority admissions officer converge on one city to mass resources.

Representatives also visit with the Congressional Black and Hispanic Caucuses to set up academy days and place cadets as interns in local and Washington, D.C., offices. In other programs, minority cadets participate in hometown visits and academy days, and current cadets interact with candidates via phone.

Sources at the USMA Directorate of Admissions say they are working on increasing outreach efforts with Congressional Black Caucus members to increase nominations.

They also have partnerships to establish feeder schools for African-American recruits. Such efforts will help understand school attributes that are a good predictor of cadet candidacy, the USMA adds.

Are the numbers catching up?

Lt. Gen. Robert L. Caslen, Jr., superintendent of the United States Military Academy, says although the 40-year all-volunteer www.blackengineer.com

Army gave America the army we have today, it doesn’t necessarily reflect who the nation is.

“We face some critical gaps, both geographically and within some of our ethnicities,” the general said.

“We’ve taken a number of steps to close those gaps and we’re making progress. For example, our initiatives aimed at the African American community have resulted in an increase in that demographic for incoming classes, growLt. Gen. Robert L. Caslen, Jr., ing from 8 to 9 percent, to superintendent of the United most recently, the Classes States Military Academy of 2018 and 2019 coming in at 14 percent and 15 percent respectively. Going forward, we expect a candidate pipeline of about 2,500 African Americans with open admission files,” LTG Caslen said.

According to the report, each of the service academies admits between 1,100 and 1,350 entrants each year, and this has remained consistent over time and across the three academies.

Rear Adm. James A. Helis, superintendent of the United States Merchant Marine Academy, says diversity at the Academy has increased by 12.2 percent from 2010 to 2014.

“We have a diversity recruitment specialist who is dedicated to increasing the number of minority applicants. She is targeting the nation’s diverse markets to increase awareness of the Academy and Rear Adm. James the maritime industry. Additionally, we A. Helis, superhave increased our efforts to partner with intendent of the community-based organizations, Chambers United States Merchant Marine of Commerce, and STEM programs to gain Academy access to larger pools of qualified diversified applicants,” the admiral said.

LTG Caslen notes that achieving and sustaining excellence, whether in higher learning, the halls of government, corporate boardrooms or on the fields of battle, requires a team that brings a diversity of experience, talent, ideas and perspective, as well as gender, ethnicity, faith or no faith, sexual orientation, education and cultural background.

“Leveraging diversity leads to better teaching and learning, problem-solving and organizational readiness across the spectrum,” he noted.

“It also provides the unique talents of individuals to the betterment of the whole. At West Point, that diversity also ensures we have the talent necessary to equip our graduates with the skills and competencies needed to lead a diverse and multicultural 21st century Army,” the general said.

USBE&IT I WINTER 2015 15

by Michael A. Fletcher mfletcher@ccgmag.com

VICE CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS

Adm. Michelle Howard

Highest-Ranking

Woman in the Navy 16 USBE&IT I WINTER 2015

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A

dmiral Michelle J. Howard had no idea that her Navy career would even be possible when she was growing up. Back then, there were

no women commanding ships, no women leading combat operations, and certainly no female four-star admirals. It was not until 1976 that women were even admitted to the nation’s military academies.

Despite that, Howard dared to dream, and she worked hard to persevere. And that is paying off in a career studded with spectacular achievement. In 2014 she was named vice chief of naval operations and became the first female four-star in the Navy’s then 239-year history. She is also the highest-ranking AfricanAmerican woman in the Navy.

Her career may be path-breaking, but do not ask Howard about the racial and gender obstacles she had to overcome. As she sees it, those hurdles were beside the point because they did not deter her. She prefers to talk about the abundant opportunities that allowed her to rise to the top of the Navy.

Howard says she has always been intrigued by the military.

She likes it all: the pomp and circumstance, the teamwork, and selflessness that a military career demands. A military brat, she traveled widely while growing up before finishing high school in Aurora, Colorado, before attending the U.S. Naval Academy, where she graduated in 1982.

From there, she has gone on to a series of firsts: She was the first African-American woman to command a ship, the USS Rushmore. She became the first admiral selected from her Annapolis graduating class when she was named rear admiral in 2006. She is the first female Navy Academy graduate selected for a flag rank, and now she is the first African American and first woman to serve as vice chief of naval operations, the No. 2 post overseeing the Navy’s vast operations.

The Navy is the featured service in U.S. Black Engineer and Information Technology magazine’s 2016 Stars and Stripes celebration. In advance of that event, the magazine interviewed Admiral Howard about her career. A lightly edited version of the conversation follows here: USBE&IT: What prompted you to pursue a Navy career, particularly given all the obstacles that existed to women serving when you were growing up?

Howard: Are you talking about the Navy specifically or so-

Vice Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Michelle Howard and Cmdr. Kendall Bridgewater, commanding officer of the littoral combat ship USS Fort Worth (LCS 3), review the ship’s closed circuit television system in the bridge. Littoral combat ships have the ability to deploy manned and unmanned vehicles to execute missions. (U. S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Bradley J. Gee/Released)

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ciety? When I went to Annapolis in 1978, there was not a woman Supreme Court justice. I am not sure you should be singling out the Navy. I was interested in attending the Naval Academy growing up, and I was disappointed to find out it was closed to women by law. Then the law changed. So when I was looking at a specific service academy, I did some research on what women were allowed to do in each service and decided that the Navy offered the broadest opportunities.

USBE&IT I WINTER 2015 17

with that and the whole supply and operation and logistical train that goes into making a successful Unites States Navy.

USBE&IT: Gender diversity is a priority of yours. How is the Navy doing there?

Howard: I got more visibility on it as I came into this job.

Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO) Adm. Michelle Howard tours a simulated bomb-damaged berthing compartment aboard the 210-foot-long Arleigh Burkeclass destroyer simulator USS Trayer (BST 21) at Recruit Training Command.

The USS Trayer is the platform where recruits take their final test, Battle Stations, before graduating from RTC. Howard visited Recruit Training Command to tour the base and attend a recruit pass-in-review while serving as the ceremony’s reviewing officer. (U.S. Navy photo by Brian Walsh/Released)

USBE&IT: Did your parents encourage you?

Howard: The conversation with my mother started before

they were open, and she definitely was very encouraging about me pursuing what I wanted to do. My father was very happy that I was going to go into a service. He was an Air Force master sergeant. His perspective was that all of us kids were smart enough to be officers, and certainly getting an education was a big thing for him. He was disappointed that I picked Navy though.

USBE&IT: Did you face any obstacles on the way up related to your race and gender?

Howard: Yes, I did face obstacles related to race and

gender. But I can’t honestly say that they were a problem if I am sitting here as the vice chief.

USBE&IT: What were some of the obstacles?

Howard: At the time when you are looking at, particularly

the integration of women in the services society, there were issues I had to deal with that revolve around the behavior of people who didn’t want you in the organization.

USBE&IT: What do you think made your spectacular success possible?

Howard: One of the major things that happened was when

the law was changed in the 1990s to allow women to serve on combat ships or ships flying combat aircraft. That opened up the mainstream occupations in the services to women. If you are prevented by law from serving in the core mission of an organization, and then the law is shaped so you have that opportunity, that is a big change. Literally, the playing field was leveled.

The other big thing happened before I even joined the service.

Until 1967 women were capped at 2 percent of the military, and women were not allowed by law to become generals or admirals.

And that changed too.

USBE&IT: So doors opened ahead of you as you made your journey.

Howard: I always give credit to my parents for birthing me

in 1960 because if I had been born a couple of years earlier, I would have missed out on a lot of opportunities.

USBE&IT: What are your responsibilities as vice chief of naval operations?

Howard: We have 272 ships, a 266,000 active force, 59,700

reservists, and a couple of hundred thousand civilians. We are responsible for everything from the acceptance of aircraft and ships all the way up to the manning of those ships, to the training that goes to those people, to the high-end integration and training that happens out in the fleet. Then all the policies that work

18 USBE&IT I WINTER 2015

When I think about where we have come, it is really a wonderful journey. You look at the number of women in command in operational units, destroyers and cruisers, carrier strike groups, woman fighter pilots who have had command of squadrons—it is pretty impressive. One of things I think about is how long it takes to grow an admiral, which is 25 to 30 years. Then you look at what percentage of women we had 25 or 30 years; then you look at the fact that about 10 percent of the admirals are women now; that is pretty exciting.

USBE&IT: Can women now serve as SEALS and in other special services?

Howard: No. The services are all going through a review.

Recommendations have been made to the secretary of defense, and he is going through his process.

USBE&IT: You were in command of the anti-piracy task force in the Gulf of Aden when the Maersk Alabama was hijacked. What was it like to lead the effort to free the ship, whose plight was immortalized in the film Captain Phillips?

Howard: There were some aspects of this that were very

unique, and my role as taskforce commander was to synchronize all these assets and make the mission a success. It was very interesting and challenging because most of the hostage scenarios we had dealt with involved hostages being held on a large ship.

Here we had something completely different: a hostage held on a life raft. We in training envisioned getting forces on board a large ship either by helicopter or otherwise. So this presented a unique challenge from the get-go. A lot of getting people ramped up to understand what they needed to do knowing they had not been trained for this type of mission. So getting expertise to people quickly was a challenge.

USBE&IT: Did the movie do a good job of capturing what happened?

Howard: Some of it is completely accurate. Some of it is

completely Hollywood.

USBE&IT: How is the Navy doing when it comes to attracting recruits with strong STEM backgrounds? And how do you compete with other jobs that pay so much more and require people to sacrifice so much less?

Howard: About 65 percent of the students in ROTC and

the Naval Academy are enrolled in engineering or technical degree programs. We just have a phenomenal group of Midshipmen who are not only engineering smart but also in a lot of cases minoring in things like studying Mandarin Chinese.

We are just fortunate. Annapolis right now has the highest rates of applications to the school, and recently it was named one of the top 10 liberal arts colleges in the country by U.S. News and World Report. We have competition right now for folks trying to get into the service. But in the end, whether you are in ROTC, Annapolis, or a recruit coming into boot camp, the No. 1 reason people come into the service is not about the money. It is about life purpose and teamwork. And we provide that in spades.

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Top Blacks in the United States Military

Top Black OFFICERS IN THE UNITED STATES MILITARY U.S. ARMY

U.S. NAVY

U.S. MARINE CORPS

U.S. AIR FORCE

U.S. COAST GUARD

D

uring World War II, over 2.5 million African-American men registered for the draft, and Black women also

volunteered in large numbers. They served America with distinction, made valuable contributions to the war effort, and earned high praises and commendations for their struggles and sacrifices. By the end of the war, more than 695,000 African Americans were serving in the U.S. military, leading eventually to President Truman’s desegregation of the military in 1948. www.blackengineer.com

USBE&IT I WINTER 2015 21

Top Blacks in the United States Military Today, the total number of military personnel is over 3.6 million strong. Included in that number, data from Defense Manpower shows Enlisted Black men and women total 97,710 in the Army, 50, 285 in the Navy, 19, 378 in the Marine Corps 42, 495 in the Air Force. There are more than 13, 100 Black officers in the Army, 4,299 in the Navy, 1,154 in the Marine Corps, and 3, 815 in the Air Force. Below are the top Black officers in the United States military.

US ARMY GEN. LLOYD J. AUSTIN III Commander, Headquarters, U.S. Central Command

Gen. Lloyd Austin is commander of United States Central Command. He is responsible for all U.S. military operations in the central region of the world, which spans 20 nations from Egypt to Pakistan and to Kazakhstan. Working with national and international partners, U.S. Central Command responds to crises, and promotes security and stability in the region. Prior to this assignment, Gen. Austin was the vice chief of staff of the Army. Throughout his 40-year career, he has served in a variety of command and staff positions. His early assignments included duty with the 1st Battalion, 7th Infantry, 3rd Infantry Division, U.S. Army Europe and Seventh Army; and 2nd Battalion, 508th Infantry, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg. Later in his career, Gen. Austin returned to Fort Bragg to serve as commander of the 2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, and 82nd Airborne Division; and later as commander, 3rd Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division. Following duty at Fort Bragg, he was assigned to the Pentagon where he 22 USBE&IT I WINTER 2015

served as chief, Joint Operations Division, J-3 on the Joint Staff. Gen. Austin also served as commanding general of 10th Mountain Division (Light), Fort Drum, as commander of the Combined Joint Task Force- 180, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Afghanistan. He then served as chief of staff, Central Command followed by assignment with the XVIII Airborne Corps where he commanded Multinational Corps-Iraq, Operation Iraqi Freedom. Gen. Austin commanded United States ForcesIraq from September 2010 through the completion of Operation New Dawn in December 2011 and assumed command of Central Command on March 22, 2013.

Gen. Austin’s awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal (with Six Oak Leaf Clusters), Expert Infantryman Badge, Master Parachutist Badge, and the Ranger Tab. He holds a Bachelor of Science from the U.S. Military Academy, a Master’s in Education from Auburn University and a Master’s in Business Management from Webster University.

GEN. VINCENT K. BROOKS Commanding General, U.S. Army Pacific

General Vincent Brooks, commanding general of the U.S. Army Pacific, has responsibility for all U.S. Army forces and activities in the Indo-Asia Pacific region assigned to the United States Pacific Command. During his more than 35 years as a commissioned officer, Gen. Brooks has been privileged to command in the field numerous times including two companies (300 Soldiers) in Germany; a battalion (800 Soldiers) in Korea near the demilitarized zone; a brigade (5,000 Soldiers) based in the U.S. but forward-deployed to Kosovo; two divisions (12,000 Soldiers), including one forward-deployed to Iraq; and two theater armies, one covering the middle east and central Asia (70,000 Soldiers), and the other the Indo-Asia Pacific region. In addition, Gen. Brooks served twice in the headquarters (86,000 Soldiers) of the Department of the Army as a staff officer and principal advisor to the Army’s most senior leaders, and once in the Joint Staff advising the chairman of the Joint Chiefs and the Secretary of Defense on strategy and policy. Gen. Brooks is one of eleven “four star” Army generals on active duty, and he is the eighth African American to attain the four star level in the Army’s 240 year history. Moreover, General Brooks as the third general in his family (father and brother are retired Army generals) is part of the only African American family in U.S. history to have three generals in two generations. A 1980 graduate of the U. S. Military Academy, he was selected to the top ranking position for a cadet; the first African American to be selected for this position in West Point’s history. He earned a Bachelor of Science, West Point, NY, a Master of Military Arts and Science from the School of Advanced Military www.blackengineer.com

Top Blacks in the United States Military Studies, Kansas, and an Honorary Doctor of Laws, New England School of Law National Security Fellow, Harvard University.

GEN. DENNIS VIA Commanding General, U.S. Army Materiel Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama

Gen. Dennis Via assumed duties as the 18th commander of the Army Materiel Command in 2012. The Army Materiel Command is the premier provider of materiel readiness to ensure dominant land force capability for the joint force and U.S. allies.

Gen. Via holds the distinction of being the only Signal Corps officer in U.S. Army history to be promoted to four-star general.

Gen. Via is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. He has held a variety of leadership assignments throughout his career at all levels of the U.S. Army — from leading hundreds of paratroopers in the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, to thousands of Soldiers in the Third Armored Corps at Fort Hood, Texas, to commanding several large military organizations in the United States, Germany, and Southwest Asia, including serving as a Principal Director on the Joint Chiefs of Staff in the Pentagon, where he was responsible for all communications and IT systems for the Department of Defense. Gen. Via’s decorations include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit and the Defense Meritorious Service Medal.

Gen. Via is a native of Martinsville, Virginia. He was commissioned in 1980 after graduating as a distinguished military graduate from Virginia State University. He also attended and received a Master of Arts from Boston University and is a graduate of the Army’s premier institutions of higher learning – the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College and the Army War College.

BRIG. GEN. BENJAMIN O. DAVIS, SR. First black General in the Regular Army

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LT. GEN. THOMAS BOSTICK Chief of Engineers/ Commanding General United States Army Corps of Engineers

Lt. Gen. Thomas Bostick was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Corps of Engineers upon graduation from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 1978. Prior, Lt. Gen. Bostick served as the commanding general of the U.S. Army Recruiting Command, Fort Knox, Kentucky, and subsequently deputy chief of staff, G-1, United States Army, Washington, D.C. Other key assignments have included director of military programs, Corps of Engineers, with duty as commander, Gulf Region Division, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Iraq; assistant division commander, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas, and Operation Iraqi Freedom, Iraq; deputy director of operations, National Military Command Center, The Joint Staff, Washington, D.C.; and commander, Engineer Brigade, 1st Armored Division, Germany, and Operation Joint Forge, Bosnia-Herzegovina. Lt. Gen. Bostick also served as a White House Fellow with duty at the Department of Veterans Affairs, and as an assistant professor at the U.S. Military Academy. Decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, and the Bronze Star Medal.

He earned a Bachelor of Science from the U.S. Military Academy; Master of Science (civil engineering) at Stanford University; and a Master of Science (mechanical engineering), also at Stanford University.

LT. GEN. ROBERT S. FERRELL Army Chief Information Officer/G-6, United States Army

As Army chief information officer, Lieutenant General Ferrell reports to the Secretary of the Army on strategy and objectives for the Army network. He supervises C4 (command, control, communications, and computers) functions, oversees the Army’s $10 billion information technology (IT) investments, manages IT architecture, establishes and enforces IT policies, and directs

delivery of operational C4IT capabilities to support warfighters and business users. As G-6, he advises the Army chief of staff on network, communications, signal operations, information security, force structure and equipping. Prior, LTG Ferrell was commander, Communications and Electronics Command and Aberdeen Proving Ground. General Ferrell, a native of Anniston, Alabama, enlisted in the Army and attained the rank of Sergeant before enrolling at Hampton University. Upon graduation in 1983, he was commissioned into the Signal Corps. LTG Ferrell’s assignments have included units in the United States, Korea and Europe, and he has deployed to Bosnia and Iraq. He has commanded at every level, from platoon to Army major subordinate command, and served in key staff positions in the Army and the Office of the Secretary of Defense. Decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, and the Bronze Star Medal. He earned a Bachelor of Arts from Hampton University; Master of Science in Administration from Central Michigan University; and master’s degree in strategy from the Army War College.

LT. GEN. MICHAEL X. GARRETT Commanding General, United States Army Central

Michael Garrett was confirmed as Lieutenant General in July 2015. Currently, he currently serves as chief of staff of Central Command. Prior, he commanded U.S. Army Alaska and served as deputy commander of the U.S States Alaskan Command. He also commanded 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne) of the 25th Infantry Division (Light) at Fort Richardson, which deployed to Iraq. He completed an operations tour, which deployed to Afghanistan, as chief of current operations, Combined Joint Task Force 180, and did three tours on Fort Bragg to include his most recent assignment as deputy chief of staff for United States Forces-Iraq, Operation New Dawn. Other assignments include deputy commanding general, Army Recruiting Command, regimental tactical officer and later director, Department of Military Instruction, U.S. Military Academy. His military education includes the Infantry Officer Basic and Advanced USBE&IT I WINTER 2015 23

Top Blacks in the United States Military Courses, Army Command and General Staff College and the Senior Service College Fellowship. He also holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Xavier University.

LT. GEN. RONALD LEWIS Senior Military Assistant to the Secretary of Defense, Department of Defense

Lt. Gen. Ronald Lewis assumed duties as the senior military assistant to the Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter in June 2015. LTG Lewis is the senior military advisor to the secretary of defense. He has served as chief of public affairs for the secretary of the Army. He also served as deputy commanding general (Support), 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) in Afghanistan. He was senior military assistant to the deputy secretary of defense, military assistant to the undersecretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics and military assistant to the chairman of the Defense Business Board. Other assignments include: commander, 159th Combat Aviation Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) during Operation Iraqi Freedom; commander, 1st Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, 4th Aviation Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, during Operation Iraqi Freedom; senior aviation task force trainer, Operations Group, Army National Training Center, Fort Irwin, Calif. He earned a Bachelor of Science at the U.S. Military Academy; and a Master of Arts at the Naval War College.

LT. GEN. MICHAEL WILLIAMSON Principal Military Deputy to the Assistant Secretary of the Army, For Acquisition, Logistics and Technology, Director of Acquisition Career Management

Lt. Gen. Michael Williamson became the principal military deputy to the assistant secretary of the Army for acquisition, logistics and technology, and director of acquisition career management in 2014. He leads military and civilian professionals in development, acquisition, fielding, and sustainment of the world’s best equipment, services, technologies and capabilities to meet current and future Army needs. Prior 24 USBE&IT I WINTER 2015

to this assignment, he served as the deputy commanding general, Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan. He has also served as the assistant military deputy and assistant deputy for acquisition and systems management. Other assignments include service as the joint program executive officer for the Joint Tactical Radio Systems, deputy program executive officer for integration, project manager for network systems integration, Future Combat Systems, Brigade Combat Team; commander of the Software Engineering Center; and military assistant to the Secretary of the Army. He has also served as a Congressional Fellow on Capitol Hill. A graduate of Husson College with a Bachelor of Science in business administration, he also earned a Master of Science in materiel acquisition management from the Naval Postgraduate School, and a Ph.D. in business administration from Madison University.

LT. GEN. LARRY WYCHE Deputy Commanding General, Army Materiel Command and Senior CommanderRedstone Arsenal, Alabama

Lt. Gen. Larry Wyche became deputy commanding general of the Army Materiel Command (AMC) in April 2015. Previously, he served as AMC’s deputy chief of staff for operations and logistics, from August 2010 to June 2012. In 2008, he took command of the Joint Munitions and Lethality Life Cycle Management Command, a major subordinate command of AMC. In his current position, he is responsible for the AMC’s material readiness, acquisition support, logistics power projection, and sustainment to the Army across joint military operations. The AMC consists of 64,000 Soldiers, government employees, and contractors in 50 states and over 145 countries. Prior to his current assignment, he served as the commanding general of Fort Lee, responsible for training logisticians and developing Army doctrine. Other key assignments include deputy chief of staff for operations, (G3/5); commanding general, Joint Munitions Lethality, Life Cycle Management Command/Joint Munitions Command; commander, director strategy and integration, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff Army G-4; commander, 10th Sustainment Brigade Fort Drum;

Joint Logistics Commander, Combined Joint Task Force-76, Operation Enduring Freedom-Afghanistan. He holds a Master’s in Logistics Management from the Florida Institute of Technology and Master’s degree in National Resource Strategy from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. He was commissioned in 1982 after graduating as a distinguished military graduate from Texas A&M Corpus Christi.

MAJ. GEN. MARCIA ANDERSON Deputy Chief Army Reserve

Maj. Gen. Marcia Anderson has served over 35 years. She is the first Black female officer to earn the rank of major general in the U.S. Army or Army Reserve and received her second star in 2011. She recently served as deputy chief of the Army Reserve and was responsible for programs and policy development affecting 205,000 soldiers and 13,000 civilian employees.

Prior to that position, she served as the deputy commanding general, U.S. Army Human Resources Command, which supports over 1 million active, reserve and retired soldiers. She has commanded at all levels through general officer. Maj. Gen. Anderson received a commission as an officer in the U.S. Army through the Reserve Officers Training Corps. After graduating from Creighton University in 1979 with a bachelor’s degree in political science, she later earned a Juris Doctorate from the Rutgers University School of Law in 1984. Maj. Gen. Anderson has a master’s degree in strategic studies from the Army War College. An active citizen-soldier, she is employed by the United States Courts, where she serves as clerk of the bankruptcy court, Western District of Wisconsin.

MAJ. GEN. GWEN BINGHAM Commanding General, U.S. Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command, Life Cycle Management Command

Maj. Gen. Gwen Bingham assumed command of Army Tank-Automotive and Armaments Life Cycle Management Command in 2014. Previously, she served as comwww.blackengineer.com

Top Blacks in the United States Military manding general, White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico from September 2012 to June 2014. Four years earlier, in 2010, she became the 51st quartermaster general and commandant of the Army Quartermaster School. She has served as commander, Army Garrison, Fort Lee and chief of staff, Combined Arms Support Command (Sustainment Center of Excellence), followed by service as special assistant to the commanding general, 1st Theater Sustainment Command, Operation Iraqi Freedom/New Dawn, Kuwait, and Operation Enduring Freedom. Her other assignments include The Joint Staff, Washington, D.C.; United Nations Command/United States Forces Korea, Korea; and commander, 266th Quartermaster Battalion, Fort Lee. Assignments also include Fort Hood, Texas; Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Fort Lewis, Washington and Germany. She graduated as a distinguished military graduate from the University of Alabama in 1981 and received a commission in the Quartermaster Corps as a second lieutenant. She earned a Bachelor of Science from University of Alabama; Master of Arts from Central Michigan University; and Master of Science from the National Defense University.

MAJ. GEN. MICHAEL CALHOUN The Adjutant General, Florida

Maj. Gen. Michael Calhoun became the 23rd Adjutant General of Florida in March of 2015. He enlisted in the Florida National Guard in 1977 following his graduation from Florida A&M University, and received a direct commission and appointment to First Lieutenant in the Medical Service Corps in 1989. He deployed with 50th Area Support Group in 2003 as director of host nations support during Operation Iraqi Freedom and later served as deputy commander, Task Force Florida in Mississippi during Hurricane Katrina. Prior to his current assignment, Maj. Gen. Calhoun served as the assistant adjutant general-Army and the director of the Joint Staff, Florida National Guard. He completed the Quartermaster and Air Defense Artillery Officer Advance Courses, the Combined Joint Task Force Course, the U.S. Army War College, the Dual Status Commander Program, and the Army Strategic Leaders Development Programwww.blackengineer.com

B. Gen. Calhoun has commanded at every level in the Florida National Guard, and currently commands the 12,000 Soldiers and Airmen of the Florida National Guard.

He is the governor’s primary military advisor in his role as the director of the Florida Department of Military Affairs.

MAJ. GEN. PHILLIP M. CHURN Commanding General 200th Military Police Command

Maj. Gen. Phillip Churn is responsible for mission command for over 13,000 Citizen-Soldiers and Civilians in 34 States; providing life-saving and sustaining capabilities to the nation and supporting the range of military operations.

His previous assignments include: deputy commanding general for operations 200th Military Police Command; commanding general, 333d Military Police Brigade; brigade commander, 3rd Brigade, 104th Training Division; battalion commander for the 336th and 391st Military Police Battalions; and HQs and Service Battery, 3d Battalion, 27th Field Artillery Regiment (MLRS), XVIII ABN Corps. Major General Churn is a graduate from: Joint Task Force Commanders Course; Combined/Joint Land Component Commander Course; CAPSTONE; Senior Service College; Advanced Joint Professional Military Education; Command and General Staff College; Department of Defense Professional Comptrollers Course; Combined Arms Service Staff School, and the Field Artillery Officers Basic and Advance Courses. He has a Master of Strategic Studies degree from the Army War College and a Bachelor of Science in Economics from Mount Saint Mary’s College.

He was commissioned from Mount Saint Mary’s College in 1983.

MAJ. GEN. AUGUSTUS L. COLLINS The Adjutant General, Mississippi National Guard

Maj. Gen. Augustus Collins is the adjutant general of Mississippi and has served as commanding general of both the Mississippi

Army and Air National Guard since January 2012. He has held various command and staff positions in units at every level to include company, battalion, regiment, brigade, and the Adjutant General’s primary staff in both a traditional and Active Guard Reserve status. Maj. Gen. Collins served on active duty in Operations Desert Shield/ Storm as well as commanding the 155th Armored Brigade Combat Team during combat operations in Operation Iraqi Freedom from 2004-2006. He also served as director, Mobilization Forces, Army Forces Command, Fort McPherson, Georgia; commander, 155th Armored Brigade, Tupelo, Mississippi; commander, 154th Regimental Training Institute, Camp Shelby, Miss., and deputy chief of staff, Personnel, Joint Force Headquarters, Mississippi National Guard, Jackson, Miss. Collins was commissioned in July 1980 upon completion of State Officer Candidate School. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Mississippi, an M.B.A. from Jackson State University and a master’s in strategic studies from the United States Army War College.

MAJ. GEN. BRUCE CRAWFORD Commanding General, U.S. Army CommunicationsElectronics Command and Senior Commander of Aberdeen Proving Ground

Maj. Gen. Bruce Crawford graduated as a Distinguished Military Graduate and commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Army Signal Corps through ROTC from South Carolina State University in 1986.

In his current position, he is responsible for developing and sustaining Command, Control, Communications, and Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) systems for joint, interagency and multi-national forces. Previous assignments include J6, director of C4/Cyber and Chief Information Officer, United States European Command; Commanding General, 5th Theater Signal Command, United States Army Europe and Seventh Army; Director of the Army Chief of Staff Coordination Group, Office of the Army Chief of Staff, Washington, D.C.; Commander, 516th Signal Brigade, Fort Shafter, Hawaii; and Commander, 82nd Signal Battalion, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and Operation USBE&IT I WINTER 2015 25

Top Blacks in the United States Military Iraqi Freedom, Iraq. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from South Carolina State University, a Master of Science in Administration from Central Michigan University, and a Master of Science in National Resource Strategy from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces.

MAJ. GEN. JASON EVANS Director Military Personnel Management Deputy Chief of Staff, G-1

Maj. Gen. Jason Evans was commissioned through ROTC as a second lieutenant in the Army Adjutant General Corps.

He is currently the deputy commanding general for support at Installation Management Command. His responsibility include developing and implementing policies and programs in support of 75 Installations worldwide, and oversees Installation Management Command’s Human Resources, Training, Education and a $2.8-Billion Soldier, Family and Morale Welfare and Recreation program. Prior to his current assignment, BG Evans served as adjutant general U.S. Army, Director, Personnel, CJ1 Multinational Force-Iraq, Operation Iraqi Freedom, followed by an assignment as executive officer to the assistant secretary of the Army, Manpower and Reserve Affairs, Washington, D.C. Other assignments include commander, U.S. Army Garrison, Fort Monroe, Virginia; commander, 510th Personnel Services Battalion, U.S. Army Europe and Seventh Army, Germany; and commander Task Force 510th Personnel Services Battalion, Kosovo. He earned a bachelor’s in business administration and holds master’s degrees in business administration and national resource strategy.

MAJ. GEN. JOHN HARRIS Assistant Adjutant General-Army Ohio National Guard

Maj. Gen. John Harris assumed duties as the Assistant Adjutant General for Army, Joint Force Headquarters, on January 11, 2011.

As assistant adjutant general, he estab26 USBE&IT I WINTER 2015

lishes policies, priorities, and oversight for the readiness of approximately 11,400 Soldiers. General Harris began his military career in 1981 when he enlisted in the Ohio Army National Guard. He received a commission in 1984 through Officer Candidate School. He has commanded at the platoon, detachment, company, and squadron levels while serving in staff assignments at the battalion, squadron, state area command, and joint force headquarters level. Recent assignments include chief of staff (Joint Force Headquarters), deputy chief of staff for Personnel (Joint Force Headquarters), and Commander of Task Force Lancer in Kosovo. Prior to his current assignment, he served as the chief of staff and director of personnel of the Ohio Army National Guard. He has also commanded a peacekeeping task force in Kosovo and remains engaged in the State Partnership Program and ongoing relations with Serbia and Hungary. He is a senior Army aviator with experience in attack, scout, and utility aircraft. Brig. Gen. Harris strives to inculcate emerging business practices and process improvement principles to assure efficient and responsible governance. He holds a master’s in strategic studies from the United States Army War College and has completed the Baldrige Executive Fellowship through the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

MAJ. GEN. CHARLES HOOPER Senior United States Defense Representative/ Defense Attaché , U.S. Embassy Cairo, Egypt

Maj. Gen. Charles Hooper has been the senior U.S. defense representative and defense attaché in the U.S. Embassy, Cairo, Egypt, since July 2014. Prior to his current assignment, he was director of strategy, plans, and programs, J5, United States Africa Command at Kelly Barracks, Germany; deputy director for strategic planning and policy, J-5, United States Pacific Command, Camp Smith, Hawaii, and U.S. Defense Attaché, United States Embassy, Beijing, China.

Other assignments include foreign area officer chairman at the Naval Postgraduate School; chief, Army International Affairs Division, Strategy, Plans, and Policy Directorate, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-3/5/7, Army Staff; and senior country director for China, Taiwan and

Mongolia, Office of the Secretary of Defense. Maj. Gen. Hooper was awarded the Don K. Price Award for Academic Excellence and Public Service at Harvard University, and selected to give the graduate student address at the 1989 Harvard University commencement exercise. Decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal and the Legion of Merit. Major General Hooper is fluent in Mandarin Chinese.

He earned a Bachelor of Science at the U.S. Military Academy; a Master of Public Administration, also at Harvard University; and a Master of Science-Strategic Studies from U.S. Army War College.

MAJ. GEN. TIMOTHY M. MCKEITHEN Deputy Director of the Army National Guard

Maj. Gen. Timothy McKeithen assumed duties as deputy director, Army National Guard September 2015. As deputy director he guides formulation, development and implementation of programs and policies affecting more than 350,000 Citizen Soldiers in 50 States, three Territories and the District of Columbia. Prior, Gen. McKeithen served as G4, United States Army Central Command, Third Army, C4 Combined Joint Task Force Land Components Command, and CJ4 Combined Joint Task Force - Operation Inherent Resolve. McKeithen received his commission from The University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa, where he was named a Distinguished Military Graduate in 1985. He was deployed in Saudi Arabia during Desert Storm/Shield as Commander, 549th Quartermaster Company, 11th Battalion, Fort Story, Virginia and Commander, 228th Forward Support Battalion, 28th Infantry Division, Pennsylvania Army National Guard. He later served as the Reset Division Chief, Headquarters United States Army Material Command, Fort Belvoir, Virginia and Deputy to the Assistants to the Chairman, Joint Chief of Staff for National Guard and Reserve Matters, Pentagon, Washington, District of Columbia. General McKeithen most recently served as director of Logistics, J-4, and Headquarters North American Aerospace Defense Command.

HON. CLIFFORD ALEXANDER, JR. First black Secretary of the Army www.blackengineer.com

Top Blacks in the United States Military MAJ. GEN. LAWARREN PATTERSON Commanding General, U.S. Army Signal Center of Excellence and Fort Gordon

Maj. Gen. LaWarren Patterson took command of the Signal Center of Excellence and Fort Gordon in July 2012.

Prior to becoming the chief of signal, Maj. Gen. Patterson commanded the 7th Signal Command. He relinquished command as he was frocked to major general in a change of command ceremony held in the summer of 2012. In a separate event before the ceremony, he was presented with the Distinguished Service Medal for his service as 7th Signal’s commanding general during the past two years. As commander of 7th Signal Command, he directed operations and defense of the Army’s LandWar Net in the western hemisphere. Seventh Signal provides unity of command for network operations in the Army North and Army South operations, consolidating loosely affiliated networks into a single network enterprise. Patterson graduated from Norfolk State University, earning a Bachelor of Science in mass communications, and received his commission as a second lieutenant in the Signal Corps in 1982. He holds a master’s degree in general administration from Central Michigan University, and another in strategic studies from the U.S. Army War College.

MAJ. GEN. AUNDRE PIGGEE Director of Logistics & Engineering, J-4 United States Central Command

A native of Arkansas and Distinguished Military Graduate of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, Maj. Gen. Aundre Piggee was commissioned through ROTC as a second lieutenant in the Quartermaster Corps in 1981. Prior to his current assignment, Maj. Gen. Piggee served as the commanding general, 21st Theater Sustainment Command, United States Army Europe and Seventh Army, Germany. Previously, he served as the executive officer to the vice chief of staff of the Army, followed by assignment as the www.blackengineer.com

deputy assistant chief of staff, C-4/assistant chief of staff, J-4 to United Nations Command/ Combined Forces Command/ United States Forces Korea. Other assignments include commander, 15th Sustainment Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas, and Operation Iraqi Freedom, Iraq; assistant chief of staff, G-4, 1st Cavalry Division; and commander, 15th Forward Support Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood and Operation Joint Forge, Bosnia-Herzegovina. Decorations include Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal and the Defense Meritorious Service Medal. He earned a Bachelor of Science and holds an honorary doctorate from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff; a Master of Science from Florida Institute of Technology; and a Master of Science-Strategic Studies, U.S. Army War College MAJ. GEN. BARRYE PRICE Deputy Chief of Staff, G-1 United States Army Forces Command

Maj. Gen. Price provides oversight of human resource policies and programs, unit readiness, as well as staff supervision of the Ready and Resilient Campaign, Sexual Assault and Prevention Program; Equal Opportunity, Equal Employment Opportunity, and civilian human resources. The general’s previous assignments include director, Human Resources Policy Directorate, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-; deputy commanding general, Army Cadet Command; director J-1, U.S. Forces-Iraq, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Iraq; commander, Eastern Sector, U.S. Military Entrance Processing Command,, and assistant deputy chief of staff, G-1, Army Materiel Command. Other key assignments include White House Fellow and Special Assistant to the director, U.S. Office of Personnel Management; executive officer and military assistant to the deputy assistant secretary of the Army for Manpower and Reserve Affairs; and commander, 4th Personnel Services Battalion.

Price served on the president and first lady’s task force on “Raising Responsible and Resourceful Teenagers” and on President Clinton’s “Mississippi Delta Task Force” which sought to revitalize the seven-state region that comprises the Mississippi River

floodplain. He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Houston; a Master of Arts in history from Texas A&M University; Master of Science in national security strategy at National War College; and a Doctorate of Philosophy in history from Texas A&M University.

MAJ. GEN. RENALDO RIVERA The Adjutant General, Virgin Islands

Major General Renaldo Rivera is The Adjutant General, Virgin Islands.

He also serves as a member of the Governor’s Cabinet.

His responsibilities include the training, resourcing, mobilization and demobilization of units of the Virgin Islands National Guard in support of federal mobilization and national contingencies. He is also responsible for ensuring support is provided to civil authorities of the Virgin Islands in natural or man-made disasters, civil disturbances and other territorial contingencies.

MG Rivera was direct commissioned in April 1980. Prior to receiving his commission, MG Rivera served as an enlisted member of the United States Army and completed a tour of duty in Vietnam. MG Rivera previously served in the Virgin Islands National Guard as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics and the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Plans. He was appointed by the Governor to command the Virgin Island National Guard in 2007.

MAJ. GEN. A.C. ROPER, JR. Commanding General, 80th Training Command, Richmond, Virginia

Maj. Gen. A.C. Roper commands the 80th Training Command in Richmond, Virginia. He previously commanded the 415th Chemical Brigade in Greenville, South Carolina, and was deployed during the Gulf War and during Operation Enduring Freedom, where he served as a spokesman for combat operations in southern Afghanistan. He has been awarded the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal and the General Douglas McArthur Leadership USBE&IT I WINTER 2015 27

Top Blacks in the United States Military Award. He is the recipient of numerous community awards. In his civilian capacity, he is the Chief of the Birmingham Police Department. He holds a Bachelor of Science from Troy University, a master’s degree in criminal justice from the University of Alabama and a master’s in strategic studies from the Army War College. He is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy and the FBI National Executive Institute.

MAJ. GEN. ERROL SCHWARTZ Commanding General, District of Columbia National Guard

Maj. Gen. Errol Schwartz has served as the commanding general, District of Columbia National Guard since 2008. He is responsible for operational readiness and command and control of the District of Columbia Army and Air National Guard units with an authorized strength of 2,700 citizen soldiers, airmen and civilian personnel. His military career started when he enlisted in the District of Columbia Army National Guard in 1976. He was commissioned in June 1979 and appointed a platoon leader in the 104th Maintenance Company.

He served in many leadership positions as a staff officer and commander. Some of his previous assignments include battalion commander, 372nd Military Police Battalion, deputy director of Information Management, director of logistics, commander, 74th Troop Command and deputy commanding general, District of Columbia National Guard. Maj. Gen. Schwartz also serves in the federal Senior Executive Service. He earned a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering from the University of the District of Columbia, a master’s degree in business management from Central Michigan University and a master’s in national security strategy from the National Defense University.

MAJ. GEN. JAMES SIMPSON Commander, Army Contracting Command

Maj. Gen. James Simpson is commander of the Army Contracting Command. He is responsible 28 USBE&IT I WINTER 2015

for the 6,000 military and civilian work force that provide contracting support to warfighters engaged in military operations, weapon system acquisition, life cycle management and sustainment and acquisition of goods and services vital to the Soldier’s mission and well-being. He has served in numerous command and staff positions including: deputy to the deputy assistant secretary of the Army for Procurement and Director of Contracting; commander, Central Command Joint Theater Support Contracting Command, Afghanistan; deputy chief of contracting management, United States Army Corps of Engineers, Washington, D.C.; senior contracting official - Iraq, Joint Theater Support Contracting Command; deputy project manager, Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical and Biological Defense, Virginia; commander, Defense Contract Management Agency, Pennsylvania; and various Air Defense assignments in the United States and overseas. Major General Simpson earned a Bachelor of Science in Political Science from Lander University in 1985. He holds a Master of Science in Public Administration from Central Michigan University and a Master of Science in National Resource Strategy from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. He also earned a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Texas at Arlington.

MAJ. GEN. LINDA SINGH 29th adjutant general of Maryland

Maj. Gen. Linda Singh was appointed as the 29th adjutant general of Maryland effective, January 21, 2015. The adjutant general is responsible for the daily operations of the Maryland Military Department, which includes the Maryland Army National Guard, Maryland Air National Guard, Maryland Emergency Management Agency, and Maryland Defense Force. She is a senior advisor to the governor and is responsible for the readiness, administration, and training of more than 6,700 members of the Military Department with an annual budget of more than $314 million. She serves as a member of the governor’s cabinet. General Singh grew up in Frederick County, Md., and is a long time Maryland resident. She received her commission in 1991 through Officer Candidate

School at the Maryland Military Academy.

Her military career spans more than 30 years of service in both the enlisted and officer ranks. She has served in staff and command assignments at every level, including deployed assignments in Kosovo and a combat tour in Afghanistan supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. Her military decorations include the Bronze Star Medal and many others. General Singh is a graduate of the U.S. Army War College where she received a master’s degree in Strategic Studies.

MAJ. GEN. LESLIE C. SMITH Deputy, the Inspector General

Maj. Gen. Leslie Smith’s previous assignments were commanding general of the Army Maneuver Support Center of Excellence and Fort Leonard Wood; fire support Officer, 1-230th Field Artillery Battalion; chemical officer, 3-52nd Air Defense Artillery Battalion; division and artillery (DIVARTY) staff officer and company commander, 82nd Airborne Division; assignment officer, Chemical Branch Personnel Command (PERSCOM); S3/XO 23rd Chemical Battalion and staff officer Joint Staff J-5. Gen. Smith commanded and was deployed with 83rd Chemical Battalion in support of Operations New Dawn, Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. He served in the Army G-8 in the Full Dimensional Protection Division. He commanded 3rd Chemical Brigade at Fort Leonard Wood, and served as G-3, 20th Support Command (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosives or CBRNE). He was the 25th chief of chemical and commandant, United States Army CBRN School and the 4th commander, Army 20th Support Command. He graduated and was commissioned through Georgia Southern University. He also holds Master of Science Degrees in Administration and National Security Strategy. His military education includes the Chemical Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, Airborne School, Jumpmaster School, Command and General Staff College and National War College.

BRIG. GEN. HAZEL WINIFRED JOHNSON

First black female to attain the rank of General in the US Army www.blackengineer.com

Top Blacks in the United States Military MAJ. GEN. STEPHEN TWITTY Commanding General, 1st Armored Division and Fort Bliss, Texas

A native of Chesnee, South Carolina, Maj. Gen. Stephen Twitty is a 1985 Distinguished Military Graduate of South Carolina State University, where he received his commission through the ROTC program. He took up his current assignment in August 2014. Previous assignments include deputy chief of staff of operations, Plans and Training, United States Army Forces Command, Fort Bragg, North Carolina; deputy chief of staff, Strategic Communications Headquarters, International Security Assistance Force, Operation Enduring Freedom, Afghanistan; deputy commanding general (Operations), 1st Armored Division, Fort Bliss; chief of staff, Third Army/United States Army Central, Fort McPherson, Georgia, and Operation Iraqi Freedom, Kuwait; executive officer to the deputy commander, United States Northern Command, North American Aerospace Defense Command, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado; commander, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Bliss, and Operation Iraqi Freedom, Iraq; commander, 3rd Battalion (Mechanized), 15th Infantry, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Georgia, and Operation Iraqi Freedom, Iraq.

Major General Twitty has also served in Belgium, Germany, Hungary (Operation Joint Endeavor), and Saudi Arabia (Desert Storm/Desert Shield). He holds degrees in criminal law, administration, and national security. Decorations include the Silver Star, the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, and the Bronze Star Medal. He earned a Bachelor of Science from South Carolina State University; a Master of Science from Central Michigan University; and a Master of Science from the National War College.

MAJ. GEN. NADJA Y. WEST Deputy Chief of Staff for Support United States Army Medical Command

Maj. Gen. Nadja West was commissioned through the United States www.blackengineer.com

Military Academy. Prior to her current assignment, Maj. Gen. West served as the deputy chief of staff for support, U. S. Army Medical Command, Falls Church, Virginia; commanding general, Europe Regional Medical Command/Command Surgeon United States Army Europe and Seventh Army, Germany; and she was commander, Womack Army Medical Center, Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Other key assignments include director of operations, J-3, Joint Task Force-National Capital Region Medical, Maryland; commander, U. S. Army, Medical Department Activity, Fort Eustis, Virginia; and chief, Department of Medicine and Dermatology Service, 18th Medical Command, 121st General Hospital, Eighth United States Army, Korea. Decorations include the Legion of Merit and the Defense Meritorious Service Medal. She earned a Bachelor of Science from the U.S. Military Academy; an M.D. in general medicine from George Washington University; and a Master of Science from National Defense University.

MAJ. GEN. DARRYL A. WILLIAMS Commanding General, , U.S. Army Africa/ Southern European Taskforce

Maj. Gen. Darryl Williams is the commanding general for U.S. Army Africa/Southern European Taskforce stationed in Vicenza, Italy. U.S. Army Africa is the Army Service Component Command within United States Africa Command.

USARAF strengthens the land force capabilities of African states and regional organizations; supports AFRICOM operations, and conducts decisive action in order to establish a secure environment and protect the national security interests of the United States. MG Williams took command in June 2014. Within six months of taking command, MG Williams was deployed at the request of President Obama to Liberia where USARAF set the theater for Operation United Assistance and helped stop the spread of Ebola, saving thousands of lives. He began his Army career in 1983 when commissioned as a second lieutenant of field artillery after graduating from the U.S. Military Academy. He commanded at the battery/battalion/brigade and service component level. He was the Army Aide to the President of the United States; Deputy Director for Comprehensive Soldier Fit-

ness, HQDA G-3/5/7 and Commanding General, U.S. Army Warrior Transition Command, and the Assistant Surgeon General for Warrior Care; and Transition and Deputy Commanding General for Support, 2nd Infantry Division, Republic of Korea.

MAJ. GEN. DARRELL K. WILLIAMS Commanding General, 1st Sustainment Command (Theater)

Maj. Gen. Darrell K. Williams assumed command of 1st Sustainment Command (Theater) at Fort Bragg in January 2014. He also serves as deputy commanding general – sustainment for Army Central (USARCENT), Camp Arifjan, Kuwait. Maj. Gen. Williams is a native of West Palm Beach, Florida. He is a Distinguished Military Graduate of the Hampton Institute ROTC Program and was commissioned into the Army Quartermaster Corps in 1983. Maj. Gen. Williams is a graduate of the Army Command and General Staff College), the School of Advanced Military Studies and a Distinguished Graduate of the National War College. He has a bachelor’s degree in psychology and master’s degrees in military arts and sciences, national security and strategic studies, and business management (logistics). His prior assignments include: deputy chief of staff, U.S. Army Materiel Command (AMC), Redstone Arsenal, Alabama; commander, Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Land and Maritime in Columbus, Ohio; director of logistics, engineering and security assistance, J-4, Headquarters, United States Pacific Command, Hawaii; executive officer to the Army deputy chief of staff, HQDA G-4; Brigade Commander, 3rd Sustainment Brigade, Fort Stewart, Georgia.

MAJ. GEN. CEDRIC WINS Director, Capabilities Developments, Army Capabilities Integration Center, U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command

Maj. Gen. Cedric Wins was commissioned as a field artillery officer in 1985 upon graduation from the Virginia Military Institute. He has served as direcUSBE&IT I WINTER 2015 29

Top Blacks in the United States Military tor, capabilities developments, Army Capabilities Integration Center, U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command since May 2013. Prior to his current assignment, Maj. Gen. Wins served as deputy commander, police, North Atlantic Treaty Organization Training Mission-Afghanistan/ Combined Security Transition CommandAfghanistan, Operation Enduring Freedom, Afghanistan, from April 2012 to April 2013. His previous assignments have included deputy director, Program Analysis and Evaluation, G-8, Washington, D.C., director, strategic planning, J-8, United States Special Operations Command and senior exercise planner/analyst, Operational Plans and Joint Force Development, J-7, The Joint Staff. Maj. Gen. Wins’ decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal, and the Defense Meritorious Service Medal. Maj. Gen. Wins holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Virginia Military Institute, a Master of Science in management with a concentration in quantitative analysis from the Florida Institute of Technology, and a Master of Science in national security and strategic studies from the National War College.

BRIG. GEN. WAYNE BLACK Assistant Adjutant General – Army, Indiana National Guard

Brig.

Gen. Wayne Black is assistant adjutant general for the Army in the Indiana National Guard. He serves as a principal advisor to the adjutant general and is responsible for assisting in formulating, developing and coordinating programs, policies and plans affecting the Indiana Army National Guard and its more than 14,500 citizen soldiers, airmen and civilian personnel.

Brig. Gen. Black began his military career in 1984, receiving an ROTC commission from The Citadel. He has served in command and staff positions from battery to division and state level. His assignments include South Korea; Fort Lewis, Washington; Germany; and Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. His deployments include Desert Shield/Desert Storm, Bosnia and Afghanistan. Brig. Gen. Black attended the Field Artillery Officer’s Basic and Advanced Courses, Combined Arms Services Staff School, Operations Research/Systems Analysis Course, Command and General 30 USBE&IT I WINTER 2015

Staff Officer’s Course, and the US Army War College. His military awards and decorations include the Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Ranger Tab, Parachutist Badge and a list of other awards. Gen. Black has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from The Citadel, a Master of Business Administration from Indiana Wesleyan University, and a Master’s in Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College. In his civilian career, Gen. Black is a manufacturing supervisor for RR Donnelley.

BRIG. GEN. GARY M. BRITO Deputy Commanding General – Operations 25th Infantry Division (Tropic Lightning)

Brig. Gen. Gary Brito currently serves as the deputy commanding general –operations, 25th Infantry Division (Tropic Lightning). His most recent assignment was as the director, Force 2025 and Beyond, US Army Capabilities and Integration Center (ARCIC), Training and Doctrine and Command. Previously, he served as the operations officer (G3) for III Corps, Fort Hood, Texas. Throughout his career, he has served in a variety of command and staff assignments. BG Brito holds a Bachelor of Arts in Community Studies from Penn State University, Master of Arts in Human Resource Management from Troy State University and Master of Science in Joint Strategy and Campaign Planning from the Joint Advanced War fighting School (JAWS). BG Brito is a graduate of the Infantry Officer Basic and Advanced courses, Airborne and Ranger schools, Combined Arms Staff Services School, Command General and Staff Officers Course and completed senior service college at the Joint Advanced War fighting Course, Norfolk, Virginia.

BRIG. GEN. XAVIER BRUNSON Deputy Commander, U.S. Army Special Forces Command (Airborne), U.S. Army Special Operations Command

Upon selection

for promotion to Brigadier General, Col. Xavier Brunson was assigned as deputy commander, U.S. Army Special Forces Command (Airborne), U.S. Army Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He has deployed numerous times in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. After graduating from Hampton University in 1990, Col. Brunson was commissioned into the Infantry. He has held assignments to include platoon leader, company commander, battalion commander, and brigade commander. Other assignments include operations officer, J-3, 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta (Airborne) and aide-de-camp to the Secretary of the Army. Brunson holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Hampton University, a Master’s degree in Human Resources from Webster University, and a Master of Science in National Security and Strategic Studies from the United States Army War College.

BRIG. GEN. PATRICK W. BURDEN Deputy Program Executive Officer Ammunition, Picatinny Arsenal, New Jersey

Brig. Gen. Patrick Burden is the deputy program executive officer, Ammunition and Senior Commander Picatinny Arsenal.

He was commissioned into the Field Artillery from Alabama A&M University in 1987 and deployed to Saudi Arabia in support of Operations Desert Shield/Storm January 1991 with the 2d Battalion, 3d Field Artillery Regiment. BG Burden entered the Army Acquisition Corps in 1994 and served in various positions from project officer, assistant project manager, assistant product manager, product manager, deputy for systems acquisition, and program analyst as well as program manager across two different program executive offices.

Additionally, he served as a program analyst for the assistant secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology.

He most recently served as the project manager for the General Fund Enterprise Business System. He holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Computer Science from Alabama A&M University and a Master’s of Science in Management Information Systems from Florida Institute of Technology.

He is a graduate of the U.S. Army Comwww.blackengineer.com

Top Blacks in the United States Military mand and General Staff College, Armed Forces Staff College, Advanced Program Management Course at the Defense Systems Management College, and U.S. Army Senior Service College Fellowship Program, University of Texas – Austin.

BRIG. GEN. SYLVESTER CANNON Commander, 135th Expeditionary Sustainment Command

Brig. Gen. Sylvester Cannon is commander of the 135th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), which is assigned to the Alabama Army National Guard. The unit provides command and control of all assigned, attached, and/or Op-Conned units, as well as sustainment planning and guidance, in order to provide mission support operations as directed by National Command Authorities, the Governor. Cannon was commissioned in 1985 through the Officer Candidate School. He served as a Military Police (MP) officer in company level assignments from 19851989. BG Cannon then went on to battalion staff and company command in the Alabama National Guard’s 231st MP Battalion. Some of Cannon’s key assignments as a senior officer include strategy and policy planner, Joint Force Headquarters Homeland Security, U.S. Northern Command; battalion commander, 231st MP Battalion; inspector general, 167th Theater Sustainment Command; and two Afghanistan deployments - as division chief, 135th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary); and as the commander of the 226th Manuever Enhancement Brigade. His civilian occupation is manager, Alabama Department of Revenue. He earned a Bachelor of Science from University of Alabama in 1963, a Master of Science, Troy State University, in 1995 and a Master of Science, United States Army War College in 2009.

BRIG. GEN. RONALD P. CLARK Deputy Commanding General (Support), 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina

Brig. Gen. Ronald Clark assumed duties as www.blackengineer.com

deputy commanding general of the 82nd Airborne Division on April 30, 2015. He was commissioned as an infantry officer upon graduation from West Point in 1988.

He has served in leadership positions as an Infantryman from platoon leader through brigade commander and has deployed to combat in Iraq three times. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the U.S. Military Academy and a Master of Military Art and Science from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. Brigadier General Clark is a graduate of the U.S. Army War College Fellowship at Duke University, and the MIT Seminar XXI National Security Studies Program. His awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, Expert Infantryman Badge, Senior Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge and the coveted Ranger Tab. BRIG. GEN. NORVELL VANDERVALL (VAN) COOTS Commander, U.S. Army Regional Health Command Europe and Command Surgeon, U.S. Army Europe

Brig. Gen. Norvell Coots currently serves as commander, U.S. Army Regional Health Command Europe and command surgeon, U.S. Army Europe. Previously he served as the Deputy Commanding General for Support and the Assistant Surgeon General for Force Projection from March 2013 - May 2014. He served as the Surgeon General United States Forces Afghanistan from May 2012 - March 13. From 11 July 2008 - 31 August 2011, he commanded the Walter Reed Healthcare System, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, in Washington, DC. He attended Howard University, where he received his commission through ROTC. He is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine, Oklahoma City, OK. He performed a Transitional Internship at William Beaumont Army Medical Center, El Paso, TX, and, after a two-year tour as a general medical officer in Korea, completed a Dermatology residency at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas.

GEN. ROSCOE ROBINSON, JR.

First black to reach 4-Star status in the US Army

BRIG. GEN. MICHAEL DILLARD Commanding General, 310th Expeditionary Sustainment Command

Brig. Gen. Michael Dillard is the commanding general of the 310th Expeditionary Sustainment Command in Fort Hood. His prior assignments include deputy commander, 451st Expeditionary Sustainment Command; brigade commander, 97th Training Brigade (Intermediate Level Education), 80th Training Command (Total Army School System); brigade commander, 2nd Brigade (PD), 104th Training Division (Leader Training); group commander, 2nd Battle Command Training Group. He also served as a battalion commander, 687th Quartermaster Battalion, Kuwait Combined Forces Land Coalition Component, Camp Virginia, Kuwait and as company commander for Charlie Company, 3/318th Infantry Battalion, 4th Brigade, 80th Training Division, during Operation Desert Storm in Fort Story, Virginia. BG Dillard entered the Army in 1981 as a private. He received his commission in 1983 from the University of Richmond in Field Artillery. He earned his Masters of Business Administration from the Keller Graduate School of Management and a Masters of Strategic Studies from the United States Army War College.

BRIG. GEN. RAYMOND SCOTT DINGLE Deputy Chief of Staff, G-3/5/7 U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command

Brig. Gen. Raymond Dingle is a distinguished Military Graduate of Morgan State University. He commissioned through the ROTC program as a Medical Service Corps Officer. Currently, he the deputy chief of staff, G-3/5/7, mission command focal point and staff synchronizer for the Army’s largest Direct Report Unit. Prior, he severed as commander, 30th Medical Brigade.BG Dingle is a graduate of the Army Medical Department Officer Basic Course, The Combined Logistics Officer Advanced Course, The U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, The USBE&IT I WINTER 2015 31

Top Blacks in the United States Military School of Advanced Military Studies and the National War College. His degrees include Master of Science in Administration from Central Michigan University, Master of Military Arts and Science from School of Advanced Military Studies and a Master of Science in National Security Strategy from the National War College.

BRIG. GEN. RICHARD DIX Commanding General, Defense Logistics Agency Distribution, New Cumberland, PA

Brig. Gen. Richard Dix assumed command of the Defense Logistics Agency Distribution on May 29, 2014. From July 2009 to July 2010, Dix commanded the 401st Army Field Support Brigade in Bagram, Afghanistan. He later served as the executive officer to the deputy chief of staff, G-4 from July 2012 to August 2013. Dix comes to Defense Logistics Agency Distribution after having served as the director of Strategy and Integration G-45/7 for the deputy chief of staff of the Army, G-4.

He attended Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, where he also received a Master of Arts in procurement and acquisition management from Webster University. He is a 2009 graduate of the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. In 1987, he graduated from South Carolina State University’s Army ROTC Program as a Distinguished Military Graduate with a Bachelor of Science in marketing.

BRIG. GEN. URAL D. GLANVILLE Chief Judge, United States Army Court of Criminal Appeals, U. S. Army Legal Services Agency

Brig. Gen. Ural Glanville has served as the chief judge, United States Army Legal Services Agency since 2013. Prior to being selected chief judge, US Army Court of Criminal Appeals, he was the commanding general of the NATO Rule of Law Support Mission/Rule of Law Field Force-Afghanistan.

Throughout his military career, BG Glanville has served in several key positions including Senior legal opinions officer, chief of operational and civil law for the 2125th Garrison Support Unit (XVIII Air32 USBE&IT I WINTER 2015

borne Corps), Command Judge Advocate for the 359th Signal Brigade and as the Staff Judge Advocate (SJA) for the 335th Signal Command, prior to his deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. As a civilian, BG Glanville became a Superior Court Judge in Fulton County, Georgia’s busiest trial court of general jurisdiction.

Judge Glanville’s duties include trial of cases involving felony offenses, equity and cases regarding title to land. Born in Columbus, Ohio, he was commissioned in 1984, beginning his 31 years of military service. BG Glanville is a highly decorated General Officer whose military education includes an MA in Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College, a J.D. from the University of Georgia (UGA), a BA in History from UGA and an AA from Brevard College.

BRIG. GEN. NORMAN GREEN Deputy Commanding General, 377th Theater Sustainment Command

Brig. Gen. Norman Green currently serves as the deputy commanding General of the 377th Theater Sustainment Command (TSC). The 377th TSC is the largest command in the U.S. Army Reserve with more than 36,000 Soldiers, 900 Civilians, and 442 units in 39 states. General Green is a native of Columbia, South Carolina. He attended South Carolina State University and was commissioned an Infantry Officer through the Reserve Officers Training Corps in 1985. General Green holds a Master of Public Administration Degree from Central Michigan University and a Master of Strategic Studies Degree from the United States Army War College. He has served in various command and staff positions within the Army and in Joint Force commands and organizations. His combat deployments include Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. He most recently served as the Commanding General of the 4th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) in Fort Sam Houston, Texas.

GEN. COLIN L. POWELL US Army, first black to become Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff

BRIG. GEN. CHARLES R. HAMILTON Commander, Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support

Brig.

Gen. Charles R. Hamilton assumed command of Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Troop Support on July 13, 2015. Under his leadership, DLA Troop Support annually provides $13 billion worth of food, clothing and textiles, construction and engineering equipment, pharmaceuticals, medical supplies and equipment, as well as industrial hardware items for America’s warfighters and other valued customers worldwide. To accomplish the mission, Brig. Gen. Hamilton oversees a global workforce of approximately 2,900 civilian and military personnel. He has served in key logistics leadership positions throughout his career, including during two deployments to Afghanistan. He is a graduate of the Army’s Airborne, Air Assault and rigger schools.

He most recently served as the executive officer to the Army’s top logistician.

BRIG. GEN. KENNETH HUBBARD Director for Resources & Capabilities Integration, J8, United States Cyber Command

Brig.

Gen. Kenneth Hubbard is the son of a career Army officer and a 1986 graduate of the South Carolina State Army ROTC Program. He holds a Master Degree in Business Administration from Syracuse University, and a master’s in National Resource Strategy from the National Defense University. His military education includes the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, and the U.S. Air Command and Staff College. He has served in many command and staff positions at all levels of the Army. He served as the director for resource management (G8), Army Installation Management Command, the director of the Army Budget’s Operations and Support Directorate where he managed billions of dollars for the Department of the Army. He also provided billions of dollars for US military forces and their allies www.blackengineer.com

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Top Blacks in the United States Military as the US Forces Afghanistan Comptroller J8; and the Multi-National Security Transition Command – Iraq G8. Hubbard served as the 1st Infantry Division comptroller G8; had a NATO assignment as Joint Plans Officer in Croatia/Bosnia; worked as contingency operations budget analyst, in the Army Budget Office; and in the Joint Chief of Staff’s J8. Brigadier General Hubbard’s combat deployments include participation in Operation Just Cause 1990 Panama; Stabilization Force 1998, Bosnia Herzegovina; Operation Iraqi Freedom 2009-2010, Iraq; and Operation Enduring Freedom 2012-2013 Afghanistan.

BRIG. GEN. MITCHELL KILGO Chief Information Officer and G6, US Army Forces Command

Brig.

Gen. Mitchell Kilgo serves as chief information officer and G6 of US Army Forces Command, Fort Bragg. He was commissioned in 1987 and entered active duty in 1988. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Natural Sciences from Virginia Union University in 1987, a Master of Science in Systems Technology, (Joint Command, Control, and Communications) from the Naval Postgraduate School in 1995 and a Master of Science in National Security Strategy from the National War College in 2009. BG Kilgo has served in a variety of command and staff positions. Some of the highlights include: signal officer, 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division; commander, Support Company, 1111th Signal Battalion, commander, 78th Signal Battalion and G6 US Army Japan, Camp Zama, Japan; commander, 2nd Signal Brigade, Wiesbaden, Germany; executive officer to the commanding general, United States Africa Command, and commander, 5th Theater Signal Command, Wiesbaden, Germany.

BRIG. GEN. RONALD KIRKLIN Commandant, US Army Quartermaster School

Brig. Gen. Ronald Kirklin is currently serving as the 53rd Quartermaster 34 USBE&IT I WINTER 2015

General and Commandant of the US Army Quartermaster School. Previously, he served as the chief of current operations, Central Command J4, Tampa, Florida from January 2012 to June 2014. From June 2009 to Jan 2012 he commanded 4th Sustainment Brigade, Fort Hood, Texas, where he deployed the Brigade to Operation New Dawn and served as the final Sustainment Brigade to close out sustainment and retrograde operations in Iraq. He also commanded the 215th Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team during Operation Iraqi Freedom. He graduated as a Distinguished Military Graduate from Mississippi Valley State University in 1987. He holds a Masters from Kansas State University and a Masters from the United States Army War College.

BRIG. GEN. JONATHAN MCCOLUMN Commanding General, 103rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary)

Brigadier General (BG) Jonathan J. McColumn, serves as the Commander, 103rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), Des Moines, IA. Recognized a distinguished military student and recipient of the General Marshall award, he graduated and was commissioned from Georgia Military College as a Second Lieutenant. Upon completing Georgia College with a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree, he entered the US Army. During his 28 years of service, he has served as a Logistician and in the Army Acquisition Corps (Contracting). His military education includes the Quartermaster Officer Basic, Combined Logistics Officer Advanced, and Logistics Executive Development Courses, Senior Manager Course in Strategic Studies and the Army War College. He has completed Master Degrees in Business Administration, Education and Strategic Studies. BG McColumn’s service includes assignments or deployments in Germany, Greece, Japan, Kuwait, Iraq, Thailand, Philippines, and Japan. BG McColumn’s highest military award is the Bronze Star Medal. He also earned the Army, Parachutist, Air Assault, and Staff Identification Badges, and received the General MacArthur Leadership Award.

BRIG. GEN. DONNA MARTIN Deputy Commanding General for Operations, U.S. Army Recruiting Command, Brig. Gen.

Donna Martin has served as the deputy commanding general - operations, Army Recruiting Command since March 2015. Prior, she was chief of investigation, Inspector General Agency. She has commanded twice at the brigade level, leading the 202nd Military Police Group (CID) followed immediately by the Rear Detachment, 18th Military Police Brigade.

Other positions include platoon leader, 66th Military Police Company; commander, Fort Belvoir Military Police Company; executive officer, 102nd Military Police Detachment (CID); executive officer, 3rd Military Police Battalion; branch chief, U.S. Pacific Command J34 Antiterrorism/ Force Protection Directorate; commander of the 385th Military Police Battalion; and inspector general, 3rd Infantry Division.

Brig. Gen. Martin graduated from Old Dominion University with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1988. She is also a graduate of the U.S. Army War College.

BRIG. GEN. GREGORY D. MASON Assistant Adjutant General – Army Missouri National Guard

Brig. Gen. Gregory D. Mason was assigned as the assistant adjutant general – Army, Joint Force Headquarters, Jefferson City, Missouri in February 2011.

As the assistant adjutant general, his duties include assisting the adjutant general in the formulation, development, and implementation of all programs and policies in the Missouri Army National Guard. He was commissioned a second lieutenant through the Kansas Army National Guard Officer Candidate School in June 1987. He has held command leadership positions at company, battalion, and brigade levels.

Brig. Gen. Mason served as the senior intelligence officer for the 35th Engineer Brigade during Operation Iraqi Freedom 2007-2008. The brigade conducted combat engineer operations throughout the central www.blackengineer.com

Top Blacks in the United States Military Iraq area of operations including Baghdad.

He received a Masters of Strategic Studies in 2007 from the Army War College.

BRIG. GEN. BARBARA LYNNE OWENS Deputy Commanding General, U.S. Army Human Resources Command

Brig. Gen. Barbara Lynne Owens is a 30-year veteran of the Army Reserve. As deputy commanding general of the largest human resources organization in the world, she ensures Human Resources Command provides the spectrum of human resources services to soldiers, veterans, retirees and Army families. The command manages soldier schooling, promotions, awards, records, transfers, appointments, benefits, and casualty affairs — one agency managing soldiers’ entire careers from the day they enter basic training until retirement and beyond. Prior to her arrival in Kentucky, she was the U.S. Army Reserve Command G-1, Fort Belvoir, Virginia, and Fort Bragg, North Carolina. A resident of Mississippi, Owens earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Southern Mississippi, a master’s degree in human resources from Webster University, and a master of strategic studies from the U.S. Army War College.

BRIG. GEN. RENWICK PAYNE The Adjutant General, District of Columbia National Guard

Brig. Gen. Payne enlisted in 1974 and received his commission as a Second Lieutenant of Field Artillery on 17 August 1979. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from Governors State University, Illinois. He is affiliated with the National Guard Association of the United States, the Militia Association of New York, the Association of the United States Army and the 369th Historical Society. He served as the Military Assistant to the Assistant Secretary Army, Manpower & Reserve Affairs, Pentagon; Executive Officer to the Director, Army National Guard, National Guard Bureau; G3/Operations Officer, Army, National Guard, National Guard Bureau; Chief of Staff, Army National Guard, Army National Guard www.blackengineer.com

Readiness Center; and Global War on Terrorism Operational Assistant to the Director, Army National Guard. Most recently General Payne served as Director, Joint Staff, New York National Guard.

BRIG. GEN. BERTRAM C. PROVIDENCE, MD Command Surgeon, U.S. Army Forces Command

Brig. Gen. Bertram C. Providence, the Army 2014 BEYA winner, is the Command Surgeon for the U.S. Army Forces Command. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from Saint John’s University in Queens, NY graduating Magna Cum Laude. A Distinguished Military Graduate, BG Providence was commissioned through the Reserve Officer Training Corps. He holds a Medical Degree from the Uniformed Services University, a Master’s degree in Business Administration with a focus on Healthcare from the George Washington University School of Business, and a Master’s degree of Strategic Studies from the US Army War College. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeon, board certified in Adult Reconstruction Orthopedics and holds a Certificate of Added Qualification in Sports Medicine from the American Board of Orthopedic Surgeons. He completed a fellowship in lower extremity reconstruction (hip and knee arthroplasty) at Scripps Clinic in LaJolla, CA. BRIG. GEN. MICHEL M. RUSSELL SR.

BG Russell enlisted in the U.S Army in 1983 as a field artilleryman and was commissioned as a 2LT from Fordham University ROTC. After serving in the Air Defense Artillery branch, in 1991, BG Russell was detailed to the Ordnance Corps. BG Russell has held several command and staff positions from platoon leader through brigade command. His distinguished career consists of three combat deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan. He became the 28th Chief of Transportation and Commandant of the U.S. Army’s Transportation School on 04 June 2015.

BG Russell currently holds three masters

degrees, is Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certified, and is designated by the International Society of Logistics as a Demonstrated Master Logistician. BG Russell is happily married to Sieglinde and they have two grown children: Michel Jr., and Nicholas.

BRIG. GEN. LESTER SIMPSON Command of the 36 Infantry Division, Texas Army National Guard, Austin, Texas

Brig. Gen. Lester Simpson assumed command of the 36 Infantry Division, Texas Army National Guard, Austin, Texas, on June 1, 2014. In 2012, Brig. Gen. Simpson assumed the duties of assistant adjutant general, Army, Texas National Guard, and in May 2013 he assumed the duties of special assistant to the director, Army National Guard, the Pentagon. He received his commission in the Army National Guard in 1980 through the University of Texas, Arlington Reserve Officers Training Corps. After completing infantry officer basic course, he served in many leadership and command assignments.

He served as commander, 3rd Battalion, 144th Infantry Regiment; commander, 142nd Rear Operations Center; and in 2010 he served as commander, 176th Engineer Brigade during major combat operations in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Brig. Gen. Simpson’s military awards include: Legion of Merit, Bronze star and Combat Action Badge awarded in Afghanistan, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster), the Army Commendation Medal (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster) and numerous other awards. Brig. Gen. Simpson holds a master’s in strategic studies and is a graduate of the CAPSTONE General and Flag Officer Course in Washington, D.C. BRIG. GEN. PATRICK D. SARGENT Commanding General, U.S. Army Regional Health Command – Pacific; CEO, Hawaii Enhanced MultiService Market; C, Command Surgeon, U.S. Army Pacific (USARPAC); and Chief, U.S. Army Medical Service Corps;

During his 30 years as a commissioned officer, Brig. Gen. Sargent has commanded USBE&IT I WINTER 2015 35

Top Blacks in the United States Military healthcare and field organizations in garrison and combat. Currently, he has responsibility for providing mission command to over 6,000 Army, Air Force, and Navy personnel delivering high reliable healthcare to over 500,000 beneficiaries in ten countries and five U.S. states, in support of USARPAC and U.S. Pacific Command. As the Chief Operating Officer for U.S. Army Medical Command (USAMEDCOM), he oversaw USAMEDCOM’s transformation from a healthcare system to a “System for Health” and the synchronization of Army Medicine’s efforts to optimize medical readiness and human performance. He earned a Bachelor of Arts, Florida State University, Master of Arts, Human Resource Development, Webster University, Master of Science, National Security Strategy, National Defense University, Fellow, American College of Healthcare Executives.

BRIG.GEN. MICHAEL C. THOMPSON Assistant Adjutant General, Oklahoma National Guard

In addition to his civilian job with the Department of Public Safety, Michael Thompson is a Brigadier General with Oklahoma Army National Guard, serving as assistant adjutant general.

Thompson began his military career when he enlisted in the National Guard on December 13, 1983. He commissioned in 1986 as an Infantry Second Lieutenant. In 1990, he graduated from Department of Public Safety’s Oklahoma Highway Patrol Academy. He served 22 years with the patrol. While a patrol major, he was appointed by Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin as Cabinet Secretary and Department of Public Safety commissioner in 2011. As secretary, he is a member of the Oklahoma Governor’s Cabinet and is responsible for directing state public safety and corrections agencies. Thompson is a graduate of the FBI National Academy in Quantico, VA for senior law enforcement officials. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Langston University, and a Master of Science from Oklahoma State University. He is a graduate of the Army War College, where he earned a Master of Strategic Studies. Thompson with his wife, Deborah, has two sons. Their oldest is a graduate of the Military Academy at West Point and is a Captain in the United States Army. Their youngest son is an Iraqi and Afghan combat veteran and a helicopter pilot with the Oklahoma Army National Guard.

BRIG. GEN. C. DAVID TURNER Commander, South Atlantic Division

Brig. Gen. C. David Turner became commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, South Atlantic Division on July 24, 2014. He previously commanded the South Pacific Division of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Prior assignments include chief of staff, Headquarters, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; chief of staff for Combined Joint Interagency Task Force 435, Afghanistan; commander, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Far East District, Seoul, Korea, and many other command and staff assignments in the United States and overseas. He was born in St. Louis, Missouri. He graduated from the University of Central Missouri with a Bachelor of Arts 36 USBE&IT I WINTER 2015

degree in mathematical sciences. He also holds a Master of Science Degree in industrial engineering from Wichita State University and a Master of Strategic Studies degree from the U.S. Army War College. He is a Harvard Senior Executive Fellow.

BRIG. GEN. DONNA R. WILLIAMS Deputy Commanding General - Support, 412th Theater Engineer Command, Vicksburg, Mississippi

Brigadier General Donna Williams is deputy commanding general - Support at 412th Theater Engineer Command, Vicksburg, Mississippi. She received her Army ROTC Commission from Jackson State University. Her past assignments include garrison commander, Fort Hunter Liggett, California; Force Management Division chief, United States Army Reserve Command at Fort Bragg; operations officer, executive officer, and commander, 926th Engineer Battalion, Birmingham, Alabama; logistics civil augmentation program support officer, Operation Iraqi Freedom, engineer organizational Integrator and branch chief, Army Reserve Command, Atlanta, Georgia; commander, Company A and Company B of the 411th Engineer Battalion, Maui, Hawaii; and operations officer of the 493rd Engineer Group, Dallas, Texas. BG Williams holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Jackson State University, Master of Business Administration in Information Technology and Military Management from Touro University, and a Master of Strategic Studies from the Army War College.

BRIGADIER GENERAL CARL A. ALEX Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff G-3/5/7 U.S. Army Forces Command

Brigadier General Carl Alex was assigned as assistant deputy chief of staff, G-3/5/7 (readiness), Forces Command in June 2015. He has had experience at every level of military leadership and completed service with all five types of infantry that the Army has — air assault, airborne, mechanized, Ranger and light infantry. He has also served as deputy chief legislative liaison in the office of Chief Legislative Liaison at the Pentagon. BG Alex joined the Army General Officer Corps from the 10th Mountain Division in October 2013.

As deputy commanding general for support (DCG-Support) since June 2013 and during 10th Mountain Division’s deployment to Regional Command-East last year, he served as the commander of the Train, Advise, and Assist Command-Northeast. BG Alex earned a Bachelor of Arts in Business from Saint Leo University, a Master of Science in Defense Analysis from the Naval Postgraduate School, an Master of Military Art and Science Degree from the Army War College, and a master’s in Security and Strategic Studies at the National War College.

LT. HENRY O. FLIPPER US Army, first black to graduate from West Point – 1877

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Top Blacks in the United States Military

Serving Our Nation

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12 Vice Admirals

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Top Blacks in the United States Military

U.S. NAVY ADM. CECIL D. HANEY Commander, U.S. Strategic Command

tor, Submarine Warfare Division; director, Naval Warfare Integration Group and as deputy commander, Strategic Command, Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska. A native of Washington, D.C., Haney graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1978 with a Bachelor of Science in ocean engineering. He earned master’s degrees in engineering acoustics and system technology from the Naval Post Graduate School, and a master’s degree in national security strategy from the National Defense University.

ADM. MICHELLE HOWARD Vice Chief of Naval Operations

Adm. Cecil Haney is commander of the United States Strategic Command. He is responsible for the global command and control of U.S. strategic forces to meet national security objectives. USSTRATCOM provides a range of strategic capabilities for the President and Secretary of Defense.

The command’s mission is to ensure the United States has a credible nuclear deterrent. The admiral is responsible for synchronizing space, cyberspace, missile defense, and intelligence, reconnaissance and surveillance across the military. Previously, Adm. Haney commanded 125,000 sailors, Marines and civilians who operate 180 ships and 2,000 aircraft in the Pacific fleet.

Other assignments include division officer positions in USS John C. Calhoun in, and USS Frank Cable, where he completed surface warfare qualifications while serving as a radiological controls officer. He also served as an engineer in USS Hyman G. Rickover, an executive officer in USS Asheville and as an assistant squadron deputy at Submarine Squadron Eight before taking command of the USS Honolulu. He commanded Submarine Squadron One from June 2002 to July 2004, and Submarine Group Two from October 2006 to March 2008. His shore duty tours include service as an administrative assistant for enlisted affairs at Naval Reactors, and congressional appropriations liaison officer for the Office of the Secretary of Defense (comptroller). Other positions include, deputy chief of staff, plans, policies and requirements, U.S. Pacific Fleet; direc38 USBE&IT I WINTER 2015

nami relief in Indonesia and maritime security operations in the North Arabian Gulf. In 2009, she deployed to Central Command Theater, where she commanded Task Force 151, Multi-national Counterpiracy effort, and Task Force 51, Expeditionary Forces. In 2010, she was the Maritime Task Force commander for Baltic Operations, under 6th Fleet prior to reporting as chief of staff, J5, Joint Staff. Shore assignments include: J-3, Global Operations, Readiness and executive assistant to the Joint Staff director of Operations; senior military assistant to the secretary of the Navy; chief of staff to the director for Strategic Plans and Policy, J-5, Joint Staff, deputy commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command, and deputy chief of naval operations for operations, plans and strategy.

VICE ADM. JAMES CRAWFORD III Judge Advocate General, Judge Advocate General’s Corps

Adm. Michelle Howard is the first female four-star in the history of the United States Navy. Currently, she serves as the 38th vice chief of naval operations. The vice chief of naval operations is the second highest-ranking commissioned officer in the United States Navy. Howard graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1982 and then from the Army’s Command and General Staff College in 1998, with a master’s in military arts and sciences. Her initial sea tours were aboard USS Hunley and USS Lexington. While serving on Lexington, she received the Secretary of the Navy/ Navy League Captain Winifred Collins Award in 1987. The award is given to a woman officer for outstanding leadership.

She took command of USS Rushmore March 1999, becoming the first Black woman to command a ship in the Navy.

From May 2004 to September 2005, Howard commanded Amphibious Squadron Seven, deploying with Expeditionary Strike Group 5. Operations included tsu-

Vice Adm. James Crawford became the 43rd Judge Advocate General of the Navy In June 2015. As judge advocate general, Crawford is the principal military legal counsel to the Secretary of the Navy and Chief of Naval Operations. He serves as the Department of Defense representative for Ocean Policy Affairs, and he leads the 2,300 attorneys, enlisted legal men, and civilian employees of the Navy JAG Corps community. Before his appointment to flag rank, he served as special counsel to the chief of naval operations, the senior staff judge advocate for the commander, U.S. Pacific Command, and as the fleet judge advocate for U.S. Seventh Fleet. He also served at Navy Personnel Command, the www.blackengineer.com

Top Blacks in the United States Military Office of the Legal Counsel to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Naval War College, Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe, the Naval Justice School, and Cruiser-Destroyer Group Eight. Crawford graduated from Belmont Abbey College and the University of North Carolina, School of Law. From 2007 to 2011, he served as legal counsel to the chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff. From 2011 to 2012, he was commander, North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Rule of Law Field Support Mission/Rule of Law Field ForceAfghanistan. Before his appointment to flag rank, he was the special counsel to the chief of naval operations, the senior staff judge advocate for commander, U.S. Pacific Command, and as the fleet judge advocate for U.S. 7th Fleet. In command, he served as commanding officer, Region Legal Service Office Southeast.

VICE REAR ADM. KEVIN SCOTT Vice Director J7, Joint Force Development, Joint Staff

Vice Adm. Kevin Scott is vice director J7 for joint force development on the Joint Staff.

A native of Portsmouth, Virginia, and New York City, Scott was designated a naval aviator in 1984. Under his command, Helicopter Mine Counter Measures Squadron 14 was awarded the 2001 Commander Naval Air Force Atlantic Fleet Battle “E” Efficiency Award. He served the Mine Countermeasures Squadron One as commodore, and was a commander of the Expeditionary Strike Group 2. Other assignments include: HM-14 legal officer, aircraft division officer and maintenance test pilot (1985-1987); flight deck officer aboard USS Inchon; and HM-14 admin officer, operations officer and detachment officer in charge (1994-1996). Ashore, he was air combat placement officer, Bureau of Naval Personnel; wing operations officer, Commander Tactical Wing Atlantic; military aide to the vice president (1997-1999); current operations chief and division chief, Joint Forces Command; director of aviation officer Distribution Division, Naval Personnel Command; and acting director, Expeditionary Warfare Division, Washington, D.C. He is a graduate of the State University of New York at Buffalo, Naval Postgraduate School, Naval War College, and the Joint Forces Staff College. He www.blackengineer.com

holds a master’s degree in national security and strategic studies.

REAR ADM. KELVIN DIXON Deputy Commander, Navy Surface Force Atlantic

Rear Adm. Kelvin Dixon is reserve deputy commander, Navy Surface Force Atlantic, Norfolk, Virginia. Prior, he served as vice commander, Naval Forces, U.S. Central Command, Bahrain. A civilian-Sailor, he is a corporate vice president of Risk Management for Matheson Gas, Inc. In 1991, he participated in operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm as operations officer for the United Nations Mission headquartered in Kuwait. He assisted in the establishment of checkpoints and managed the movement of all military and civilian personnel throughout Kuwait and Iraq. He was mobilized in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom responsible for protecting shipping in the Persian Gulf; chief of biometrics, with responsibility for identification and verification, and director, Iraqi Training, Advising, Operations Mission-Navy and Marine building the Iraqi navy and marines. He graduated from Prairie View A&M University where he received a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. He also holds a Master of Science in management. Dixon’s tours include director, Iraqi Training and Advisory Mission-Navy and Marine; deputy commander Navy Region Northwest; commander, Naval Surface Forces Detachment; Naval Beach Group Two, Inshore Boat Unit Two Three. He was awarded the prestigious Captain Leo V. Bilger Award for excellence in mission effectiveness and 2012 Distinguished and Outstanding Eagle Boy Scout Awards.

REAR ADM. STEPHEN C. EVANS Commander, Naval Service Training Command

Rear Adm. Stephen Evans took command of the Naval Service Training Command in July 2015.

The Naval Service Training Command prepares volunteers for the fleet. As commander, Evans oversees initial training of

Navy recruits, the Recruit Training Command, Officer Training Command, Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps and Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps.

Prior, Rear Adm. Evans served as the senior military assistant to the Secretary of the Navy. He handed over command of Destroyer Squadron Fifty in June 2013 before taking up assignment at the Pentagon.

Rear Admiral Evans is the son of a United States Marine and a native of Beaufort, South Carolina. He graduated from The Citadel in 1986 earning a Bachelor of Arts.

He holds a Master’s degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College and was a 2014-2015 Massachusetts Institute of Technology Seminar XXI Fellow.

REAR ADM. VINCENT GRIFFITH Supply Corps, United States Navy, Commander, Navy Supply Global Logistics Support

Rear Adm. Vincent Griffith graduated in 1981 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Berry College. Two years later, he received a master’s degree in business administration from the George Washington University. His sea duty assignments include service as a supply officer on USS Saratoga, USS Stonewall Jackson, and the USS John C. Stennis. Ashore, his tours include: the Naval Supply Center, Naval Supply Systems Command, the Defense Logistics Agency, the Naval Inventory Control Point, Philadelphia, the Office of Chief of Naval Operations N81 Staff, and Naval Air Station Lemoore. He has commanded Naval Air Forces U.S. Pacific Fleet, San Diego, and was commanding officer, Fleet and Industrial Supply Center Jacksonville, Florida. Additionally, he has served as commander, Naval Air Forces U.S. Pacific Fleet, San Diego, and commander, Defense Logistics Agency, Aviation. His most recent assignment was director, fleet ordnance and supply and fleet supply officer on the staff of commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command, Norfolk, Virginia. He is a member of the Navy Acquisition Professional community.

READ ADM. SAMUEL L. GRAVELY First black to reach Admiral status in the US Navy

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Top Blacks in the United States Military REAR ADM. KEITH M. JONES Commander, Navy Expeditionary Logistics Support Group

Rear Adm. Keith Jones is a qualified Expeditionary Supply Corps officer and Seabee Combat Warfare officer.

He served active duty aboard USS Enterprise and has completed reserve staff tours at Naval Supply Center Oakland, Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 17; Freight Terminal Unit B211, 1st Naval Construction Regiment; commander, Naval Expeditionary Logistics Support Force; Naval Reserve Readiness Command Mid-Atlantic; 1st Naval Construction Division and commander, Navy Expeditionary Logistics Support Group. Jones was recalled to active duty at Commander, United States Naval Forces Central Command in Bahrain in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and later in a dual-hatted role as commander, Navy Expeditionary Logistics Support Group Forward Mike and commander; U.S. 5th Fleet Task Group 56.3 at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and the final U.S. drawdown from Iraq in Operation New Dawn. Jones’ previous flag assignment was reserve director, Logistics Programs and Business Operations, N41, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations.

He was commissioned through Officer Candidate School in 1984.

REAR ADM. WILLIE METTS Director for Intelligence, U.S. Pacific Command

Rear Adm. Willie Metts assumed his current position as director for intelligence at the Pacific Command in 2013. Prior, he was deputy chief of tailored access operations at the National Security Agency. He graduated from the Savannah State University with a bachelor’s degree in electronics engineering technology. After his commission, he completed ship deployments to the Mediterranean and Red Seas, with combat operations during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. He was a cryptologic resource coordinator for Carrier Group 2, and deputy director in the 40 USBE&IT I WINTER 2015

Collections and Information Acquisitions Division. In 2004, Metts completed the Harvard University Senior Executive Fellows Program. A year later, he was named special assistant to the commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet and in 2006, reported for duty as the commanding officer of the Navy Information Operations Command. Following that, he was assigned to the Navy Personnel Command as a division director for the Information Dominance Corps and Foreign Area Officer Assignments. In August 2010, Metts reported to United State Cyber Command as director of Intelligence.

REAR ADM. FERNANDEZ “FRANK” PONDS Commander, Expeditionary Strike Group Three

Rear Adm. Fernandez Ponds is a native of Alabama, and graduated in 1982 with a bachelor’s degree from University of Alabama, receiving his commission from Officer Candidate School in June 1983. Ponds commanded Amphibious Squadron Eight from 2007 to 2009. As commander of the Kearsarge Expeditionary Strike Group, he led 4 numbered fleet areas in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom, counter piracy operations, and Operation Sea Angel II-Bangladesh humanitarian assistance/disaster relief. He also served as the mission commander for two operations in 2008, Operation Continuing Promise, and Haiti Humanitarian Assistance/Disaster Relief. Previously Ponds commanded USS Fife. Other assignments include engineering officer, flag secretary, and selection to the Fleet Propulsion Examination Board. He was senior naval advisor, Department of State during the 2005 earthquake relief operations, 2006 Lebanon non-combatant evacuation operation and Hurricane Katrina disaster relief. Ponds holds a Master’s in Information Systems Technology, another in Military Studies and National Security Strategy.

REAR ADM. CEDRIC PRINGLE Deputy Director, Joint Interagency Task Force South, U.S. Southern Command

Rear Adm. Ce-

dric Pringle reported to the Joint Interagency Task Force South in Sept. 2015 from the Secretary of the Navy’s Office of Legislative Affairs. In July, he was selected for promotion to rear admiral (lower half), and assigned to his current post. A native of Sumter, South Carolina, he graduated in 1986 with a Bachelor of Science in Economics and received his commission via NROTC from the University of South Carolina. At sea, he served in USS Ranger and USS Portland. Other sea tours include USS Fort McHenry. He served as commanding officer, USS Whidbey Island from July 2004 to February 2006. In 2012, he took command of the amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island. During his tour, the crew won numerous retention excellence and public affairs awards. Pringle also earned the President’s Volunteer Service Award in recognition of the ship’s outreach with two local schools.

REAR ADM. DWIGHT SHEPHERD Director, Cyberspace Operations/J6

U.S. Northern Command/ North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) Rear Adm. Dwight Shepherd is a native of Cleveland.

He graduated in 1983 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Cincinnati. He also earned a Master of Science in national resource strategy from the Industrial College of Armed Forces in 2006. Shepherd was commissioned an ensign in 1984 and earned his naval flight officer wings in 1985. His operational command tours include: Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron Three, the largest aviation squadron. His major command was Strategic Communications Wing One and Task Force 124, and he is the first Black officer to command a “Take Charge and Move Out” squadron and air wing.

His operational tours include: Patrol Special Projects Unit Two (avionics division officer); Fleet Air Reconnaissance Special Projects Patrol Squadron Three (Naval Air Training and Operating Procedures Standardization, flight officer, and maintenance officer). His shore tours include: Bureau of Naval Personnel/Personnel-43 (Initial Assignment and VQ/Force Support detailer); Naval Training Support Unit/Naval Training Service Command (Naval Air Training www.blackengineer.com

Top Blacks in the United States Military and Operating Procedures Standardization evaluator/instructor); U.S. Strategic Command (Take Charge and Move Out /Airborne Command Post current ops officer); Office of the Chief of Naval Operations/ N6F (executive assistant); Office of the Chief of Naval Operations N00X (Strategic Alignment branch head); and senior military assistant to the secretary of the Navy.

REAR ADM. JOHN SMITH JR. Commandant, Joint Forces Staff College

Rear Adm. John Smith entered the U.S. Navy via the Aviation Officer Candidate program in 1982 and was designated a naval aviator in 1984. He has flown over 4,200 hours in H-3 and H-60-F/H/B aircraft. His most recent assignment includes command of the Helicopter Sea Combat Wing, Atlantic Fleet. Ashore, he served as deputy director of Equal Opportunity (Personnel 61) in Washington, D.C.; and head aviation commander helicopter detailer, Bureau of Naval Personnel (Personnel 43) Millington, Tennessee. In 2009, he served as chief of staff for Navy Cyber Forces in Little Creek, Virginia. From 2010 to 2012, he was deputy director of the Joint Interagency Task Force South in Florida, responsible for coordinating efforts to combat drug trafficking and narco-terrorism. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from

South Carolina State College and a master’s degree in National Resource Strategy from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. His squadron command tours include Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron -11. He deployed aboard USS John F. Kennedy to the Arabian Gulf in support of Operation Southern Watch, and Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron -10, the fleet replacement squadron for the helicopter antisubmarine squadron community.

REAR ADM. JESSE A. WILSON, JR. Director, Joint Integrated Air and Missile Defense Organization, Joint Staff, J8

Rear Adm. Jesse Wilson leads Joint Integrated Air and Missile Defense Organization (JIAMDO) in planning, coordinating, and overseeing Joint Air and Missile Defense requirements, operational concepts, and operational architectures.

He is also the U.S. Head of Delegation to NATO’s Air and Missile Defense Committee, helping develop and steer Alliance policy. He assumed these duties on 27 June 2014. Wilson graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from the United States Naval Academy in 1986. He also earned a Master of Science in Operations Research from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA and a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College in 2001. Wilson was also a Massachusetts

Institute of Technology Seminar XXI Fellow in 2007–08, and he is a graduate of the Navy Corporate Business Course at UVADarden. During his most recent tour, he served as executive assistant to the Chief of Naval Operations.

REAR ADM. COY YOUNG Commander, Navy Reserve Forces Command

Rear Adm. Young is a native of Abilene, Texas and a 1984 graduate of Angelo State University in San Angelo Texas, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry.

He received his commission as an ensign from Officer Candidate School. He holds a Master of Science in financial management and a Master of Arts in national security. His tours as a surface warfare officer include ordnance officer, navigator, operations officer, combat systems officer, executive officer, commanding officer, and commander, Destroyer Squadron One. During his command tour, his crew won five of five Command Excellence awards.

In October 2009, Destroyer Squadron One was assigned as Sea Combat Commander for the Carl Vinson Strike Group, and Rear Adm. Young commanded Destroyer Squadron One from 2009 through 2010.

He spearheaded Destroyer Squadron One’s transformation to an operational focused destroyer squadron.

Open to Women

Combat Roles now open for Women in the Military www.blackengineer.com

237,000 184,000 53,000 14,000+

positions combat arms professions assignments that were closed based on unit type assignments in ground combat units or collocated with ground combat units

USBE&IT I WINTER 2015 41

Top Blacks in the United States Military

U.S. MARINE CORPS LT. GEN. RONALD BAILEY Deputy Commandant, Plans, Policies and Operations

Lt. Gen. Ronald Bailey was promoted to his current rank in June 2013 and assigned to Headquarters Marine Corps as the deputy commandant for plans, policies and operations. Prior, he commanded more than 26,000 men and women in the oldest and largest active-duty division, the 1st Marine Division. After graduating from Austin Peay State University in 1977 with a Bachelor of Science degree in biology, he was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps and went on to serve as an infantry officer. Over his more than 30year career, he has served as company commander, chief of professional military education, plans officer, J-5, Headquarters U.S. European Command and a ground lieutenant colonel’s monitor. Bailey earned a master’s in business management and administration from Webster University and attended the National War College, where he earned his second master’s degree in national security strategy.

LT. GEN. VINCENT STEWART Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency and the Commander, Joint Functional Component Command for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance

Lieutenant General Vincent R. Stewart became the 20th Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency and the Commander, Joint Functional Component Command for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance on 23 January 2015. He formerly served as the commander, Marine Forces Cyber. Lieutenant General Stewart 42 USBE&IT I WINTER 2015

received his baccalaureate degree from Western Illinois University, Macomb, IL, where he majored in History (1981). He also earned master’s degrees in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College, Newport, RI (1995) and in National Resource Strategy from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, National Defense University, Washington, DC (2002). His military education includes: The Basic School, Quantico, VA, (1981-82); The Armor Officer Basic Course, Fort Knox, KY, (1982); The Basic Communications Officer Course, Quantico, VA, (1985); The Cryptologic Division Officer’s Course, Washington, DC, (1986); The Amphibious Warfare School, Quantico, VA, (1988-1989); The Naval Command and Staff, Naval War College, Newport, RI, (1994-1995); The School of Advanced Warfighting, Quantico, VA, (1995-1996); and The Industrial College of the Armed Forces, Ft. McNair Washington, DC, (2001-2002).

BRIG. GEN. CRAIG CRENSHAW Assistant Deputy Commandant for Installations and Logistics (Plans)

Brig.

Gen. Craig Crenshaw was tapped for promotion March 2015.

He began his career as a logistics officer with 3rd Force Service Support Group, Okinawa, Japan. He was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps in 1984 through the NROTC Scholarship

Program. Since then, he has served as platoon commander, maintenance management officer and assistant logistics officer.

While assigned to 1st Marine Regiment, he deployed in support of operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm. In 1992, he was assigned to the Program Executive Office for Cruise Missiles and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles. He has also served as Marine Corps integrated logistics support manager and deputy director, Joint Logistics Program, Joint Logistics Directorate. In July 2012, he relinquished command of 3rd Marine Logistics, which he commanded since June 2010 to serve at the office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the Pentagon. In October 2013, Brig. Gen. Crenshaw assumed his current position as the Assistant Deputy Commandant, Installations and Logistics (LP) HQMC. The general earned a bachelor of arts in political science from Southern University, Baton Rouge; a master’s degree in procurement and acquisitions management from Webster University, and another master’s degree in national resource strategy from National Defense University.

BRIG. GEN. MICHAEL E LANGLEY Senior Advisor, 215th Corps, Regional Command (Southwest), Afghanistan

Marine Corps Col. Michael E. Langley was nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general in February 2014 and received Senate confirmation in June. He is currently serving as the senior advisor, 215th Corps, Regional Command (Southwest), Afghanistan. While deployed to Afghanistan from November 2008 to August 2009, Brig.

Gen. Langley received a Bronze Star medal for meritorious service in connection with combat operations while serving as the senior mentor to the commanding general of the 201st Corps. He was the officer in charge for the Special Operations Training Group for III Marine Expeditionary Force.

He also served as a commander of the Regional Corps Advisory Command–Central, supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. www.blackengineer.com

Top Blacks in the United States Military “Langley created a comprehensive mentoring program that transformed the 201st Corps into war fighting that successfully executes counterinsurgency operations,” according to the citation. Langley, a Forth, Texas, native, “was also described as an exemplary leader, a role model and praised for establishing personnel standards in the critical areas of accountability and preparation for combat that were the hallmarks of his leadership.

BRIG. GEN. CRAIG TIMBERLAKE Deputy Commanding General, III Marine Expeditionary Force and Commanding General, 3d Marine Expeditionary Brigade

Brig.

Gen. Craig Timberlake enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1977 and was promoted to staff sergeant in January 1982. Two years later, he was commissioned through the Enlisted Commissioning Program in August 1984.

He was promoted brigadier general in January 2011. Timberlake’s assignments in the operating forces include platoon commander and company executive officer, 2d Battalion, 6th Marines; company com-

mander, operations officer 1st Battalion, 1st Marines; regimental operations officer, 1st Marines; and inspector and instructor, 23d Marines. His other assignments in the supporting establishment include platoon commander and company commander.

Headquarters and staff assignments include: action officer, Manpower Equal Opportunity Branch; and plans officer and deputy J54, U.S. Pacific Command.

Timberlake’s military education includes Amphibious Warfare School, Command and Staff College, and the Naval War College. He has also earned master’s degrees in military studies and in national security and strategic studies.

BRIG. GEN. TERRY WILLIAMS Commanding General of Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island and the Eastern Recruiting Region

Brig. Gen. Terry Williams was commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant in the Marine Corps in 1986 after graduating with a bachelor’s in mathematics from the University of California in Los Angeles. Brig. Gen. Williams has served throughout Marine Air-Ground Task

Force, with command and staff assignments at every level from platoon/company commander at 3rd Combat Engineer Battalion to series commander and battalion adjutant, 1st Recruit Training Battalion, Marine Corps Recruit Depot. He has also served as engineer officer, ground operations officer, operations officer, and logistics officer. Other assignments include commanding officer, 8th Engineer Support Battalion, where he deployed to Haiti, in 2004, and in 2005 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He subsequently served as operations officer, Facilities and Services Division, Installations and Logistics Department, Headquarters Marine Corps. In 2009, Williams took command of Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany and was subsequently assigned to Headquarters Marines Corps as executive assistant to the deputy commandant, Installations and Logistics in 2012. From June 2013-June 2014 he served as the Director of Public Affairs. HQMC Public Affairs and Combat Camera were consolidated under the Directorate, Office of United States Marine Corps Communication (OUSMCC) in March 2014. He assumed his current duties as the Commanding General of Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island and the Eastern Recruiting Region in June 2014.

U.S. AIR FORCE GEN. DARREN W. MCDEW Commander, U.S. Transportation Command

www.blackengineer.com

Gen. Darren. McDew is commander, U.S. Transportation Command. USTRANSCOM is the single manager for global air, land and sea transportation for the Department of Defense. Prior, he was commander, Air Mobility Command. Air Mobility Command’s mission is to provide rapid, global mobility and sustainment for America’s armed forces. The command also played a crucial role in providing humanitarian support at home and around the world. The men and women of AMC — active duty, Air National Guard, Air Force Reserve and civilians — provide airlift, aerial refueling, and special air mission and aeromedical evacuation. Gen. McDew was commissioned in 1982 following his graduation from Virginia Military Institute.

He began his flying career at Loring Air Force Base, Maine. His staff assignments include serving as a member of the Air

Force Chief of Staff operations group, Air Force aide to the president, and chief of the U.S. Air Force senate liaison division, Washington, D.C. and the director of public affairs, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, Washington, D.C. As part of the Joint Staff at the Pentagon, Gen. McDew also served as vice director for strategic plans and policy. He has served as the vice commander of the18th Air Force, Scott AFB, Illinois, and has commanded at the squadron, group and wing levels as well as an Air Force direct reporting unit. He has deployed in support of ongoing operations in central and southwest Asia as an air expeditionary group commander and later as the director of mobility forces. Prior to his current assignment, Gen. McDew was the commander of the 18th Air Force, Scott AFB, Illinois.

USBE&IT I WINTER 2015 43

Top Blacks in the United States Military LT. GEN. SAMUEL A. GREAVES Commander, Space and Missile Systems Center, Air Force Space Command

Lt. Gen. Samuel.

Greaves is commander, Space and Missile Systems Center, Air Force Space Command. He is responsible for more than 5,000 employees nationwide and an annual budget of $6 billion. As the Air Force program executive officer for space, Gen. Greaves manages the research, design, development, acquisition, and sustainment of satellites and the associated command and control systems.

His extensive portfolio includes military satellite communication, missile warning, navigation and timing, space-based weather, space launch and test ranges, certification for launch, space superiority, responsive space and other emerging evolutionary space programs. Gen. Greaves was commissioned in 1982 through the Reserve Officer Training Corps program after he graduated from Cornell University. He has held a variety of assignments in operational, acquisition and staff units, including assignments at Headquarters Air Combat Command; the National Reconnaissance Office; and on the Air Staff within the Directorate of Operational Requirements and the Air Force Colonel Matters Office. He commanded the 45th Launch Group at Patrick AFB, Florida, the Launch and Range Systems Wing and Military Satellite Communications Systems Wing at Los Angeles AFB, California. The general also served as vice commander, Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles AFB, California, and then as director, strategic plans, programs and analyses, Headquarters Air Force Space Command, Peterson AFB, Colorado. Prior to his current assignment, he was the deputy director, Missile Defense Agency, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama.

He has operational launch crew experience in the space shuttle, Titan, Atlas and Delta space-launch systems. He wears the Command Space Badge.

LT. GEN. CHARLES Q. BROWN JR. Commander, U.S. Air Forces Central Command, Southwest Asia

Lt. Gen. Charles Brown is commander, U.S. Air Forces Central Command, Southwest Asia. As the Air Component commander for U.S. Central Command, the 44 USBE&IT I WINTER 2015

general is responsible for developing contingency plans and conducting air operations in a 20-nation area covering Central and Southwest Asia. Gen. Brown served as director, operations, strategic deterrence, and nuclear integration, Headquarters U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa, Ramstein Air Base, Germany. In this position, the general devised and implemented policy, obtains resources and develops concepts of operation to ensure U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Africa are equipped to meet requirements.

Assigned and allocated forces provide integrated air and missile defense, aeromedical evacuation, cyberspace operations, airfield operations and support, aerial refueling, combat aerial delivery, operational support airlift and distinguished visitor airlift, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, and precision strike in the European and African command areas of responsibility and for other combatant commands when tasked. Gen. Brown was commissioned in 1984 as a distinguished graduate of the ROTC program at Texas Tech University.

His notable staff tours include aide-decamp to the chief of staff of the Air Force; director, Secretary of the Air Force and Chief of Staff Executive Action Group; and deputy director, operations, U.S. Central Command. The general is a command pilot with more than 2,850 flying hours, including 95 combat hours.

MAJ. GEN. GARRY C. DEAN The Special Assistant to the Chief, National Guard Bureau

Maj. Gen. Garry Dean is special assistant to the chief, National Guard Bureau.

As the special assistant, he is acting in the capacity of the director, National Guard Joint Staff. He is the principal staff officer and advisor to the chief, National Guard Bureau, responsible for the performance of the 1,100 member National Guard Staff and its transformation in support of the chief, in his role as a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Prior to his current assignment, Gen. Dean served as deputy chief

of staff for operations, Allied Joint Forces Command where he was responsible for all intelligence, operations, and campaign assessment for ongoing and contingency North Atlantic Treaty Organization operations and engagement in the Balkans, Mediterranean, Middle East, and North Africa regions. Gen. Dean was commissioned in 1978 as a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy. His experience in the F-15 includes tours of duty in Pacific Air Forces, Air Combat Command, and the Oregon Air National Guard. He has commanded a fighter squadron, aircraft maintenance squadron, fighter wing, and numbered Air Force. Gen. Dean is a command pilot with more than 4,000 flying hours, primarily in the F-15.

MAJ. GEN. STAYCE D. HARRIS Commander, 22nd Air Force, Air Force Reserve Command, Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Georgia

Maj. Gen. Stayce Harris is commander, 22nd Air Force, Air Force Reserve Command, Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Georgia.

Twenty-Second Air Force has command supervision of the Reserve’s air mobility operations and other vital mission sets to include undergraduate pilot training, flight test operations and a highly mobile civil engineering response force. With more than 15,000 reservists and 105 unit-equipped aircraft, 22nd Air Force contributes daily to the Air Force’s worldwide operational mission. Reserve aircrews within 22nd Air Force fly a variety of missions to include aerial spraying, fire suppression, hurricane hunters to troop transport utilizing the C-130 Hercules. Gen. Harris received a commission in the Air Force through the University of Southern California’s Air Force ROTC program. Her staff assignments include serving as a mobility force planner for the deputy chief of staff for plans and operations and as the individual mobilization augmented to the deputy assistant secretary of the Air Force. She has commanded an airlift squadron, an expeditionary operations group and an air refueling wing. In her civilian occupation, she is a commercial airline pilot flying routes to Asia and Europe. Prior to her current position, Gen. Harris served as the mobilization assistant to the commander, Air Mobility Command, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. www.blackengineer.com

Top Blacks in the United States Military MAJ. GEN BRIAN C. NEWBY Principal Advisor to the Judge Advocate General, United States Air Force

The Air Force promoted Brian C. Newby to the rank of Major General July 16, 2015. Newby is the Air National Guard Assistant to The Judge Advocate General at the Pentagon. He serves as the principal advisor to the Judge Advocate General, United States Air Force on all Air National Guard matters. In addition, he serves as the senior representative on the Air National Guard Judge Advocate Council, providing leadership, strategic planning and management of the Air National Guard Judge Advocate program, encompassing more than 440 judge advocates (attorneys) and paralegals at Air National Guard legal offices throughout the United States and territories. Before assuming his current position, Newby served as the Air National Guard Assistant to the Deputy Judge Advocate General and was a Chief of Staff and Vice Commander of the Texas Air National Guard, Austin Texas. The Texas Air National Guard is composed of three air wings (F-16, C-130 and MQ-1) and four support units, containing more than 3,000 personnel, including the 136th Airlift Wing at Naval Air Station, Joint Reserve Base, Fort Worth. A 1983 distinguished graduate of Texas Tech University’s Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC), Newby has nearly 30 years of service with the active duty Air Force, the Air Force Reserves and the Air National Guard. In his civilian law practice, Newby works with multiple corporate and governmental clients on commercial disputes and government affairs. He was a Chief of Staff and General Counsel to former Governor Rick Perry and a former Regent of the Texas Tech University System.

BRIG. GEN. ONDRA L. BERRY Assistant Adjutant General, Air, Nevada National Guard

Brig. Gen. Ondra Berry serves as assistant adjutant general–air, Nevada National Guard.

He is responsible for formulating, developing and cowww.blackengineer.com

ordinating all policies, programs and plans affecting more than 1,100 Nevada Air National Guard airmen. He serves the adjutant general as a principal advisor on all matters pertaining to the Nevada Air National Guard. General Berry received his commission from the Air National Guard Academy of Military Science in 1990. His most recent assignment was special assistant to the Chief National Guard Bureau, providing advice on all diversity and leadership matters. He has had a significant impact on diversity and inclusion in the Nevada Air National Guard, taking the message of diversity, education, and opportunity to the National Guard Bureau and around the country.

BRIG. GEN. TRENT EDWARDS Commander, 37th Training Wing, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas

Brig. Gen. Trent Edwards commands the largest training wing in the Air Force, comprising more than 16,000 students and permanent party Airmen. Known as the “Gateway to the Air Force”, it consists of three groups, two academies and one center which graduate more than 85,000 students annually from more than 450 technical training courses. General Edwards entered the Air Force in 1990 after graduating from North Carolina A&T State University. He has commanded two comptroller squadrons, a mission support group and an air base wing. He served in key Air Force and Secretary of Defense staff positions such as Aide de Camp to the Commander Air Education and Training Command and Senior Military Assistant to the Under Secretary of Defense Comptroller. He has extensive congressional experience and was assigned to the Secretary of the Air Force Office of Legislative Liaison, as the Chief of Congressional Affairs and served as a National Defense Fellow to a member of Congress.

He is a joint qualified officer.

BRIG. GEN. CEDRIC D. GEORGE Deputy Director, Resource Integration, Deputy Chief of Staff, Logistics, Installations and Mission Support, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.

Brig. Gen. Cedric George is for the planning, programming and budgeting of weapons systems sustainment, equipment,

and logistics and installations resource requirements.

As part of the Air Force corporate structure, he monitors performance of operations and maintenance, capital funds and investment programs; participates in program and financial review groups; and advocates for financial adjustments to optimize force readiness. He oversees preparation and defense of these Air Force programs to the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Office of Management and Budget, and Congress.

He also directs planning, development and implementation of innovative logistics concepts and initiatives across the full spectrum of the Air Force logistics enterprise to enable the evolving expeditionary air and space force. He is responsible for developing architectures and providing management and oversight across the full range of a diverse logistics information technology enterprise. Gen. George is a 1987 graduate of the ROTC program at Norwich University.

BRIG. GEN. DAVID D. HAMLAR, JR. Assistant Adjutant General - Air, Minnesota National Guard

Brig. Gen. David D. Hamlar serves as assistant adjutant general–air, Minnesota National Guard. He assists in the oversight and leadership of Minnesota Air National Guard units and in deploying specific strategic themes relevant to external audiences, with a primary strategic objective to maintain two high-quality Air National Guard Wings assigned to the State of Minnesota. The secondary strategic objective is to sustain and acquire relevant missions for the Minnesota Air National Guard.

Gen. Hamlar provides service component leadership and policy advice to the adjutant general and enforces the policies of the adjutant general in the Minnesota Air National Guard as the senior Air Force officer. Brig. Gen. Hamlar graduated from Tufts University in Boston, Massachusetts, with a bachelor of science in biology. He then attended the Howard University ColUSBE&IT I WINTER 2015 45

Top Blacks in the United States Military lege of Dentistry as a National Health Service Corps scholarship recipient, gaining a commission at the equivalent naval rank of lieutenant. Gen. Hamlar continued his military career by joining the 121st Tactical Fighter Wing of the Ohio Air National Guard in 1989. He joined the 133rd Airlift Wing as a traditional guardsman and general practice physician in 1995.

BRIG. GEN. FARRIS HILL Mobilization Assistant to the Director, Legislative Liaison, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C

Brig. Gen. Farris “Carlos” Hill is the mobilization assistant to the director, Legislative Liaison, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, the Pentagon.

The directorate is the liaison between the Air Force and Congress on all programs, air and space weapons systems and issues such as legislative and constituent inquiries. General Hill collaborates directly with the House of Representatives and Senate to ensure full authorization of the Air Force’s $145 billion annual budget.

He also prepares the Secretary and Chief of Staff of the Air Force for engagements and testimonies on Capitol Hill. General Hill received his commission into the U.S. Air Force through the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps in 1986. Prior to assuming his current role, General Hill was the Director of Policy Integration, Office of the Air Force Reserve, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C. BRIG. GEN. LEONARD ISABELLE Chief of Staff, Joint Forces Headquarters Michigan Air National Guard

Brigadier General Leonard Isabelle also serves as the commander, Michigan Air National Guard. As commander, General Isabelle directs the activities of the Michigan Air National Guard in support of the Adjutant General of Michigan and is responsible for the Air National Guard units located at Selfridge Air National Guard 46 USBE&IT I WINTER 2015

Base, Battle Creek Air National Guard Base, and the Combat Readiness Training Center in Alpena. Gen. Isabelle received his commission as a second lieutenant in 1987 as a graduate of the Academy of Military Science. He has served in numerous assignments in operations and maintenance, as well as command positions at the squadron and group level. General Isabelle is a command pilot with more than 2,950 hours primarily in the A-10 and F-16 aircraft. Prior to assuming his current position, General Isabelle was the 127th Operations Group Commander at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Michigan.

BRIG. GEN. ALLEN J. JAMERSON Director of Security Forces, Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics, Installations and Mission Support, Headquarters U.S. Air Force

Brig. Gen. Allen Jamerson is the focal point for ensuring the physical security of Air Force nuclear assets, and planning and programming for more than 37,000 Active-Duty and Reserve component security forces at locations worldwide. He provides policy and oversight for protecting Air Force resources from terrorism, criminal acts, sabotage and acts of war, and ensures security forces are trained, equipped and ready to support contingency and exercise plans.

Gen. Jamerson entered the Air Force in 1986 after graduating from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. He was also commissioned as an AFROTC distinguished graduate. Gen. Jamerson also held a staff position at Headquarters Air Force Space Command, Peterson AFB, Colorado, and commanded security forces squadrons at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, and Robins Air Force Base, Georgia. He also commanded the 90th Security Forces Group at Francis E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming, was vice commander of the 42d Air Base Wing, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, and commanded the 72nd Air Base Wing at Tinker, Air Force Base, Oklahoma.

BRIG. GEN RANDALL REED

Randall Reed was nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general in February 2015 As commander, 521st Air Mobility Operations Wing, Ramstein Air

Base, Germany.

The wing consists of two air mobility operations groups (AMOG) — the 721 AMOG at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, and the 521 AMOG at Rota, Spain. The wing provides all command and control, en route maintenance support, and air transportation services for theater and strategic air mobility missions in Europe and Southwest Asia. Reed graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1989. He commanded two expeditionary operations groups and a flying training squadron. Additionally, he held a variety of joint, wing, and Major Command Headquarters positions including assignments in strategic airlift, maintenance, special operations air refueling, and the 21st Expeditionary Mobility Task Force. He is a graduate of the U.S. Army Light Fighter Air Assault School and is a command pilot with more than 3,500 hours in the C-141B, KC-135R/T, B-1B, RC135V/W, E-8C, C-130 and C-5A aircraft.

Prior to his current assignment, he served as the commander, 379th Expeditionary Operations Group, Southwest Asia.

BRIG. GEN. NATHANIEL S. REDDICK California National Guard, Joint Forces Training Base

Brig. Gen. Nathaniel.

Reddicks assumed command of the California National Guard’s Joint Forces Training Base (JFTB) Los Alamitos Army Airfield, the only military airfield in the greater Los Angeles area, on April 1. The base employs 850 civilian and military personnel, supports 3,000 reservecomponent military members and is headquarters for the 40th Infantry Division, the CNG’s largest Army command. The base is also home to the CNG’s Sunburst Youth ChalleNGe Academy and STARBASE math and engineering academy, among other organizations. In addition to his responsibilities as JFTB commander, Reddicks serves as the Assistant Adjutant General—Air for the California National Guard, overseeing four wings and a comwww.blackengineer.com

Top Blacks in the United States Military bat communications group, totaling nearly 5,000 military and civilian personnel at 10 locations. Reddicks enlisted in the CNG’s Channel Islands-based 146th Airlift Wing in 1978 and commissioned as an officer in 1980. Among other positions, Reddicks has served as commander of the 146th Airlift Wing Mission Support Group and the 163rd Reconnaissance Wing Mission Support Group. Most recently, Reddicks served as Deputy Chief of Staff for the CNG Joint Staff and as Chief of Staff, Air Division, CNG.

dergraduate pilot training and later served as a T-38B First Assignment Instructor Pilot before moving on to a series of operational assignments in the C-130E/H/J and the C-17A, representing the full range of tactical and strategic airlift and aerial delivery. Gen. Robinson is a command pilot and U.S. Air Force weapons officer with more than 4,300 hours in airlift and trainer aircraft.

BRIG. GEN. BRIAN S. ROBINSON

Chief of Staff, Georgia Air National Guard Brig. Gen. Robert L. Shannon is chief of staff, Georgia Air National Guard. He assists the adjutant general in providing oversight and supervision of the headquarters, Georgia Air National Guard staff and command of the 2,900 Georgia Air Guard members serving in two flying wings, six geographically separated units, and a combat readiness training center.

Additionally, he oversees the Georgia Air National Guard’s strategic planning and initiatives. He previously served as director, joint staff for Joint Forces Headquarters, Georgia National Guard. Gen. Shannon serves as a member of the steering committee for the Air National Guard’s Strategic Planning System. He is a charter member of the Joint Diversity Executive Council and serves as the chair for the

Commander, 618th Air Operations Center (Tanker Airlift Control Center), Scott Air Force Base, Illinois

Brig. Gen. Brian. Robinson is the commander, 618th Air Operations Center (Tanker Airlift Control Center), Scott Air Force Base, Illinois.

The 618th AOC (TACC) is responsible for operational planning, scheduling, directing and assessing a fleet of approximately 1,100 aircraft in support of combat delivery and strategic airlift, air refueling and aeromedical operations around the world.

Gen. Robinson is a native of Philadelphia, and earned his Bachelor of Science degree in computer science from Philadelphia University in 1987. Later that year, he received his commission from Air Force Officer Training School. He attended un-

BRIG. GEN. ROBERT L. SHANNON, JR.

Special Emphasis and Outreach Programs.

Gen. Shannon was commissioned through the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps in 1981.

BRIG. GEN. CURTIS L. WILLIAMS Director of Installations and Mission Support, Headquarters Air Force Reserve Command, Robins Air Force Base

Brig. Gen. Curtis L. Williams is director of installations and mission support, Headquarters Air Force Reserve Command, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia. He is responsible for organizing, training and equipping the command’s in-garrison and expeditionary agile combat support, which supports more than 70,000 airmen and consists of more than 350 aircraft, assigned to three numbered air forces, 33 wings, three flying groups and one space wing. The command has assets at nine primary and 61 tenant locations with a $6.4 billion average plant replacement value and a $220 million annual operating budget. The general enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1976 under the delayed enlistment program. He left active duty in 1984, and entered the ROTC program at Angelo State University, San Angelo, Texas. He received his commission in 1986, along with his master’s degree in public administration. He has held leadership and command positions at the squadron, wing and numbered air force levels.

U.S. COAST GUARD REAR ADMIRAL ERICA SCHWARTZ Director of Health, Safety and Work-Life, U.S. Coast Guard

Erica Schwartz was promoted to the rank of Rear Admiral in August 2015. As director of Health, Safety and Work-Life, Rear Admiral Schwartz is responsible for the Coast Guard’s health care system as well as operational and off-duty mishap prevention, response and investigation. She oversees the Coast Guard’s child care and food services delivery programs, ashore and afloat, and the Coast Guard’s Ombudsman, Substance Abuse, Health Promotion and Sexual Assault Prevention and Response programs. Schwartz graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering from Brown University in 1994 and she earned her Doctor of Medicine degree from Brown University School of Medicine in 1998. In 2000, she completed her master’s degree in Public Health with a concentration in Health Services and Occupational and Environmental Medicine from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS). In 2001, she completed the USUHS Occupational and Environmental Medicine residency program. Preceding her transfer to the Public Health Service and Coast Guard in 2005, she served as a Navy Occupational Medicine physician. www.blackengineer.com

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Top Blacks

in the Senior Executive Service-Defense

by Rayondon Kennedy rkennedy@ccgmag.com

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embers of the Senior Executive Service (SES) operate and oversee nearly every government activity in 75 federal agencies. In keeping with USBE&IT magazine’s Homeland Security, Government and Defense tradition, we feature executives in the Department of Defense (DOD), Department of the Army, Department of the Navy, Department of the Air Force, Department of Homeland Security, and the 17 defense agencies and other DOD field activities.

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 KEVIN BOSTICK Director of Logistics Integration

As director of logistics integration, Mr. Bostick is responsible for planning, directing, integrating, and coordinating logistics management of supply, maintenance, transportation, ammunition, weapon system sustainment, materiel management, depot/arsenal management, and Army Working Capital Fund. Mr. Bostick supervises senior civilian and military personnel and manages the directorate sustainment budget. He executes the strategic direction, priorities, policies, and guidance of the Army Material Command, commanding general, deputy commanding general, executive deputy commanding general, and G-3/4 deputy chief of staff for operations.

AUBREY BUTTS Director for the Institute for Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Headquarters, U.S. Army

Dr. Aubrey Butts was appointed to the Senior Executive Service in July 2013.

He serves as the director for the Institute for Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development at Headquarters, Army Training and Doctrine Command. He is responsible for providing direction and oversight of the Noncommissioned Officer Education System across the Army; integrating actions and activities related to noncommissioned officer leader development into the Army Leader Development Strategy; and serving as the NCO subject matter expert for the Army Leader Development Enterprise. Before selection to the federal Senior Executive Service, Dr. Butts served as acting division chief civilian senior leader, Development Division; deputy director; and deputy chief of staff, U. S. Army Cadet Command. He received his bachelor’s degree in psychology from Park University, is a graduate of U.S. Army War College, and has a Ph.D. in Organization and Management from Capella University.

Snapshot of the Senior Executive Service workforce District of Columbia 3,973 Virginia 1,145 Maryland 872 www.blackengineer.com

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EUGENE COLLINS Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army Environment, Safety and Occupational Health

Eugene (Gene) Collins assumed duties as the deputy assistant secretary of the Army for environment, safety and occupational health on June 15, 2015. He provides executive leadership for sustainability, environment, natural resources, safety, and occupational health programs. He also provides oversight of acquisition environment, safety and occupational health programs; Chemical, Biological, Nuclear and Conventional Treaty Verification and Compliance; the Army Environmental Technology Program; and U.S./German Technology Data Exchange. Mr. Collins is also executive agent for Department of Defense activities ranging from the Unexploded Ordnance Center of Excellence to the National Defense Center for Energy & Environment; the Voluntary Protection Program Center of Excellence, and the Formerly Used Defense Site (FUDS) cleanup program. Also, he serves as the Army Federal Preservation Official and the functional representative for Career Program 12 and the Interstate Technology and Regulatory Council. His responsibilities span a global organization that includes an annual environment program of over $1.5 billion and oversight for the safety and occupational health of 1.2 million soldiers and Army civilian employees. As deputy assistant secretary, he works with personnel in the Army, the Department of Defense, and federal and state agencies in developing and advocating Army policies for sustainability, environment, natural resources, safety, and occupational health programs in line with the Army mission public laws, and Presidential executive orders. Mr. Collins entered the Senior Executive Service in April 2007.

Prior to assuming his current position, he served as the deputy director of logistics, Directorate of Logistics, Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics, Installations and Mission Support, Headquarters U.S. Air Force.

DONN BOOKER Contingency Business Director of the Transatlantic Division Principal Adviser, Commander of the Army Corps of Engineers

Mr. Donn Booker is principal adviser to the commander of the Army Corps of Engi-

neers and a contingency business director in the Corps Transatlantic Division. He leads direction and financial operations as well as regional support to the division’s regional business center. He also serves as a representative to the management board and is responsible for establishing policy and guidance. The Transatlantic Division provides the Corps of Engineers’ construction, engineering, and project management support for Central Command, a unified combatant command within the Department of Defense. Central Command’s area includes countries in the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan, and Iraq. Overseeing thousands of United States Army projects, the transatlantic division also provides support to Afghan national security forces, coalition forces, counter narcotics and border management, reconstruction support to the U.S. Agency for International Development, and the Corps commander’s Emergency Response Program. Mr. Booker graduated from North Carolina A&T State University with a bachelor’s degree in science and a master’s from Georgia Institute of Technology.

THEODORE BROWN Chief, Planning and Policy/Leader, Mississippi Valley Division Regional Integration Team Headquarters U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Mr. Theodore Brown serves as chief of planning and policy and leader of the Mississippi Valley Division Regional Integration Team, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). He provides oversight for coastal Louisiana post-Katrina reconstruction and planning. Mr. Brown also serves as the leader for the USACE planning community of practice. In his current position, he coordinates civil works policy with the Department of the Army, other federal agencies, and the Office of Management and Budget. He is executive liaison for the USACE chief’s Environmental Advisory Board and provides representation to other federal advisory committees. Mr. Brown is responsible for leading implementation of the 2007 Water Resources Development Act. Further, he is the principal civil works point of contact with congressional authorizing committees on policy and planning matters.

He formulates civil works environmental policy and develops planning and program USBE&IT I WINTER 2015 51

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initiatives. Mr. Brown earned a bachelor’s in civil engineering from the Ohio State University and a master’s in business administration from Marshall University.

JAMES DALTON Chief, Engineering and Construction Division Directorate of Civil Works, Headquarters U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Mr. James Dalton was selected into the Senior Executive Service in 2005. Currently, he is engineering and construction divisional chief in the Corps Directorate of Civil Works. He is responsible for policy and technical expertise in design and construction programs worth over $10 billion for the U.S. Army, Air Force, Department of Defense, other federal agencies, and more than sixty foreign nations. He provides leadership to eight divisions, 41 districts, and 15,000 people and guides the development of engineering and construction policy for the Army Corps’ civil works, military, and environmental missions. Dalton is regional integration team leader for the South Pacific Division. His previous assignment was as the deputy district engineer for the Programs and Project Management Division, Alaska District, Army Corps of Engineers. Mr. Dalton holds a bachelor’s degree in architectural engineering from North Carolina A&T State University and a master’s in civil engineering from North Carolina State University.

MONIQUE FERRELL Director of the Army’s Sexual Harassment/ Assault, Response and Prevention Program

Ms. Ferrell was appointed to the Senior Executive Service in 2011 and is currently director of the Army’s Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention (SHARP) Program. Ms. Ferrell formulates policies, executes short-term strategies and associated metrics, as well as long-term initiatives to satisfy changing needs in the dynamic SHARP program.

Prior to this assignment, she served for 29 years in the U.S. Army Audit Agency.

In her last position as deputy auditor general for Manpower, Reserve Affairs, and Training Audits, Ms. Ferrell was the principal advisor to the Auditor General 52 USBE&IT I WINTER 2015

for auditing functional areas of human capital, force protection, force structure, and training. Previously, she directed Army-wide audit coverage of high-risk areas that focused on theater deployment and sustainment functions, the Logistics Civil Augmentation Program (LOGCAP), contingency contracting, and contractors on the battlefield. Ms. Ferrell holds a bachelor’s in accounting from Hampton University and a master’s in policy management from Georgetown University.

outstanding leadership and commitment to her profession. She holds an undergraduate degree and a Master’s in Business Administration from Northeastern University and has completed studies in international business in Europe. She is certified as a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) and has also earned a certificate in Human Resources Negotiation Skills from the Harvard University/MIT/TUFTS Program on Negotiation. Susan resides in Alexandria, VA.

SUSAN GORDON

JUANITA HARRIS Director, Weapons Development and Integration Directorate, Army Aviation and Missile Research, Development, and Engineering Center

Assistant to Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army-DL

Ms. Susan Gordon is responsible for assisting the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army-DL in identifying and ensuring that Army diversity and inclusion initiatives are strategically aligned and integrated into all Army human capital, military, civilian personnel, and Equal Employment Opportunity decision-making models throughout the Army. Ms. Gordon is the former CEO and chief diversity consultant for Global Business Readiness, LLC, and has earned more than 25 years of diversity, inclusion, leadership development, and HR strategic management experience at several Fortune 500 companies, including but not limited to director of Global Diversity and Inclusion for Microsoft; senior vice president of HR for TD Bank; director of Talent Management, vice president of the Corporate Law Office, and vice president of HR for Bank of America; and director of Corporate Diversity Staffing for the TJX Companies. She has provided strategic diversity, inclusion, and leadership development advice and coaching to CEOs and senior executives at several Fortune 500 companies and institutions of higher learning and has personally mentored countless high potential professionals to successfully move forward into leadership roles. She has written and trademarked numerous leadership development programs, including The Business Ready Women™, The Business Ready Professional™, and The Business Ready Workplace™.Ms. Gordon has been formally recognized for her diversity leadership achievements with several awards over the years and was selected by the National Association of Professional Women as a “Professional Woman of the Year” for her

Dr. Juanita Harris was selected for Senior Executive Service in February 2015. She serves as the director, Weapons Development and Integration (WDI) Directorate, U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Research, Development, and Engineering Center (AMRDEC) at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama. WDI conducts research, exploratory and advanced development, and technology demonstrations and provides engineering and scientific expertise in all aspects of weapon system design, development, improvement, and integration for the Army. WDI is responsible for integration of these weapon systems onto both manned and unmanned platforms, serves as a lifecycle management enterprise for Department of Defense missile technology, and supplies key essential engineering support to customers for these weapon systems. Dr. Harris has earned numerous awards, honors, and professional certifications throughout her career as well as serving in several key positions. Dr. Harris earned her Ph.D. in Management in Organization Leadership, University of Phoenix; Master of Science in Computer Resources and Information System Management, Webster University; and a Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering, University of Illinois.

GREGG HILL Senior National Intelligence Program Advisor, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-2, Headquarters, Department of the Army

Mr. Gregg Hill was appointed to the www.blackengineer.com

 federal Defense Intelligence Senior Level in December 2014 as the senior national intelligence program advisor to the director, Resource Integration Directorate, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-2, Headquarters, Department of the Army.

He is responsible for providing advice on all aspects of the Army National Intelligence Program. He is also the Army’s senior technical advisor for the National Intelligence Program Intelligence Planning, Programming, Budget, and Evaluation system. Mr. Hill retired from active duty at the rank of Colonel following 27 years of meritorious service.

Key assignments include commander/ director, Defense Finance and Accounting Service-St. Louis and commander, 101st Finance Battalion, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Kentucky. Mr. Hill earned a Bachelor of Science (Business and Economics) form University of North Carolina; a Master of Public Administration (Comptrollership) from University of Missouri; and a Master of Science (National Security Strategy) from the National War College.

BRENDA M. JOHNSON-TURNER Director of Real Estate for the Headquarters, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Ms. Brenda Johnson-Turner was appointed to the Senior Executive Service in November 2014 and serves as the Director of Real Estate for the Headquarters, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE).

Ms. Johnson-Turner provides executive leadership for program execution of the Department of the Army real estate mission for Army land and improvements worldwide. She is responsible for overall policy and ensuring technical expertise to provide real estate acquisition, asset management, and disposal. She also serves as Chief of the South Pacific Division and Great Lakes and Ohio River Division Regional Integration Team, in which she manages the Washingtonlevel representation and support through integrating product and service mission areas and establishing and maintaining relationships at a national level for military and other program areas with projects exceeding $700 million annually.

Ms. Johnson-Turner earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Alcorn State University.

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TOMMY MARKS Director, Army Small Business Programs, Office of the Secretary of the Army

Mr. Tommy Marks was appointed the director for Army Small Business programs on April 19, 2015. In this role, he represents the Secretary of the Army at Committees and Subcommittee hearings on small business, historically black colleges and universities, and other minority institutions. He serves as the focal point for responding to industrial, Congressional, and individual inquiries on small business, economic utilization, and other business matters. He also represents the Army in inter-agency communication with the Small Business Administration agency, the Office of Federal Procurement Policy, the Department of Commerce’s Minority Business Development Agency, other agencies and Presidential commissions. He has also served as executive director for Acquisition Services in the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Procurement; and executive director for the Logistics Civil Augmentation Program in the Army Material Command.

He holds a Bachelor of Science in Health and Physical Education from McNeese State University, and Master’s Degrees in Acquisition Management from Florida Institute of Technology and in National Security and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Naval War College.

ESSYE MILLER Director for Cyber Security

Mrs. Miller became the Director for Cybersecurity on August 24, 2014. As the director for cyber security, Mrs. Miller assists the Secretary of the Army, the Chief of Staff of the Army, the Vice Chief of Staff of the Army, and the CIO/G-6 with implementing cyber strategy and cyberrelated information technology initiatives.

She is also the Army’s senior information assurance officer, and therefore, she is responsible for the development, implementation, execution, and oversight of the Army’s Cyber Security program. During her 29-year career, Mrs. Miller has held positions of increased responsibility in the U.S. Air Force, both tactical and strategic C4IT. She previously served as director,

Air Force Information Management, Office of the Administrative Assistant to the Secretary of the Air Force. Additionally, Mrs. Miller served as the Headquarters Air Force chief information officer and Air Force rep to the Pentagon Area CIO Council.

She also managed the Air Force Declassification Office, Air Force Departmental Publications Office, Headquarters Air Force Multimedia Services, and Enterprise Business Solutions. Mrs. Miller holds a B.A. from Talladega College, an MBA from Troy State University, and a Masters of Strategic Studies from the United States Air War College, Alabama.

ROBERT MOORE Deputy to the Commanding General U. S. Army Security Assistance Command

Mr. Robert Moore is a deputy to the commanding general of the U.S. Army Security Assistance Command. The USASAC implements Army security assistance programs and manages 4,000 foreign military sales valued at $103 billion as well as production of Army material.

The command supports U.S. emergency assistance, humanitarian relief, and United Nations peacekeeping operations. Previously, Mr. Moore was deputy director of Security Cooperation and Offices of Defense Cooperation, J-5, Headquarters U.S. European Command, Germany. Prior to that, he was the deputy director of Logistics and Security Assistance, J-4 Headquarters U.S. European Command. Mr. Moore was selected to the Senior Executive Service July 2003. Like many veteran executives in the federal Senior Executive Service, he served for more than 28 years in the Air Force, retiring as a colonel. His last assignment was with the United States Embassy in Berlin, Germany, as chief of Office of Defense Cooperation. He received his bachelor’s degree (cum laude) in biology and chemistry from Alabama State University, a master’s in counseling from Pepperdine University, and another master’s in logistics management at the Air Force Institute of Technology. He also holds a number of certificates in logistics and technology, leadership and innovation, business transformation, management, and Army acquisition.

Snapshot of the Senior Executive Service workforce American Indian, Alaskan Native 92

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LEVATOR NORSWORTHY, JR. Deputy General Counsel for Acquisition, Office of the Army General Counsel Headquarters Department of the Army

Mr. Levator Norsworthy was appointed to the Senior Executive Service in 1998 and currently serves as deputy general counsel for acquisition in the Office of the Army General Counsel at the Headquarters, Department of the Army.

He assists the general counsel in providing advice and counsel to all Army Secretariat officials to include the secretary of the Army, acquisition executive, chief information officer, and their staff. The provision of advice encompasses areas such as federal procurement law, weapon system acquisition, military construction, research and development, developmental and operational testing, logistics, international cooperative programs, security assistance, competitive sourcing, and contracting. Mr. Norsworthy previously served as chief counsel, Army Communications and Electronics Command. He holds a Bachelor of Science in business administration – economics from University of Dayton and a J.D. from the University of Cincinnati, College of Law.

LAWRENCE H. ROBINSON Senior Force Management Technical Advisor to the Director, Resource Integration Directorate, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-2, Department of the Army

Mr. Lawrence Robinson was appointed Defense Intelligence Senior Level in September 2013 as the senior force management technical advisor to the director, Resource Integration Directorate, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-2, Department of the Army. Mr. Robinson is responsible for providing advice on all aspects of military intelligence force structure. He is a recognized subject matter expert on force structure issues that affect the scope and future direction of military intelligence support to warfighters. Mr. Robinson retired from active duty at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel after 20 years of meritorious service. Key assignments have included director of Intelligence, 173rd Airborne Brigade, Vicenza, Italy; director of Intelligence Operations, 165th Military Intelligence Operations, 54 USBE&IT I WINTER 2015

Darmstadt, Germany; and director of Intelligence, 3rd Corps Support Command, Wiesbaden, Germany. Mr. Robinson earned a Bachelor of Science (Electrical Engineering), North Carolina Agriculture & Technical State University.

LARRY STUBBLEFIELD Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Diversity and Leadership

Mr. Larry Stubblefield was selected as deputy assistant secretary in 2010. He acts for the assistant secretary of the Army, Manpower and Reserve Affairs, on plans, programs, policy formulation, and practices pertaining to diversity and leadership. He also serves as a functional chief representative for the Army’s Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Career Program and is responsible for addressing accessibility and public use of Army facilities. In 2005 he joined the Senior Executive Service when he was selected as deputy administrative assistant to the secretary of the Army. Stubblefield retired at the rank of colonel after 30 years of active duty. He earned a bachelor’s degree in business management from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, a master’s in business organizational management from University of Laverne, another master’s in strategic studies from the United States Army War College, plus an M.B.A. from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville.

MICHAEL K. WILLIAMS Director for Supply Policy, Program and Processes, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-4, Headquarters, Department of Army

Mr. Michael Williams assumed his current position as director of the Army Logistics Innovation Agency in February 2013. He leads and manages solutions for enhancements across the current and future logistics enterprise. He guides integration of logistics that leverage concept, technologies, and processes to support tactical, operational, and strategic levels in a joint, integrated logistics environment. He also acts as deputy chief of staff for the Army logistics architecture, as lead for the common logistics operating environment, and as an agent for the Science and Technology Working Group, the Small Business and

Innovation Research Program and related science and technology initiatives. Mr. Williams has served at Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command, which provides the defense department with transportation engineering, research, and analytical expertise to support national military strategy. Mr. Williams rose to deputy to the commander, responsible for improvement and innovation in development of distribution plans and programs supporting the global mission and impacting joint service force deployment and logistics operations.

RONNIE BOOTH Assistant Auditor General for Installations and Environment Audits

Mr. Ronnie Booth has oversight of Navy and Marine Corps property, housing, and facilities totaling over 72,000 buildings and 4.5 million acres valued at $215 billion. He is responsible for environmental protection, safety, and occupational health for military and civilian personnel as well as the Japanese agreement to realign U.S. forces in Japan and the relocation from Okinawa to Guam of 8,000 American Marines and their families. As former assistant auditor general for plans, policy, and resource management, he assessed institutional and program vulnerabilities at the Department of Navy, developing audit plans and managing the allocation of audit resources to ensure the best outcomes. Previously, he was a technical adviser to the special assistant to the Secretary of the Navy for base realignment and closure. Booth is a certified fraud examiner and internal control auditor. He is a winner of the Presidential Rank Award and the Department of the Navy’s Superior Civilian Service Award. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Virginia State University in 1980.

ELLIOTT BRANCH Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Acquisition Procurement) Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Research, Development and Acquisition)

Mr. Elliott Branch is the most senior Department of the Navy career civilian responsible for acquisition, contracting, and operation of the Navy’s multibillion-dollar acquisition system. www.blackengineer.com

 He is principal civilian advisor to the department’s acquisition and procurement executive and serves as Department of the Navy competition advocate general.

He also leads the Navy’s contracting, purchasing, and government property. His accomplishments in the federal government have been recognized with various awards, including the 2012 Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medal for Management Excellence, the Navy Distinguished Civilian Service Medal, David Packard Excellence in Acquisition Award, two Presidential Rank Awards for Meritorious Executive, and the Vice Presidential Hammer Award for Reinventing Government. Branch graduated with a bachelor’s degree in economics from University of Pennsylvania Wharton School and completed the executive program at the University of Virginia Darden School.

ANDREA BROTHERTON Deputy Naval Inspector General

Ms. Andrea Brotherton was appointed to her current position in 2009. She oversees investigations involving senior officials and fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement at every level of the Navy.

Ms. Brotherton has 28 years of civilian service. In 1985 she joined the Navy Office of the General Counsel, Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), where she served as associate counsel in the office of counsel, Naval Sea Systems Command. In July 1999 she became an assistant to the general counsel in the office of the associate general counsel (management). From 1995 to 1999 she served in the Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division as a staff attorney preceding her selection as counsel. In 2004 she was appointed to the Senior Executive Service position of executive director, Office of Counsel, NAVAIR. She became counsel for Naval Facilities Engineering Command in 2005.

A year later, she joined the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy as assistant general counsel (financial management and comptroller). Brotherton holds bachelor’s degrees in biology and political science. She also holds a juris doctorate and is licensed to practice in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Snapshot of the Senior Executive Service workforce Black/African American 3,973 www.blackengineer.com

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KAREN BURROWS Executive Director- Naval Ordnance Safety and Security Activity and Deputy for Weapons Safety, Naval Sea Systems Command

Ms. Karen Burrows is chair of the Department of the Navy’s Weapon System Explosives Safety Review Board, which provides oversight for safety of all Navy and Marine Corps munitions, ordnance items, weapons, and combat systems. She was selected to the federal Senior Executive Service in April 2012 and has more than 29 years of experience in the Department of Defense.

Her previous positions include deputy administrator/chief information officer– Defense Technical Information Center; director, emerging capabilities and special assistant, office of the assistant secretary of defense (research and engineering); director, Weapons Technology Division; insensitive munitions program manager; and mine countermeasures program manager–Naval Surface Warfare Center.

She earned a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Carnegie Mellon University.

KAREN M. DAVIS Director, Integrated Combat Systems Program Executive Office for Integrated Warfare Systems

Ms. Karen Davis is the director for Integrated Combat Systems within the Program Executive Office for Integrated Warfare Systems (PEO IWS). Her responsibilities are organization and direction of efforts to produce integrated combat systems, sensors, weapons, and C4I war fighting capabilities for surface ships. Ms. Davis was selected to the Senior Executive Service in 2014. Immediately prior, she was the PEO IWS major program manager for advanced technology. Ms. Davis’ past key leadership and critical acquisition positions include program manager for Marine Corps Information Systems and Infrastructure; deputy program manager for future aircraft carriers; director for aircraft carriers and amphibious assault ships within the Navy Secretariat; and principal assistant program manager for Nimitz class aircraft carrier construction.

Ms. Davis’ early technical proficiency

was gained as a weapon systems engineer. Ms. Davis, a graduate of Clemson University, holds a Bachelor of Science in computer engineering and a master’s degree in engineering management. Her continuous learning includes programs at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, University of Virginia, and American University. Her professional recognition includes a Meritorious Service Award and a Department of the Navy Chief Information Officer Information Technology Excellence Award.

LARRY E. DOUCHAND, P.E. Assistant Commander for Environmental Programs Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC)

Mr. Larry Douchand has served as the Naval Facilities Engineering assistant commander for environmental programs since July 2006. He is responsible for NAVFAC services to Department of the Navy. Prior to his Senior Executive Service position with NAVFAC (Jan. 2004 to July 2006), he served as chief, Strategic Integration Branch at the Army Corps of Engineers, responsible for establishing the management and execution for the $11 billion Base Realignment and Closure program, which included military construction, environmental cleanup, and real estate disposal. From July 2003 to January 2004 he served as chief, Environmental Support Branch at the Army Corps of Engineers. He holds a master’s degree in environmental management from the University of San Francisco and a Bachelor’s of Science in Engineering from the University of California at Santa Barbara.

He is a registered professional engineer in the State of Maryland and a member of the NAVFAC acquisition community.

STEFFANIE EASTER Executive Director, F-35 Lightning II Joint Program Office

Ms. Steffanie Easter is executive director for the F-35 Lightning II Joint Program Office. The acquisition program is the Department of Defense’s largest, which will deliver a sustainable fifth generation strike aircraft for the U.S. Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, and eight international partners.

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Prior to that, she was the assistant deputy chief of naval operations for Manpower, Personnel, Training and Education, where she was executive advisor for planning and programming of manpower, personnel, training, and education resources, budgeting for Navy personnel, and developing information systems and tools to manage the Navy Total Force. Ms. Easter is a 1985 graduate of North Carolina State University with a bachelor’s in chemical engineering. She holds a master’s in engineering management from the Catholic University of America. Ms. Easter has 29 years of federal service and was appointed to the Senior Executive Service in 2002.

She was awarded the Navy Meritorious Civilian Service Award in 2007, the Navy Superior Civilian Service Award in 2009, and the Department of the Navy Distinguished Civilian Service Award in 2013. She is also the recipient of the 2009 Women of Color Managerial Leadership award and the 2010 BEYA Professional Achievement-Government Award.

VICTOR GAVIN Program Executive Officer for Enterprise Information Systems, Department of the Navy

Mr. Victor Gavin is responsible for acquiring the Department of the Navy’s enterprise information systems and applications. He oversees a $2 billion portfolio of information technology projects and programs designed to enable common business processes and provide standard information technology capabilities to the Navy and Marine Corps. Mr. Gavin was appointed to the Senior Executive Service in 2007 as Deputy for the Program Executive Officer for Littoral and Mine Warfare (LMW). PEO LMW executes the Navy’s acquisition programs for Mine Warfare, Unmanned Maritime Vehicles, Explosive Ordnance Disposal, Antiterrorism Afloat, Naval Special Warfare, Maritime Surveillance Systems, and the Mission Modules for the Littoral Combat Ship. As technical director in PEO Submarines, he was responsible for submarine combat systems acquisition and program executive officedirected research and development. His responsibilities included modernization of all in-service submarines and support of foreign sales to the Royal Australian Navy Collins Class submarine and the Brazilian Navy Scorpène Class submarine. He also served in positions with the Naval 56 USBE&IT I WINTER 2015

Underwater Warfare Center, Submarine Acoustic Systems office, and Submarine Combat Systems office. Mr. Gavin holds a bachelor’s of science degree in electrical engineering from North Carolina A&T State University and a master’s degree in systems engineering from Virginia Tech.

Mr. Gavin’s personal awards include the 2014 Presidential Rank Award, Navy Meritorious Civil Service Award, Navy Superior Civilian Service Award, and the Vice President Hammer Award.

JANICE HAITH Director, Department of Navy Deputy Chief Information Officer (Navy) Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Information Dominance

Ms. Janice Haith was appointed to the Senior Executive Service in 2004 and is currently the Director, Department of Navy Deputy Chief Information Officer (CIO) (Navy), Directorate for U.S. Navy. Ms. Haith is responsible for information management/ information technology policy, governance, and cybersecurity. Previously, she was the DoD Federal Information Sharing Executive for the DoD CIO; Director, Intelligence Access for Information Warfighter Support (Under Secretary of Defense [Intelligence]); and Principal Deputy and CIO for the Defense Security Service, responsible for day-to-day Agency operations and development of the DoD personnel security system (aka JPAS). A U.S. Air Force Congressional Fellow, she is a graduate of Hampton Institute with a bachelor’s in sociology and master’s in Technology Management from the University of Maryland. She is also a graduate of National Defense University – Chief Information Officer and Information Assurance Programs.

CHARLES MAY, JR. Naval Criminal Investigative Service Executive Assistant Director for Atlantic Operations

Special Agent Charles T. May, Jr., was assigned as Acting Executive Assistant Director for Atlantic Operations, Virginia Beach, Virginia, in September 2013. He was appointed to the Senior Executive Service (SES) on July 31, 2014, and assumed the assignment permanently.

As Executive Assistant Director for Atlantic Operations, Mr. May supervises the activities of seven field offices to include overseas operations in Europe and Africa and the Middle East. He oversees investigations, operations, and led strategic initiatives with law enforcement, security, and investigative agencies. Mr. May joined the Naval Criminal Investigative Service in 1984, and his previous senior-level NCIS assignments include Special Agent in Charge Norfolk Field Office, Norfolk, Virginia; Special Agent In Charge, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina; Deputy Assistant Director (DAD) Directorate for Intelligence and Information Sharing (DIIS) Internal Communications (Code 25); and NCIS Senior Representative to the Department of Defense Office of the Inspector General (DoDIG).

Mr. May is a member of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (FLEOA), Hampton Roads Chief of Police (Executive Member), Virginia Area Maritime Security Committee (Co-Chairman), and NC/VA Law Enforcement Information Exchange (Co-chairman).

MARK RIDLEY Deputy Director Naval Criminal Investigative Service

Special Agent Mark D. Ridley was appointed Deputy Director of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) on February 22, 2010. In this role, he supervises the activities of 20 field offices, oversees investigations and operations, and leads strategic initiatives with law enforcement, security, and investigative agencies. Mr. Ridley began his career as an NCIS special agent in 1987.

He rose to senior leadership positions, serving as the first special agent in charge of the newly established NCIS Marine Corps West Field Office at Camp Pendleton as deputy assistant director for Counterintelligence Operations and as the first assistant director for the newly established Directorate of Intelligence. Mr. Ridley joined the Senior Executive Service ranks in 2006 and served as executive assistant director (EAD) for Pacific Operations and later as EAD for criminal investigations.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Nevada and a master’s degree in justice administration from Norwich University. In 1983 www.blackengineer.com

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Mr. Ridley was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Reserve and served six years. He is a member of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives and the International Association of Chiefs of Police International Policing Division Steering Committee.

ARTHUR SCOTT Assistant Auditor General for Research, Development, Acquisition, and Logistics

Mr. Arthur Scott was appointed to the Senior Executive Service in 2010 and has 23 years of federal service in the Department of Navy and United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General. As the assistant auditor general for Research, Development, Acquisition, and Logistics, he is responsible for overseeing a directorate of 70 auditors in performance of internal audits that focus on research, development, and acquisition of Navy and Marine Corps platforms and warfare systems with an annual budget in excess of $50 billion.

His staff is located in Washington, DC, at the historic Washington Navy Yard. A native of South Carolina, Mr. Scott holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of South Carolina State College at Orangeburg, South Carolina.

Mr. Scott has received numerous awards and recognition during his audit career to include the American Society of Military Comptroller’s Meritorious Performance Award from the Department of Defense Comptroller.

ELLEN SMITH Assistant Auditor General for Financial Management and Comptroller Audits

Ms. Ellen Smith is the Assistant Auditor General for Financial Management and Comptroller Audits. She provides executive oversight and direction for audits of the Department of the Navy (DON) accounting and finance operations and programs. Ms. Smith was selected to the Senior Executive Service in July 2015. Prior to her assignment, Ms. Smith was the Deputy to the Assistant Auditor General for Installations and Environment Audits, where she provided oversight 58 USBE&IT I WINTER 2015

over audits of real property, housings, and other facilities within the DON. Ms. Smith holds a master’s degree in public administration from Troy University and a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University. Ms. Smith is a Certified Defense Financial Auditor and is a member of the American Society of Military Comptrollers (ASMC).

JIMMY SMITH Director for Nuclear Weapons Safety and Security Strategic Systems Programs

Mr. Jimmy Smith serves as the director of Nuclear Weapons Safety and Security at Strategic Systems Programs. In this capacity, he serves as senior advisor to the director, Strategic Systems Programs, on nuclear weapons safety and security matters and is also responsible for the direction, review, and coordination of the NWS Division and its mission. Prior to working at SSP, Mr. Smith served as the director for the Above Water Sensors Directorate within the program executive office for integrated warfare systems, where he managed planning, procuring, and sustaining war fighting sensors, electronic warfare systems, missiles, guns, and ammunition systems for all surface ships. In 2005 he served as deputy program manager for the Ohio Class Submarine Guided Missile Conversion Program. In 2003 he served as construction manager for the first seven submarines of the Virginia Class.

He graduated from Tuskegee University with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. Graduate-level pursuits include environmental engineering, marine engineering, and business management.

He began his career in government civil service in 1991 at the Naval Sea Systems Command in Washington, DC, where he was an engineer-in-training. He was awarded the 2009 Blacks in Government Department of Defense Civilian Meritorious Service Award – Navy.

SHARON SMOOT Executive Director, Logistics, Maintenance and Industrial Operations Naval Sea Systems Command

Ms. Sharon Smoot began her

career with the Department of the Navy in 1986. She was selected for her current position in April 2010. She entered the Senior Executive Service (SES) in September 2006. Other positions she has held include finance and industrial manager, Fleet Maintenance Directorate of Fleet Forces Command; nuclear business and strategic planning officer, Norfolk Naval Shipyard; and electrical engineer, Control Engineering Division of the Nuclear Engineering and Planning Department, Norfolk Naval Shipyard. She holds a master’s degree in engineering management from Old Dominion University and a bachelor’s degree in engineering from Virginia Tech.

THEODORE SHORT, JR. Comptroller, Naval Air Systems Command

Mr. Theodore Short’s federal career spans over 25 years in financial management. During his tenure with Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), he has had oversight of budget formulation and financial reporting in financial management positions. Mr. Short entered the Senior Executive Service as the NAVAIR comptroller in 2010. He is responsible for budgeting, accounting and financial management in an organization responsible for $42 billion annually in acquisition and sustainment funds. Mr. Short leads fiscal policies and controls over financial operations for NAVAIR in budgets, accounting and finance, and audit and review. Mr. Short has twice been recognized with the prestigious Department of the Navy Meritorious Civilian Service Award. He is a member of the American Society of Military Comptrollers and president of the Southern Maryland chapter. He earned a bachelor’s degree at Salisbury University in 1988.

RONALD SMILEY, PH.D. National Director, Avionics, Sensors and E*Warfare and Director, Electronic Warfare and Combat Systems, Naval Air Systems Command

Dr. Smiley currently directs the efforts of over 1,250 scientists and engineers geographically dispersed across seven locations and involved in naval aviation electronics www.blackengineer.com

 and electronic systems utilized to enable advanced warfighting capabilities. He has spent over 40 years in maritime aviation and weapon systems research, development, acquisition, test and engineering fields, performing in key technical and executive assignments, including directorships in Corporate Operations, Systems Engineering Department, Advanced Technology and Analysis Center, Weapons Evaluation Directorate, and the Information and Electronic Warfare Department. He earned a master’s and a doctorate in management from Claremont Graduate School. He earned an M.B.A. at Pepperdine University and a bachelor’s in electrical engineering from Howard University. Dr. Smiley has served various boards, including the College of Engineering and Computer Science Industry Advisory Board of California State University Northridge; the President’s Advisory Board of California State University, Channel Islands; Board of Directors for World Affairs Council of Ventura County; Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Ventura County; and Interface Children and Family Services. His professional affiliations include the Engineering Management Society of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and Association of Old Crows Electronic Defense Organization..

ALBERT CURRY, JR. Deputy Assistant Commandant For Engineering and Logistics (CG-4D), U.S. Coast Guard

Mr. Curry currently serves as the Deputy Assistant Commandant for Engineering and Logistics (CG-4D) for the Coast Guard. Additionally, he has served as deputy project manager for the Coast Guard Rescue 21 Program and as deputy program manager for U.S. Coast Guard C4ISR Major System Acquisitions. He is a member of the Surface Navy Association, National Naval Officer Association, and the Savannah State University National Alumni. On August 19, 1980, he was commissioned an officer in the U.S. Navy through the Savannah State University Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) program and retired as a Captain from the Navy in October 2006.

He received his Bachelor of Science in Electronic Engineering Technology from Savannah State University and his Master www.blackengineer.com

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of Science Degree in Systems Engineering (Electronic Warfare) from the Naval Postgraduate School. Additionally, he is a graduate of the Advanced Program Management Course at the Defense Systems Management College, Fort Belvoir, and is a certified Department of Defense and Department of Homeland Security Acquisition Level III Acquisition Program Manager.

TERRI A. DICKERSON Director of Civil Rights U.S. Coast Guard

Terri A. Dickerson, a member of the United States Senior Executive Service since 2000, joined the Coast Guard in 2006 as Director, Office of Civil Rights. In February 2013 Ms. Dickerson was honored

by BEYA for her superior performance and contributions to Coast Guard personnel and missions. From 2000 to 2006, Ms. Dickerson was second in charge at the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. She examined federal agencies’ civil rights offices and advised officials, Congress, and the White House on improved enforcement. In 2005 the White House installed her as the interim agency head after the outgoing chief departed and until a new appointee’s confirmation. Ms. Dickerson is a widely published author, penning articles for industry and national, publications including the Washington Post, USATODAY, and the Ladies’ Home Journal.

The U.S. Supreme Court cited a study she directed, Beyond Percentage Plans: The Challenge of Equal Opportunity in Higher Education, in its 2005 decision on affirmative action. She was named a Presidential Meritorious Executive in 2008. Ms. Dickerson earned a Bachelor of Science from the University of Virginia and a Master of Arts from the Johns Hopkins University.

She is a member of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy Board of Trustees.

CURTIS B. ODOM Senior Executive Service, U.S. Coast Guard, Director of Civilian Human Resources, Diversity and Leadership

Curt Odom assumed the duties of the Coast Guard’s Director of Personnel Management on March 16, 2009. He was appointed to the Senior Executive Service as Deputy Di-

rector of Personnel Management on April 1, 2007. He is currently the Director of Civilian Human Resources, Diversity and Leadership. Mr. Odom oversees the Coast Guard’s Civilian Human Resources Office, Diversity Staff, Workforce Planning Staff and the Leadership and Professional Development Staff. He leads a staff of over 180. Mr. Odom retired from active duty with the Coast Guard at the rank of Captain. He had various assignments throughout his career, including Executive Officer, Coast Guard Training Center, Cape May, New Jersey, and Coast Guard Support Center, New Orleans, Louisiana.

While serving at the Support Center, he was selected as the outstanding military officer of the year by the New Orleans Chapter of the Federal Executive Board.

His Coast Guard Headquarters assignments include Chief, Office of Leadership and Diversity, Reserve and Training Directorate, and Ethnic Policy Advisor to the Commandant of the Coast Guard as a member of the Diversity Management Staff. Mr. Odom also completed a ten-month fellowship with the Chief of Naval Operations Strategic Studies Group before assuming command of the Coast Guard’s only Recruit Training Center, Training Center Cape May, New Jersey.

With a staff of over 500 military and civilian personnel, Training Center Cape May graduated approximately 5,000 military members each year that were assigned to Coast Guard units all over the world.

He is a member of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy Board of Trustees. Mr. Odom is a graduate of the United States Coast Guard Academy, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in government. He also has a Master of Business Administration degree from the Florida Institute of Technology and a Master of Arts degree in national security and strategic studies from the Naval War College. His personal awards include two Legions of Merit and two Meritorious Service Medals.

PAULA PATRICK Director, Human Resources Operations Office of Civilian Human Resources

Ms. Paula Patrick leadsMs. Paula Patrick leads Department of Navy operations centers in California, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington. She advises the deputy assistant secretary of the Navy about human resource operaUSBE&IT I WINTER 2015 59

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tions, and Ms. Patrick’s 1,000 plus staff fill Navy and Marine Corps’ vacancies.

Patrick previously served as director of the executive management program office.

During her tenure, she was responsible for the creation and execution of a Department of the Navy life-cycle management system and strategy for the department’s executives. For her achievements, she was awarded the highest honorary award that the secretary of the Navy can bestow on a civilian employee: Distinguished Civilian Service Award. Prior to working for the Department of Navy, she worked for the Department of Air Force for 17 years in positions across the United States, Japan, and Germany. Ms. Patrick has taught classes at undergraduate and master’s degree levels. Ms. Patrick has an undergraduate degree in marketing from South Carolina State University and a master’s in management from Troy State University. Ms. Patrick maintains active memberships with the Senior Executive Association and the Delta Sigma Theta sorority.

JOHN BONAPART JR. Director, Installations and Mission Support Headquarters Air Mobility Command

Mr. John Bonapart, Jr., is responsible for Air Mobility Command (AMC) expeditionary combat support. He provides oversight to civil engineer activities, including readiness, emergency services, base development, environmental, and housing programs as well as contracting activities, executing $4 billion in support contracts annually. The sum includes $2 billion in commercial airlift contracts and security activities, providing force protection and information, physical, and personnel security programs for 77,000 military and civilian employees and 110,000 family members. Bonapart earned a bachelor’s in history and a secondary school teaching certificate at Fordham University. He was commissioned in 1975 from the Air Force ROTC program. While on duty, he held assignments in communications and air traffic control, and he also served at the Secretariat Air Staff, command and joint levels. He commanded a communications squadron, support group, cadet group, and air base wing. He retired at the rank of colonel in 2005. Prior to assuming his current position, he was associate director, Directorate of Strategic 60 USBE&IT I WINTER 2015

Plans, Programs, Analyses, Assessments and Lessons Learned, Headquarters Air Force Space Command.

TIMOTHY BRIDGES Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Installations Headquarters Air Force, Pentagon

Mr. Timothy Bridges is responsible for management, policy, and oversight of the $6 billion Air Force installation and facility programs.

They include facility management, base closures, construction, family housing, acquisition, maintenance, operation, repair, and disposal of real property. He was commissioned in 1979 as a distinguished graduate of the Air Force ROTC program at the Virginia Military Institute, earning a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering.

Since then, he has served in design, planning, contract management, and operations. Mr. Bridges̓ most recent assignment was as the deputy assistant secretary of the Air Force for Environment, Safety and Occupational Health. He served twice as a base civil engineer squadron commander and as an installation commander. He also served as an Air Force ROTC assistant professor and held various staff positions at the major command and Air Force levels in the readiness, environmental, and resources arenas. Mr. Bridges retired from active duty at the rank of colonel in 2006 and entered the Senior Executive Service.

GAIL FOREST Director for Information Dominance Programs Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition

Ms. Gail Forest is responsible for program acquisition and modernization of Air Force command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance. She guides the development of program management, budget submissions, congressional testimony and international acquisition programs. She advocates acquisition strategies for reconnaissance and surveillance aircraft, unmanned aircraft systems, command and control and combat support systems, evolving C4ISR infrastructure, net-centric operations and information warfare programs. Ms. Forest also provides guidance on combat C4ISR systems and architectures to the secretary

of the Air Force the Air Staff, Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Joint Staff and Congress. Ms. Forest began her career as a manufacturing engineer with Buick Motor Division, General Motors Corp. In 1982 she entered federal civil service as an engineer in the Maintenance Directorate at Headquarters Air Force Logistics Command. She has held numerous engineering, logistics, and acquisition program management positions. Prior to her current assignment, she was director, Plans and Programs, Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), responsible for developing and managing the processes that defined AFRL’s $2 billion annual investment in technologies for future Air Force systems.

They include space, weapons, aeronautics, command and control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, and human performance.

ARTHUR HATCHER, JR. Director of Communications Headquarters Air Force Global Strike Command

Mr. Arthur Hatcher is a member of the Senior Executive Service. As director of communications at the Headquarters Air Force Global Strike Command, he leads staff managing cyberspace and information technology infrastructure and provides knowledge operation support to 24,000 personnel. He oversees command management for fourteen Air Force-level nuclear command, control, and communications systems supporting B-2, B-52, and Intercontinental Ballistic Missile operations. He also manages more than 1,700 command cyber personnel providing organizing, training, and equipment guidance. In addition, he serves as chief architect for Air Force Nuclear Deterrence Operations/Nuclear Command and Control Systems. Mr. Hatcher is from Selma, AL. He completed thirty years with the U.S. Air Force and entered federal service in July 2013. While on active duty, he served on the Joint Staff, a combatant command staff, and two major commands.

He has commanded an air expeditionary group, a communications group, and two communications squadrons. His units won both Department of Defense and Air Force-level awards. His previous assignment was as director of communications and chief information officer, Headquarters Pacific Air Forces.

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 HORACE LARRY Deputy Director of Air Force Services Deputy Chief of Staff for Manpower and Personnel

Mr. Horace Larry provides direction for a $2 billion program.

The organization’s mission is to increase combat capability and productivity through programs promoting readiness, esprit de corps, and quality service for Air Force people. This includes physical fitness, peacetime and wartime troop feeding, Air Force mortuary affairs, Armed Forces entertainment, Air Force protocol, lodging, and libraries.

It also includes child development centers, youth centers, and recreation activities. He provides oversight for uniforms, awards, and recognition; airman and family readiness; and Air Force Sexual Assault Prevention and Response as well as other programs that contribute to sustainment.

Mr. Larry was commissioned in the Air Force in 1975. Over the next 30 years, he was assigned to various posts, including deputy support group commander, commander of the Air Force Services Agency, and deputy director of Air Force Services in the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Installations and Logistics at Headquarters U.S. Air Force. He retired from the Air Force in 2005 as a colonel. Mr. Larry became a civil service employee in 2006 and federal contractor a year later, serving as a senior program manager for Logistics Applications Inc. at the Department of Energy. He was appointed to the Senior Executive Service in 2009.

CHEVALIER CLEAVES Director, Diversity and Inclusion, Deputy Chief of Staff, Manpower, Personnel and Services Headquarters U.S. Air Force

Mr Chevalier “CheMr. Chevalier “Chevy” Cleaves is responsible for leading diversity and inclusion transformation for the Air Force’s 632,000 active duty, Air National Guard, Reserve, and civilian personnel. His duties include creating sustainable change while integrating diversity and inclusionfocused leadership with operational, functional, and talent management strategies and processes. Mr. Cleaves earned his commission in 1985 through the United States Air Force Academy. Serving three tours as a T-38 instructor pilot and three www.blackengineer.com

Senior Executive Service Defense 

flying KC-135s, he commanded one of the most heavily tasked tanker squadrons in the Air Force. He played a critical role in the response to September 11, 2001, events as the lead CHECKMATE team chief. Later, as a Joint Staff division chief, he was responsible for the information operations career force and for delivering integrated, joint special technical operations capabilities to unified commanders.

Mr. Cleaves was nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate to lead the U.S. Air Force Academy admissions directorate, where the superintendent selected him to lead USAFA’s diversity and inclusion efforts. He retired in the grade of colonel in 2010. He then entered the private sector as vice president, global diversity and inclusion, for a Fortune 300 company. Prior to his current position, Mr. Cleaves led diversity and inclusion business integration for the Internal Revenue Service.

TAWANDA ROONEY Director, Intelligence Systems Support Office

Mrs. Tawanda Rooney supports the undersecretary of defense for intelligence at the Intelligence Systems Support Office (ISSO). She began her federal career in 1984 through the Air Force summer-hire program. After earning a bachelor’s in business administration from Virginia State University in 1988, she became a budget analyst with the office of the deputy chief of staff for plans and operations. Five years later she moved to the Defense Evaluation Support Activity, holding positions that included project manager, contracting officer, and directorate budget representative. In 1997 she became a deputy program manager at the ISSO, responsible for acquisition and evaluation of sensitive technology efforts. She served as a staff officer with the deputy assistant secretary of defense for program analysis and evaluation at the Pentagon and in 2001 was appointed deputy director for the information engineering and assessment laboratory at the ISSO. Mrs. Rooney was selected for appointment to Defense Intelligence Senior Executive Service in 2006 and assigned as laboratory director, providing R&D as well as technical support to the director of ISSO on acquisition and management of technology, intelligence systems, and related methodologies to support the

organization.

JEFFERY SHELTON Deputy Administrative Assistant to the Secretary of the Air Force

Mr. Jeffery Shelton assists the administrative assistant in executing the responsibilities of the office, which includes performing highlevel assignments according to secretarial policies, goals, and objectives. He oversees the execution and programming of the Headquarters U.S. Air Force portfolio with an annual budget of $5.6 billion and 37,000 personnel. Mr. Shelton also assists in managing and administratively supporting the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, its 1,650-member Secretariat, and its 2,400 member-supported field operating agencies. Mr. Shelton entered federal service in 1981 and spent his first four years at Warner Robins Air Logistics Center. He completed a two-year logistics career broadening assignment at the Pentagon and then moved to WrightPatterson Air Force Base, where he was command public and private competition program manager and BRAC liaison officer. In 1999 he returned to Washington, DC, where he served in positions with the secretary of the Air Force for acquisition; financial management and budget; and the war fighting, integration, and chief information office. He was appointed to the Senior Executive Service in 2008 and served as associate deputy assistant secretary for acquisition integration, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, and the deputy director of resource integration, Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics Installation and Mission Support.

KEITH THOMAS Director, Air Force Cryptologic Office

Mr. Keith Thomas is intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance representative to both the National Security and Central Security Service agencies on Air Force cryptologic matters. As Air Force Cryptologic Office director, he guides development of Air Force cryptologic strategy and technologies to enhance mission support to signals intelligence and information assurance.

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He provides oversight and guidance for Air Force cryptologic activities, including missions related to both tactical war fighting and national-level operations. Mr. Thomas also serves as technical authority for the Air Force within the National Security Agency (NSA) on development, signals intelligence, and information security equipment and systems. He was appointed as the chairperson of the Inter-Agency Senior Electronic Intelligence Steering Group by the director of NSA. Mr. Thomas is a 1979 graduate of Southwest Texas State University in San Marcos. He received a master’s degree in business administration in 1999 from Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio and one year later, earned a master’s degree in strategic studies from the Air War College at Maxwell Air Force Base, AL.

JARRIS LOUIS TAYLOR JR. Deputy Assistant Secretary Air Force for the Strategic Diversity Integration Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Manpower and Reserve Affairs

Dr. Jarris Taylor, Jr., is the deputy assistant secretary of Air Force strategic diversity integration in the office of the assistant secretary for Manpower and Reserve Affairs. He is responsible for policy, guidance, direction, and oversight of all plans and programs affecting diversity integration for Air Force military and civilian personnel. Dr. Taylor provides leadership, direction, and oversight to all levels of the Air Force to ensure a diverse and inclusive total force. Prior to his current position, he was associate director, William R. Harvey Leadership Institute and Honors College at Hampton University. Dr. Taylor has extensive experience in research, service, and fundraising and earned his doctorate in higher education administration from George Washington University. He retired from the Air Force in 2005 and was appointed to the Senior Executive Service in 2009.

ROGERS CAMPBELL Executive Director for Sales, Marketing and Policy Defense Commissary Agency

Mr. Rogers Campbell has oversight of direc62 USBE&IT I WINTER 2015

torates responsible for Defense Commissary Agency’s (DeCA) $6.1 billion sales, operations and policy, health and safety, and resale contracting. He assumed this position in 2011. Campbell entered federal government service in 2010 with appointment as director of the agency’s East region, after having worked for more than 30 years in the private sector selling and marketing various consumer goods. A former captain in the U.S. Army, Campbell’s career has taken him from commanding a tank platoon to leading marketing, sales planning, and merchandising of new car sales for both the Army and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) and the Navy Exchange Service Command (NEXCOM). As vice president and chief marketing officer of Overseas Military Sales Corporation, he directed marketing efforts on 120 military installations in 30 countries and aboard U.S. Navy ships through NEXCOM’s Ships Store program. Campbell’s career highlights include managing partner of Marketcorp International, a brand strategy consultancy; senior director of marketing for Nabisco Foods Group; and director of global new products for Schering-Plough Consumer Healthcare. He began his consumer packaged goods career at General Mills. He earned an M.B.A. from Rutgers University in 1974 and a Bachelor of Science in Marketing as a distinguished military graduate from Saint Peter’s College in New Jersey in 1973.

DONJETTE GILMORE Director, Accounting and Finance Policy Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller)

Ms. Donjette Gilmore has responsibility for implementation of the Department of Defense (DOD) Financial Management Regulation―a 6,600-page document of accounting and finance policy guidance. She has led financial management regulation modernization for 650,000 DOD users. Under her leadership, an Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller) team accounted for $8.7 billion in development funds for Iraq.

She was also key planner of a hotline, deployed in 22 days, which provided visibility of over $18.4 billion set aside to rebuild Iraq. She has also served as an assistant chief information officer for business transformation at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency repre-

senting NGA’s equities to the defense department, congressional staffers, and Oracle Technical Exchange. She chairs a taskforce comprised of 70 professionals, 21 agencies, four accounting firms, and several industry members to resolve issues like accounting for $478 billion in general property, plant and equipment, and $1 trillion in assets on financial DOD statements. Ms. Gilmore served in the Air Force Audit Agency as director of Policy, Oversight, and Systems and is a certified defense financial manager and Level II Acquisition Professional in Financial and Program Management. She also holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Finance from Auburn University and an M.B.A. from Washington University.

LYTWAIVE HUTCHINSON Director, Enterprise Information Technology Services Directorate Deputy Chief Information Officer Office of the Secretary of Defense

Mrs. Lytwaive Hutchinson became director, Enterprise IT Services for Washington Headquarters Services, in 2011 following the merger of the Information Technology Management Directorate (ITMD) and the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) Networks. She was promoted to director of ITMD in 2010. As the deputy chief information officer, OSD, she assisted with strategy, implementation, maintenance of information, and information systems. Before that, she was director, Enterprise Services, where she implemented the Washington Headquarters Services (WHS) Customer Service Software Platform and Service Desk.

Hutchinson was promoted to director, Information Assurance Division, in 2004 and served as the designated approving authority for IT services at WHS. She entered federal government service in 2002 as an information assurance manager. She was instrumental in modernizing the training program from a paper-based system to an automated system. Prior to that, she served for 21 years with the Army, attaining the rank of chief warrant officer 3. Mrs. Hutchinson holds a Master of Science in Quality Systems Management and a bachelor’s in computer science. She is also a graduate of the Federal Executive Institute and Harvard Business School for Executive Education.

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 JOHN JAMES, JR. Executive Director Missile Defense Agency

Mr. John James, Jr., is executive director of the Missile Defense Agency, Office of the Secretary of Defense. He is senior civilian advisor to the Missile Defense Agency director on all issues relating to the agency’s operational and management activities. Mr. James provides oversight, direction, and guidance to MDA staff, ensuring integration of all MDA functions required to sustain an effective Ballistic Missile Defense program. He also serves as an interface to the office of the secretary of defense, the services, and Congress. Previously, Mr. James was director, National Security Personnel System Transition Office, within Office of the Secretary of Defense. He was responsible for the congressional mandate to transition 228,000 employees to alternate personnel and pay system. In addition, he held the position of executive director of logistics, maintenance, and industrial operations and executive director for undersea warfare, both at the Naval Sea Systems Command.

He joined the Senior Executive Service in May 2000. Mr. James holds an undergraduate degree from Howard University and a master’s degree from Florida Institute of Technology and attended the Harvard School of Business and the Keenan-Flagler Business School.

CLARENCE JOHNSON Principal Director and Director for Civilian Equal Employment Opportunity Office of the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Equal Opportunity)

Mr. Clarence Johnson was selected to the Senior Executive Service in 2003 and assigned as the principal director and director for Civilian Equal Employment Opportunity, Office of the Deputy under Secretary of Defense (Equal Opportunity) at the Pentagon. In 2006 the office was renamed the Office of Diversity Management and Equal Opportunity. He is responsible for coordination of diversity management and equal opportunities policy and programs affecting all Department of Defense (DOD) civilian and military personnel. He also provides supervision of the Defense Equal Opportu-

nity Management Institute (DEOMI), the premiere DOD school in equal opportunity and equal employment opportunity training, education, and research. Mr. Johnson is principal advisor to the undersecretary of defense (personnel and readiness) on diversity management, equal opportunity, and employment opportunity matters.

He earned a bachelor’s in biology from Tuskegee Institute and a master’s in human resource management from Webster University. He is also a graduate of the Air Command and Staff College, the Air War College in Alabama, and the National Security Management Course from the National Defense University.

MILTON LEWIS Acquisition Executive Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime

Mr. Milton Lewis is acquisition executive director at Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Land and Maritime. He assumed this position and was inducted into the Senior Executive Service in 2008. DLA Land and Maritime manages more than 1.8 million spare and repair parts with 3,400 associates in 37 locations around the world, which includes seven DLA Depot Level Reparable and Supply Storage and Distribution units supporting supply requirements at U.S. Navy naval shipyards, Marine Corps logistics centers, and deployed units. In 2012 DLA Land and Maritime sales exceeded $4 billion. Mr. Lewis is a retired Army colonel with 29 years of military service.

In his final military assignment, he was the director, Land-Based Weapon Systems Group with the Defense Supply Center Columbus. He received his commission as a distinguished military graduate from the Georgia Institute of Technology. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Morehouse College and a Master of Science in Systems Management from the Florida Institute of Technology. Prior to assuming his current position, Lewis was an acquisition and logistics management consultant for Booz Allen Hamilton. In this position, he was responsible for conducting analysis and developing acquisition, logistics, and supply chain management solutions for government and commercial client organizations.

Snapshot of the Senior Executive Service workforce White 6,341

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Senior Executive Service Defense  WARREN LOCKETTE, M.D. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Clinical and Program Policy Chief Medical Officer of the TRICARE Management Activity

Dr. Warren Lockette is responsible for Department of Defense programs in clinical informatics, military public health, women’s health issues, mental health policy, graduate medical education, and patient safety. Dr. Lockette received his undergraduate and doctor of medicine degrees from the University of Michigan.

Following post-graduate training at the University of California, he was recruited by the Wayne State University School of Medicine and was a tenured professor of endocrinology and medicine. Lockette was also appointed adjunct associate professor of physiology at the University of Michigan and professor of medicine and Faculty Fellow of the International House at the University of California, San Diego. In addition, he studies the molecular genetics of complex quantitative traits and human performance in extreme environments. Dr. Lockette has served as a senior advisor to the commander of the Naval Special Warfare Command and the U.S. Special Operations Command. At Naval Medical Center, San Diego, Dr. Lockette helped guide the growth of the largest military clinical research program in graduate medical education. Most recently, he was special assistant to the commander, U.S. Navy Fourth Fleet, where he forged partnerships between military and civilian organizations of health care and public health practitioners to provide collaborative humanitarian assistance and disaster relief training in Latin America.

CYNTHIA MILLER Chief of Staff, Information Assurance Director National Security Agency

Prior to joining the National Security Agency (NSA), Ms. Cynthia Miller was a U.S. Navy human resources officer, retiring as captain. Over her 27-year career, she earned several professional certificates, including human resources and civilian management training.

Ms. Miller’s most recent SES assignment was as the director, Leadership and Development, Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), providing oversight USBE&IT I WINTER 2015 63

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for the ODNI and sixteen Intelligence Community agencies.

Additionally, she was responsible for implementation of the Five Year Strategic Plan for Human Capital (2012–2017). As HR director for the ODNI and chief human capital officer, she served as an advisor to senior leadership. She was also chief of staff for the associate director of human capital and advised on planning, logistics, and human capital programs. Other positions Ms. Miller has held include chief of staff for the Intelligence Community Equal Employment Opportunity and Diversity. She supported the director on management of the Intelligence Community’s efforts to build and retain a diverse workforce. Additionally, she provided guidance on the representation of minorities and persons with disabilities. Miller graduated in 1983 with a master’s in business management from Central Michigan University. In 1977 she earned a bachelor’s in business administration from Savannah State University. She also graduated from Marine Corps Command and Staff College in 1991 with a master’s level equivalency in strategic planning.

FREDERICK SELLERS Deputy Assistant Director United States Secret Service

Mr. Frederick Sellers̓ career with the U.S. Secret Service has focused on both the protective and investigative missions of the agency. Over his 25-year tenure, he has played an executive protecting role with five U.S. presidents: Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, William Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama. Currently, Mr. Sellers oversees forensics, asset forfeiture, analytic/research specialists, commercial database management, and criminal investigations to include all financial/cybercrimes. He holds a bachelor’s in criminal justice from University of South Carolina and joined the Secret Service as a uniformed division officer in 1988. Two years later, he was appointed a Special Agent. After seven years in field offices, he was assigned to the Protective Intelligence Division, which monitors threats directed at the President, Vice President, and world leaders when visiting the United States. Later, Mr. Sellers was selected to the Department

Agencies with

Largest Number of SES Department of Defense...................... 1,250 Department of Justice.......................... 768 Department of Homeland Security........ 604 Department of Energy........................... 482 Department of the Treasury................... 474 Department of Health and Human Services............................................ 443 National Aeronautics & Space Administration................................... 411 Department of Veterans Affairs.............. 373 Department of Commerce..................... 363 Department of Agriculture..................... 346

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of Homeland Security’s Senior Executive Service cohort to serve as chief of staff in the office of the director of risk management analysis, which informs homeland security strategy, formulation, preparedness priorities, and resource allocations. In 2012 he was appointed as a deputy assistant director in the Office of Investigations. In this role, he oversaw logistics of the 2,400 special agents and 745 administrative, professional, and technical personnel in the domestic and international field offices. He is an active member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police.

ANTHONY THOMAS Deputy Inspector General for Intelligence and Special Program Assessments

Mr. Anthony Thomas was appointed to the Senior Executive Service in 2013. He has more than 28 years of experience in the intelligence field. Previously, he served as chief, Counterintelligence (CI) Policy and Assessments at the Defense CI and Human Intelligence Center, Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA). In that capacity, he planned, led, and directed assessment of defense department counterintelligence enterprise missions, functions, and activities. Before joining DIA, Mr. Thomas served in key roles at the Defense Threat Reduction Agency and provided intelligence and counterintelligence support regarding weapons of mass destruction. He began his career in 1985 as an Air Force intelligence officer and served in leadership positions at the Strategic Air Command, Air Combat Command, U.S. Air Forces Europe, Air Staff, and the U.S. Pacific Command. Following military service, he briefly entered private industry and later joined the federal government in 2005 with a focus on national security and intelligence issues. Mr. Thomas earned a bachelor’s degree in computer information systems from Alabama State University and a master’s in business administration (aviation) from EmbryRiddle Aeronautical University. His professional military education includes Joint Doctrine Air Campaign Planning, Squadron Officer School, Air Command and Staff College, Joint Forces Staff College, and the Air War College.

Snapshot of the

Senior Executive Service workforce Type of Appointment

Gender

Career............................7,190

Female....................2,666

Non-career........................625

Male........................5,248

Limited term........................93 Limited emergency............... 2

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Top Blacks in the United States Military

Stars&

by Lango Deen ldeen@ccgmag.com

Stripes a portrait of Greatness

From small beginnings come great things

F

or 30 years, the annual Black Engineer of the Year Awards (BEYA) Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Conference has recognized outstanding Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) students, flag officers, military civilians, and members of the federal Senior Executive Service.

Each year, BEYA STEM also draws advisors, managers, and individuals involved in the policies and programs impacting the advancement of minorities in the United States military.

This is a review of military news reports on the Black Engineer of the Year AWARD (BEYA) Stars and Stripes. The Stars and Stripes award is presented to a person from each service for outstanding military service and contribution.

Each of the Stars and Stripes awards recognizes the significant accomplishments of African Americans in government and industry who have achieved exceptional career gains in the fields of STEM.

66 USBE&IT I WINTER 2015

www.blackengineer.com

Top Blacks in the United States Military

I

n 2006, when BEYA organizers launched the Stars and Stripes event with a small Sunday-morning

networking breakfast, little did they know it would become a tradition.

Now a BEYA fixture, hosted in rotation by each of the services during the three-day Conference, the Stars and Stripes program promotes STEM with mentoring sessions to increase interest in scientific and technical fields, and the Stars and Stripes program highlights the contributions of Blacks in support of nation and military service, and mentors and trains next-generation officers and senior executives.

In 2010, Adm. Mike Mullen, then chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and retired Gen. Johnnie Wilson, presented Gen. William Ward, then commander of U.S. Africa Command, with the Lifetime Achievement Award. Ward was honored for his leadership and mentoring throughout his 39 years in the Army.

Leadership, mentoring and Promising Young Engineers Jeremy Laster, a structural engineer for the Army Corps of Engineers’ New Orleans district, was recognized as the Most Promising Engineer or Scientist in Government for his work in the design and development of the Hurricane Risk Reduction System in New Orleans.

“Jeremy Laster is a bright young star in the Corps of Engineers,” said Lt. Gen. Robert Van Antwerp, then commander of the Army Corps of Engineers, as he presented the award.

Van Antwerp recited Laster’s many projects, including development of structural designs, flood walls, coffer dams, and the evaluations of foundation requirements for difficult soils in southern Louisiana.

Training nuclear engineers The chief of naval operations (CNO) was also an honorary presenter at the BEYA gala.

Retired CNO Gary Roughead presented two Navy civilians and a former Navy lieutenant with awards.

Senior Executive Service members Steffanie Easter and Sharon Smoot received the Professional Achievement in Government Award, and Davede Alexander received the Diversity Leadership Award.

Three Navy members also took top honors at the 25th BEYA STEM Conference.

Retired Rear Adm. Bruce Grooms, winner of BEYA’s Professional Achievement in Government, was recognized both for his significant accomplishments in STEM and his service as a role model and leader.

Grooms, who is one of only seven African-Americans to command a submarine in the twentieth century and the first African-American commandant of midshipmen at the U.S. Naval Academy, was also recognized as a key mentor in the submarine community who takes time to meet with educators to build on partnerships. He takes time to train future officers as nuclear engineers.

Senior Executive Service Senior Executive Service member Victor Gavin, then

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executive officer for littoral and mine warfare at the Naval Sea Systems Command, received the BEYA for Career Achievement in Government.

He was lauded for leadership of program management offices and employees, both military and civilian, who oversaw the design, development, procurement, fielding and sustainment of 220 registered programs for the Department of the Navy.

He was also recognized for his efforts in promoting small business innovation and mentoring young engineers.

Kerry Nichols, a computer engineer and Wind systems software lead with Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), received the BEYA for Outstanding Technical Contribution for his work as a leader in NAVAIR’s Moriah Wind System program, a software-intensive wind and navigation system integrated on approximately thirty-five Navy vessels.

Additionally, twenty-three Sailors and Navy civilians were honored with Modern Day Technology Leadership awards at a luncheon, which recognized their efforts as technologists and engineers at the top of their respective fields.

Flag officers, civilians, and SES members Flag officers, civilians, and SES members were also honored at the 26th BEYA STEM Conference.

Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jonathan Greenert presented the Stars and Stripes Navy honoree award to Rear Adm. Willie Metts at the Stars and Stripes dinner.

More than 40 Navy flag officers attended the ceremony, as well as Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Rick D. West and Midshipmen from the U.S. Naval Academy.

Following the dinner, Greenert spoke with Midshipmen about their future careers with the Navy.

“We felt like rock stars, because we were the first people he met with after he did his press conference. It made me feel like someone important,” said Midshipman Allen-Wesley Powell.

“I walked out onto the floor and a general pulled me aside and introduced me to the people he was with, and it was a great experience right off the bat. Honestly, my head is still spinning.

It’s a lot to take in.

They don’t call it the Stars and Stripes for nothing “There have been a lot of stars and stripes here — they really don’t call it the Stars and Stripes dinner for nothing,” Powell said.”

“This is just mind blowing,” said Kami Carter, chemist for the Materials Engineering Division of Naval Air Systems Command. Carter was honored with an award for Most Promising Engineer during the HBCU Engineering Deans’ power breakfast.

“I’m surrounded by all of these more experienced people, and it is just so inspiring to come out and be honored like this.

I aspire to be like them, and yet here I am today. There are no words to say how honored I am,” Carter said.

When the Marine Corps was the lead service, retired commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen James F. Amos, was the keynote speaker and Lt-Gen Coleman, USMC (Ret.), the Stars & Stripes Committee Chairman.

Adm. Robert J. Papp Jr., commandant of the Coast Guard, congratulated Capt. Michael Johnston, commanding officer of Coast Guard Command, Control and Communications Engineering Center in Portsmouth, Va., after Johnston received the Stars and Stripes award at the 26th BEYA STEM Conference 2012.

USBE&IT I WINTER 2015 67

STARS AND STRIPES REVIEW

A Portrait of Stars & Stripes

BEYA STARS & STRIPES DINNER,

a showcase event of the BEYA STEM Conference

ef Gen. Mark A. Welsh III, chi ce, For Air .

U.S of staff of the ,000 is responsible for training 664 and civilian active-duty, Guard, Reserve States and forces serving in the United overseas.

Oorah to the United Sta Marine Corps represented by then comman Gen. James Amos.

T

HE STARS AND STRIPES DINNER HONORS ACTIVE AND RETIRED BLACK ADMIRALS, GENERALS, AND MEMBERS OF THE SENIOR EXECUTIVE SERVICE AT THE ANNUAL BEYA STEM CONFERENCE, HELD IN FEBRUARY DURING BLACK HISTORY MONTH.

68 USBE&IT I WINTER 2015

tes

dant

Rear Admiral Barry C. Bla USN (Ret.)

62nd Chaplain of the United

ck,

States Senate.

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STARS AND STRIPES REVIEW

Deborah Roche Lee James, Secretar y of th e Air Force, holds up

Vice Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. John F. Campbell (center) was the keynote speaker and presenter for two 2014 Stars and Stripes awards.

a bright star

Gen. Norton Allan Schwart z served as the 19th Chief of Staff of the Air Force fro m August 12, 20 08 until his retirement in 2012.

stands shoulder Diversity strategist J.T. (Ted) Childs, Jr. (left) Navy admiral, to shoulder with Mike Mullen, a United States who served as the 17th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff 2007 to 2011.

“It’s Not Just a Job, It’s An Adventure”

for Adm. Michelle Howard, the first four-star woman in Navy history.

Army Gen. Georg e Casey, who las t served as Chief 20 07 to 2011, is of Staff of the U.S flanked by Tyron . Army from e Taborn, Career and Stars and Str Communications ipes Army found Group CEO, ing fathers Gen. Lt. Gen. Joe Ballar Jo hnnie Wilson and d as he presents the Stars and Str ipes to

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USBE&IT I WINTER 2015 69

STARS AND STRIPES REVIEW

Under Secr

Frank Ken d

Stars and Stripes honoring military leadership

all,

etar y of Def ense for Ac quisition, Technology and Logistic s.

Commanding General, Four-star General Dennis L. Via, U.S. Army Materiel Command.

Riki Ellison

, founder an d chairman Alliance, sh of the Missi akes hand le Defense Mr. Ellison s with Gen Advocacy has been in . Geo visited U.S at te nd an ce of 25 U.S rge Casey. . missile de . missile de fense base has advoca fens and plat form ted for mis sites over 30 e tests, sile defens 0 times an e in 43 stat d es and 22 countries.

70 USBE&IT I WINTER 2015

L-R Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Robert Papp, Lt. Gen. Robert Antwerp, Army Corps of Engineers retired, and retired Chief of Naval Operations Gary Roughead

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STARS AND STRIPES REVIEW

ip and ze nal leaderficsh a Marine, InspiratioCo er, ast Guard of with a

and an Army ph

al

ysician.

Rear Admir al Annie B. Andrews earned the Distinguish ed Ser vice Med al for

her successf ul tour as the top recruiter in America’s Navy. Under Andr Recruiting Co mmand recruit ews, Navy 62,522 of Am ed more than erica’s best an d brightest m women and en and commissione d more than of ficers into th 4,004 e United Stat es Navy.

General Lloyd Austin III is the 12th and current commander of United States Central Command (CENTCOM).

Austin is the first African American to head the organization. www.blackengineer.com

USBE&IT I WINTER 2015 71

STARS AND STRIPES REVIEW CORPORATE

tribute to our warriors attracts Fortune 500 CEO & service chiefs.

Wes Bush, chairman, CEO and president, Northrop Grumman Corporation (left) and University of Maryland Baltimore County President Freeman Hrabowski.

Applause from William H. Swanson, former chairman of Raytheon Company.

David Steward is chairman and cofounder of World Wide Technology, Inc., one of the largest Blackowned businesses in America.

Thomas A. Kennedy, current chairman and CEO for Raytheon Company, Top corporate executives honoring the ongoing contribution of American military leadership.

smiles in the foreground. At the same table is Wes Bush, Northrop Grumman CEO.

Former Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley presents Stars and Stripes Award to Air Force Gen. Lester Lyles as Lt. Gen. Al Edmonds (USAF) retired looks on.

72 USBE&IT I WINTER 2015

John Harris is VP of Business Development for Raytheon Company and CEO of Raytheon International, Inc. www.blackengineer.com

STARS AND STRIPES REVIEW FOUNDING FATHERS

BEYA Stars and Stripe s founding fathers are retired admirals and gen Force, Marine Corps, and erals from the Army, Na Coast Guard. (L-R) Na vy, Air vy vice admiral Walter Wilson; Army Lt. Gen. J. Davis; Army general Joe N. Ballard; Albert J. Johnnie Edm ond L. Winns; Marine Corps s, Lt. Gen. US Air Force; general Walter Gaskin; Navy vice adm. Anthon Army major general Ro y Sr., SES-5 retired; and nald L. Johnson; William Rear Adm. Stephen W. A. Brown Rochon, former directo White House Chief Ush r of the Executive Reside er. nce and

STARS AND STRIPES DINNER

Each year the host of the BEYA Stars and Stripes Dinner alternates between the Air Force, Army, Navy, Marine Corps, National Guard, and the Coast Guard.

Wounded warrio r shakes hands wit h Adm. Mike Mullen

The la st Sta rs and of the S (left) M Honorable tripes atte nd ajor G C Defen enera laude M. B ance se A l Bolto o n ser v lton, train a cquisition e d at Unive nd ed the rs u it y cate Defen se acq the Depa to recruit, r tmen uisitio to n work force. f

es Stars and Strip Navy rs he fat g din foun Walter vice admirals thony J. Davis and An Winns (left).

Stars and Military band plays the Stripes Forever!

The Tuskegee Airmen at Stars and Stripes.

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Dr. Wanda M. Austin, n President and CEO Aerospace Corporatio they stand for the as e ienc aud the s in patriotic blue, lead Star Spangled Banner.

Two Army Corps of Engineers Chiefs of Engineers Lt. Gen. Joe N. Ballard (second from left) and Lt. Gen. Robert Van Antwerp with Senior Executive Service veteran William A. Brown (far right) and Rear Adm. Stephen W. Rochon, former director of the Executive Residence and White House Chief Usher.

USBE&IT I WINTER 2015 73

STARS AND STRIPES REVIEW MENTORING The goal of the BEYA Stars and Stripes is to promote excellence in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). ctor for , vice dire clair Harris ff and a native in S l ira m Rear Ad efs of Sta to a , Joint Chi es a point operations D.C., mak n to ng hi t. en ud of Was st local high

Coast Guard Adm. Manson Brown speaks to a table of high school students as Army Gen Dennis Via looks on.

Gen Lloyd Austin, commander, U.S. Central Command, mentors an ROTC student.

Brig. Gen. Patrick Malackow ski, military deputy for Tota l ForceContinuum, Deputy Chief of Staf f Strategic Plans and Prog rams, Headquarters U.S. Air Forc e, takes questions from Dist rict of Columbia ROTC Students.

Gen. Robert Ferrell, Army Chief Information officer, 74 Lt. USBE&IT I WINTER 2015 takes a selfie with ROTC students.

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STARS AND STRIPES REVIEW

Maj. Gen. Errol R. Schwartz, commanding general, District of Columbia National Guard.

t Barnes, was Brig. Gen. Margaret general, Amy deputy commanding Command.

Human Resources

der is comman avid Turner Brig. Gen. D Corps of Engineers, of the Army ic Division.

South Atlant

Maj. Gen. Nadja Y. West, Joint Staff Su rgeon, at the 2015 Stars and Stripes me BE YA ntoring session wit h ROTC cadets.

Promoting American security through STEM education and mentoring.

ral, District adjutant gene nwick Payne, ks about ea sp d Brig. Gen. Re ar Gu l na Columnia Natio d service.

National Guar

of

Maj. Gen. Mark Brown, commande r Second Air Force, is responsible for all aspects of basic initial skills training and advanced technical training for the Air Force .

CALL OF DUTY

The annual Stars and Stripes event at the BEYA STEM Conference is where top defense officials come to meet, mentor and train next generation officers and senior executives. www.blackengineer.com

ering display in civil engine leads the way session. k ic g st rin to Bo en P. m es LTG Thomas ars and Strip cadets at a St

with

USBE&IT I WINTER 2015 75

EDUCATION

Education

by M.V. Greene mvgreene@ccgmag.com

SUSTAINED MENTORING PROGRAM HAS GOAL OF STOCKING STEM PIPELINE

S

ome lucky STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) students are getting an education in the art of rubbing elbows through the Sustained Mentoring Program sponsored by the Black Engineer of the Year Award (BEYA) Stars & Stripes organization.

Stars & Stripes is comprised of many of the nation’s leading active duty and retired African-American military flag officers, Department of Defense civilians of the federal Senior Executive Service. Stars & Stripes members launched the voluntary program as a two-pilot in October 2014 to provide a six-year mentoring platform for students, starting in high school through college and then into an entry-level STEM career.

At the BEYA conference held each February, Stars & Stripes members traditionally mentor students during an afternoon of the event and then invite them to attend the Stars & Stripes gala in the evening. Vice Adm. (retired) Melvin G. Williams Jr., who serves as co-chair of the Sustained Mentoring Program, said Stars & Stripes saw it as an opportunity to expand the group’s efforts in its mentoring activities during the BEYA conference.

“We saw value in the one-day mentoring session. We wanted to have something that was sustained,” Williams said, the Associate Provost for Military and Veterans Affairs at the George Washington University (GW) in Washington, DC. The goal of the program is to help stock the pipeline of black STEM professionals, Williams said. While Stars & Stripes is comprised of members with ties to the military, Williams emphasized that the focus of the program is on nurturing STEM students rather than recruiting for the military.

“Because the STEM field is so challenging, we think that having the mentoring being persistent over that sixyear period is critical,” he said.

Working closely with students is near and dear to Williams. At GW, he also administers Operation GW VALOR, a program that assists student military members and their families. About 1,700 VALOR students are enrolled at GW during the fall semester of 2015, up 70 percent in two years from about 1,000 students enrolled in the fall semester of 2013.

While Stars & Stripes is evaluating the Sustained Mentoring Program as a pilot, Williams said he is already seeing some success. Williams personally is mentoring students at Suitland High School in Suitland, MD, in the Washington, DC, area. Two of his mentees, who were members of the 76 USBE&IT I WINTER 2015

Navy Junior ROTC program at Suitland, are now pursuing STEM education at Morgan State University in Baltimore and Delaware State University.

“These young people are so excited. They really enjoy what we are doing. They are attentive, and they are asking questions. I’m learning from them as much as they are learning from me,” Williams said.

In working with the students, the program emphasizes character, competence, and commitment as a means for them to achieve excellence, according to Williams. www.blackengineer.com

In addition to Suitland, other schools partnering with the Sustained Mentoring Program include Phelps, Bell Multicultural, and Ballou high schools in Washington, DC; T.C. Williams High School and Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Alexandria, VA; and George Washington Carver High School in Philadelphia, where the BEYA conference will be held in February 2016.

Fourteen Stars & Stripes senior mentors are currently mentoring about 70 students.

At Suitland, Comdr. Robert Clements, U.S. Navy retired, www.blackengineer.com

who operates the school’s Junior ROTC program, said his students are benefiting through the Sustained Mentoring Program in ways they probably can’t fully understand yet. That’s the networking result of such a program, he said.

“It’s getting you ahead of the game and getting an understanding of the system and being mentored and growing at a more accelerated rate. It is a phenomenal opportunity for a student to be able to take advantage of something like this,” Clements said, himself an ROTC student in college.

Clements said he typically brings 15–20 students to the BEYA conference Stars & Stripes mentioning event to interact with active duty military officers. Clements recalls fondly at the 2015 BEYA conference during the Stars & Stripes mentoring session how Vice Adm. Bill Moran, the Navy’s chief of naval personnel, commented that he found a Suitland student attending to be bright and engaging.

“I just observe and say what could my life had been like if someone had been this way with me at the high school level,” Clements said. “To be in that presence and having those discussions at the table and hearing what’s being said, the influence and impact will resonate with [the students].”

Clements said he also welcomes the role Williams plays at Suitland with his students. Mentoring occurs with a monthly faceto-face session along with interactions online. Williams also writes college letters of recommendation and invites them to attend the BEYA Stars & Stripes Gala during the conference.

On one recent mentoring visit to the school, Williams helped students with setting and tracking goals.

“We believe it can show the nation that through the efforts of the Stars & Stripes program, we can essentially help to some extent to create a cadre of STEM professionals all the way into the career phase,” Williams said.

USBE&IT I WINTER 2015 77

EDUCATION

Book Review

by Tyrone Taborn publisher@ccgmag.com

RETIRED PARATROOPER PUTS OUT A CIVIL CALL TO ARMS

Our truest work happens when our talents and ambitions meet the needs of the world around us.

It’s at that point of intersection — between our gifts and our broken world — that we find the work of our lives, the work that lasts.

W

es Moore, a paratrooper and Captain in the U.S. Army, served a tour of duty in Afghanistan with the 1st Brigade of the 82nd Airborne Division. The decorated combat veteran and social entrepreneur wrote his first book, The Other Wes Moore, in 2010. This groundbreaking book — a story that conveys the importance of individual decisions and community support — became a New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestseller.

Moore’s latest book, The Work, picks up where his first book ended.

It is the story of one young man’s journey to find his life’s meaning and purpose. He shares his adventures and the lessons learned about how to create a life that matters from people he met along the way.

From the brave Afghan translator, who taught him what it means to find your fight, to the resilient students in Mississippi after Hurricane Katrina, who taught him the meaning of grit, to his late grandfather, who showed him grace in service, he also tells the stories of other remarkable change makers who’ve found deep meaning in their work. They include Daniel Lubetzy, the founder of KIND Snacks, and Esther Benjamin, a former director of the Peace Corps.

What their lessons, as well as his experiences, reveal is that our truest work happens when our talents and ambitions meet the needs of the world around us. It’s at that point of intersection— between our gifts and our broken world—that we find the work of our lives, the work that lasts.

The Work urges us to ask ourselves: • If money weren’t a factor, what would you be inspired to do?

• When was the last time you had fun at work?

• If you were as successful as you could possibly imagine, what would you do to give back?

• Have you ever thought of the impact you could have

78 USBE&IT I WINTER 2015

rather than the profit you could make?

• Who do you most admire at your job, and why? Are they efficient, kind, successful, or busy? Are they funny, stressed, happy, or supportive?

• Do you feel fearless at work?

• When was the last time you were courageous?

Moore serves on the board of the Iraq Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), The Johns Hopkins University, and founded an organization called STAND! that works with Baltimore youth involved in the criminal justice system. He is committed to helping young people and supporting the parents, teachers, mentors, and volunteers that care for and work with our nation’s youth.

He is also founder and CEO of BridgeEdu, an innovative platform that addresses the college completion and career placement crisis by reinventing during the freshman year in a way that engages students in real-world internships and service learning opportunities.

www.blackengineer.com

CARRER OUTLOOK An in-depth look at a cutting-edge industry within STEM. We tell you where the jobs are, why you want them, and, most importantly, how you get them.

Career Horizons

By Lango Deen ldeen@ccgmag.com

Veteran Transition Initiatives

K

urt Metcalf is team lead for recruitment and compensation at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers headquarters in Staffing and Recruiting. He is a senior leader of the employment and compensation management division and coordinates efforts to recruit, retain, and promote Corps of Engineers employees. www.blackengineer.com

Metcalf also leads recruiting for wounded warriors, students, and professionals in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). That’s why he came to the 2015 BEYA STEM Conference and attended BEYA STEM Veteran Transition Initiative’s Vets Career program. The fledging BEYA STEM Veterans Transition Initiative was started by veterans at the 2014 BEYA STEM Conference and aims to provide more visible support for veterans at the 30-year-old BEYA Conference, which features more than 100 employees at its annual career fair held during the conference each February.

Metcalf estimates that in the next six months, 20 percent of new hires in the Corps of Engineers will be veterans, with veterans already filling 20 percent of technical and managerial jobs.

Formal mentoring, on-the-job/technical/peer training, apprenticeships, employee resource groups, and acculturation are just a few training options made available to veteran employees, Metcalf said. Educational opportunities include technical certification courses as well as vocational rehabilitation and counseling.

Metcalf adds that the most attractive employment structure and vocations are guaranteed work assignments upon completion of training programs, with full-time jobs in operations, finance/accounting, and engineering.

“Building the Bench” The Army Corps of Engineers has engineered solutions for some of the nation’s toughest challenges in national security, civil works, and disaster risks since 1775, and they continue that tradition by helping “build the bench” with support to STEM and USBE&IT I WINTER 2015 79

CAREER OUTLOOK Career Horizons veteran programs.

Metcalf says the Corps has a recruiting calendar and works with the Department of Defense Hiring Heroes Program, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Hiring Our Heroes program, and the Veterans Curation Program.

The Veterans Curation Program was created to process at-risk archaeological collections belonging to the Corps of Engineers. Stewardship of archaeological collections, including both artifacts and associated records, is the responsibility of landowning agencies such as BEYA 2015 Veterans Transition Initiative the Corps. Processing these collections to federal standards for long-term storage and access is undertaken by cultural resource management employer is Consumers Energy. firms familiar with the work.

Consumers Energy, Michigan’s largest utility, is the principal The Department of Defense Hiring Heroes Program prosubsidiary of CMS Energy, providing natural gas and electricity vides outreach, recruitment assistance products and services to 6.6 million of the state’s 10 million residents in all 68 lower to wounded, ill, injured, and transitioning service members, veterans, spouses, and primary caregivers through organizing and peninsula counties.

The Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency recognized Consumconducting specialized career fairs to increase awareness of job ers Energy as a “veteran-friendly” employer because of its comopportunities. mitment to recruit, train, and retain men and women that have served their country.

Service-Disabled, Veteran-Owned Small Businesses The state agency awarded the company bronze-level Metcalf wouldn’t put a figure to service-disabled-owned achievement as a veteran-friendly employer. The recognition will small business contracts, but all indications show the federal assist Consumers Energy in its ongoing employee recruitment government is bolstering service-disabled, veteran-owned small efforts as Michigan’s largest energy provider. businesses owned by retired veterans.

“Consumers Energy provides rewarding careers to military Take Jeff Woodson. He created the administrative, manveterans across Michigan, and we are pleased with this special agement, and IT consultancy Encore Services in 2010. Since designation from the MVAA,” said Catherine Hendrian, Consumthen, the company has gone on to work with the Department of ers Energy’s vice president of human resources. “Our culture is Agriculture, Veterans Affairs, Department of Homeland Secubased on many of the same tenets of the military. We have a sense rity, Government Services Administration, and Internal Revenue of service, and all of our employees exhibit accountability to each Service as customers, offering services such as financial manageother and to the residents of Michigan.” ment systems, administrative and HR services, system engineerThe Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency recognizes employing and development, and IV&V testing, the WashingtonExec ers that commit to military veteran recruitment, training, and resaid in a September 2015 interview. tention practices by awarding those employers gold-, silver-, and Jacqueline Ray-Morris, a manager of the Minority College bronze-level status as veteran-friendly employers. The agency’s Outreach Program at the National Guard Bureau, told Black EnVeteran-Friendly Employer program helps qualified organizations gineer magazine that retired command sergeant Melvene Lanier, recruit and retain top veteran talent while providing others a roadnow a diversity training program manager, should come in for map to improve their recruitment efforts. recognition for all he does at A-Team Solutions.

A-Team is a source of quality employment opportunities for Icing on the Cake hundreds of people each year. The company has helped hundreds In Washington, D.C., the U.S. Department of Defense put of small, medium, and large companies secure the talent they icing on the cake with recognition of 15 recipients of the 2015 need to be successful.

Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award during a Certified by the Department of Veterans Affairs, A-Team So- Pentagon ceremony. lutions is a service–disabled, veteran-owned small business that The Freedom Award is the highest honor the department gives sources staff for federal, state, and local governments and private to employers for support of National Guard and Reserve employees. industry clients.

Deputy Defense Secretary Robert Work lauded the recipients The ATS management team and leadership consist of profes- for their support, saying their sacrifices helped make the military sionals with experience in government, private industry, consultcontributions by members of the National Guard and Reserve ing, law, education, and state and federal regulatory agencies. possible.

Founded in 2004 by Glenn Kodani, a service-disabled vet“These extraordinary contributions that [Guardsmen and eran who served in the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division, with the Reservists] have provided could not have been made without the help of JJ Nathan, A-Team Solutions is now serving as program extraordinary support from the group of civilians and citizens, manager on several U.S. federal government contracts. business leaders and employers, who have really allowed them to not be worried about coming back to a job.”

Veteran-Friendly Employers The 2015 recipients were selected from 2,960 nominations Another firm recognized this year as a “veteran-friendly” received from Guardsmen and Reservists for going far beyond 80 USBE&IT I WINTER 2015

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CAREER OUTLOOK

The 2015 Freedom Award recipients included: Black Hills Corporation Boise Fire Department BP America, Inc. Cardinal Health Cigna City of Glendale City of Shawnee College of the Ozarks CVS Health Devon Energy Dr. Joe A. Jackson, MD, PLLC Neil, Dymott, Frank, McFall, Trexler, McCabe & Hudson APLC Snell & Wilmer LLP Town of Hingham Walt Disney Company

Rapid City, SD Boise, ID Houston, TX Dublin, OH Bloomfield, CT Glendale, AZ Shawnee, KS Point Lookout, MO Woonsocket, RI Oklahoma City, OK Biloxi, MS San Diego, CA Phoenix, AZ Hingham, MA Burbank, CA

what the federal law requires to support their military employees. The Freedom Award was instituted in 1996 under the auspices of the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve to recognize exceptional support from the employer community. In the years since, 205 employers have been honored with the award.

Military Veterans Make Great Entrepreneurs Good things are also happening in the entrepreneurial space.

U.S. Navy veteran Mark Anthony Page realized his own American dream when he became the business owner of a 7‑Eleven® franchised store after winning the company’s Operation: Take Command campaign.

It was the culmination of nine months’ work and competition to win first America’s and then 7‑Eleven, Inc. CEO’s vote of confidence. The prize was an available 7‑Eleven store of the winner’s choice at a discount, valued up to $190,000. But 7‑Eleven, Inc. CEO Joe DePinto was so impressed with the three finalists that he offered each a store.

Operation: Take Command launched Veterans Day (Nov. 11, 2014) as a multiphased competition for first-time prospective franchisees retired or separated from the military. Entrants first had to be interviewed and qualified. The top 25 of the 6,000 entrants competed for the public’s votes in a Facebook video competition with the three finalists interviewing face-to-face with DePinto.

Page is the first of the three winning veterans to take possession of his 7‑Eleven store.

The other winners, Army vets in Chesapeake, VA, and Miami, stepped across their stores’ thresholds in September and after Joe DePinto, CEO, Eleven, Inc. with U.S. Navy veteran Mark Anthony Page

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October, respectively.

In New York, the first class of military veterans graduated from a new program that helps veterans become entrepreneurs and find opportunities in New York City’s rapidly growing technologybased innovation economy.

Combining both academic and real-world lessons, the Veteran Entrepreneur Training (VET) program was developed by NYU Polytechnic School of Engineering with support from the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce. The VET program offers veterans a hands-on technology and business curriculum and mentorship to help them transition into the technology industry to launch potential ventures and careers.

At the demo day and graduation ceremony for the 14 veterans of the first cohort, the NYU School of Engineering and Brooklyn Chamber announced that in response to demand, they will accelerate the start of the next VET class to this fall, with funding secured by Assemblyman Lentol.

“With nearly a quarter of a million veterans who call New York City home, it is crucial that we do everything we can to support the veteran community, not only to assist those who have bravely defended our country but to further our economic growth as well,” said Brooklyn Chamber President and CEO Carlo A. Scissura.

NYU School of Engineering embeds innovation and entrepreneurship into its academics and programs. The school drew from its innovative entrepreneurship programs to develop the VET Program. The free, 10-week course starts with five days of intensive classes followed by one-dayper-week classes and venture validation presentations.

Classes and guest lectures cover a range of topics, including prototyping, revenue models, accounting, marketing, and fundraising. The program concludes with two showcases, an internal presentation to the stakeholders of the program and local technology business leaders, and a public demonstration day.

Veterans accepted into the program work alongside startup companies at the school’s incubators during the entirety of the 10 weeks and receive a portfolio of resources to supplement the classes.

Additionally, mentors and guest lecturers from across industries and professions support class participants as they develop their ideas into business ventures.

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