Pamela Clements, acting executive director of the Naval Ordnance Safety and Security Activity (NOSSA) in Naval Support Facility Indian Head recently stepped up to meet the Chief of Naval Operations’ and Naval Sea Systems Command’s stance on diversity by representing the Navy, NAVSEA and NOSSA as a member of the Blue Ribbon Commission Panel on diversity for Charles County.
The county commissioners established the Blue Ribbon Commission to focus on opinion gathering; the review of exchange of ideas; the sharing of practical proposals and long-term visions from citizens at all levels with respect to diversity and inter-group relations in Charles County.
NAVSEA's stance is to build and value a culture of diversity by aggressively executing diversity; conduct and respond to annual EEO diversity surveys; deliberate mentoring of minority and female leadership candidates; use civilian labor force guidelines to “inform“ recruiting strategy and establish community of interest groups to define special needs requirements.
Clements received a letter from the county commissioners of Charles County in May of 2007 indicating she had been selected for a four year term. When asked why she felt the need to apply for the position she commented that “as a senior civilian leader within the Department of the Navy and having lived in Charles County for 40 years“ she felt is was her civic duty.
Additionally, she emphasized the special importance that cultural diversity and inter-group relations play in contributing to the health and vibrancy of the community and hopes to foster a desire in the future workforce that the Navy and especially NAVSEA can be counted on as the premier leader in diversity and the best place to seek employment.
Clements participated in the second of a series of forums on Feb. 16, hosted by the Charles County Board of Commissioners. February's diversity forum was designated as “A Call to Action: Continuing the Dialogue.“
The forum opened with a keynote address from Dr. Ronald Walters, Director African American Leadership Center, University of Maryland followed by a day consisting of experts and neighbors working in focus groups to strategize solutions which will enhance Charles County's community in the future.
Clements was the moderator for the strategy session: 'What Can We Do as Parents'? In her capacity as moderator, her goal was to bring the group together, get them involved, ask leading questions and ultimately have each member gain a stronger understanding of what diversity is and how each of us, as an individual, and together as a family can make diversity work in our community, home and workplace.
Other breakout strategy sessions covered the topics of ‘‘'What Can We Do As' Educators, Community Civic & Groups; Religious Organizations; Government & Law Enforcement; Employers & Employees, Youth and Women? ‘”
After a half day of strategizing, Dr. Edith J. Patterson, vice president of the Charles County Board of Commissioners summarized all of the strategy sessions and final closing remarks were given by Dr. Walters and Paul W. Comfort, Esq., county administrator for the Charles County Government.
Clements recognizes that Charles County can become the example of how diversity works through fostering an diverse environment that embraces different points of view, values the individual, or groups of individuals, for their contributions to the community and one that promotes inclusion at all levels, across all workforce lines. As a member of the panel, Clements echoes NAVSEA Commander Vice Adm., Paul Sullivan's guidance that whether you're talking about an enterprise as large as NAVSEA or a community as diverse as Charles County, its most valuable asset is its people!
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