By Lance Cpl. Andrew S. Keirn Chief Warrant Officer 3 Melissa A. Tafoya received a Science Technology Engineering and Math Role Model Award for her contributions to the Marine Corps and other services.

Each year the DOD holds the ceremony and presents the Science Technology Engineering and Math Role Model Awards to women who have shown hard work, outstanding leadership, and commitment to excellence in advancing the DOD STEM mission.

This year a new award was added to the mix, the Trailblazer Award. The Trailblazer award is presented to a woman who has been a ‘‘first” to achieve a significant accomplishment in her respective military service.

Two women serving the Marine Corps from Quantico were given STEM awards. Chief Warrant Officer 3 Melissa A. Tafoya serves as project officer for the Transportability and Naval Integration Section of the Office of Program Engineering and Technology. Tafoya led the first MV-22 external certification with Aberdeen Testing Ground Md., and her leadership and technical skills have enabled variants of the Joint Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicle Program, which has led to the MRAP vehicles currently saving the lives of U.S. service members. Tafoya also contributes to many extracurricular activities outside the command.

Robin Thomas, deputy division chief for the Network Plans and Policy Division, also received a STEM award. Thomas profoundly enhanced operations and supervised a plethora of information technology projects, programs, and staff that are integral to the current and future success of the Marine Corps. Her technical expertise in the information technology field, astute knowledge of policy within the Department of the Navy, and her keen leadership skills have led to her being recognized as a distinct role model for all.

‘‘Celebrating the achievements of women and having a month of observation is very important, because sometimes women’s contributions are left out of mainstream history,” said Capt. Ruth A. Allen, program liaison officer for equal opportunity and diversity management branch. ‘‘It is important to record and acknowledge the contributions made by women today and throughout history.”

Mentorship was a key theme during the ceremony. It was impressed upon everyone that mentoring and teaching the young women of today was of the utmost importance.

‘‘Those in leadership positions have a responsibility to reach down and let the young women of today know that their gender should not be considered a barrier in life, that there is still work to be done. Women are still not fully integrated yet, but at the same time, women are accomplishing great things,” Allen said. ‘‘During women’s history month it is the time to focus on ensuring the young women of today within our influence are afforded at least the same opportunities we’ve had and that there is no limit to what they can accomplish.”

Women first became Marines in 1918.

‘‘We have a responsibility to do the best we can as women and Marines,” Allen said. ‘‘The DOD provides the STEM and Trailblazer awards to ensure the women making a difference in our society don’t go unnoticed for their hard work and commitment but are recognized and forever marked in the history books.”