Women’s History Month is an opportunity to discover, recognize and appreciate the valuable contributions American women have made throughout history.
As the President Bush pointed out in his 2008 Women’s History Month Proclamation, the contributions of women have enriched our culture, strengthened our Nation and furthered the Founder’s vision by working to advance freedom, increase equality, pioneer scientific and technological discovery and administer justice in every corner of our land, through their everyday work in education, business, courtrooms, laboratories, homes and communities.
Today nearly every university and college offers a women’s studies program, including a Ph.D. in the academic area.
The history of women in leadership illustrates by example the path for the current generation and next generation of leaders to follow to remove barriers, level the playing field and create an environment that is adaptable and accepting of change and diversity. Leaders who desire to lead others from success (getting it done) to significance (making a difference) will need to take a lesson from the history of women.
Capitalize on opportunities; accept change as inevitable, stay focused on what you can control, clear a path for success, model-the-way and make a contribution into the career of someone else that will help them position themselves to capitalize on opportunities that will shape their careers – Mentor!
Women make up 22 percent of the leadership at the Indian Head Division of the Naval Surface Warfare Center. Their education spans the spectrum from high school diplomas to doctorates, in disciplines from accounting to chemistry.
Each of these leaders contributes significantly to the successful mission accomplishment through demonstration of their own unique abilities to achieve great results as leaders. As you read our female leader’s responses, to questions on education, mentors, vision and motivating words, you will discover leaders of diverse background, motivational influences and challenges, who care about Indian Head, their organization, the people they interact with and most of all, enjoy the work they do and the leadership responsibility entrusted to them.
Next week, will feature thoughts from some more of our women in leadership. In tribute to the women of our past, who provided us a pathway forward, Ruth Adams, Dorothy Cichra, Patricia Downey, Cindy Gilroy, Carol Kasterko and Johnna Robinson give you a closer look at their education, mentors, vision and motivating words as women in leadership at Indian Head Division. Thank each of you, who shared your responses, they are inspiring and empowering.
RUTH ADAMS
Branch Manager⁄ Contracting Officer, Contacts Support Division Procurement Department
Total Years of Government Service: 26 Years and 5 months
How long have you worked at IHDIV: 26 Years and 5 months
What is your educational background and what factors influenced your educational choices? I have a bachelor’s in management from the University of Phoenix. Initially, I was happy to have ‘‘worked my way up” from a GS-1 Clerk position to a contract specialist position with only a high school diploma and some specialized contracts training. But when I became a branch manager and I was supervising employees who had degrees, I felt that to earn my employee’s respect, I needed to have a degree as well. Because I was working full time and I started out with only 30 credits from the community college, it took a while to complete my degree. But it was well worth the effort and time that it took.
What woman has most influenced your career? Why? It is impossible to choose only one woman. Throughout my years at Indian Head, I have had the pleasure to work with many women who have attributes that I think are essential for good leadership.
Sarah Claggett, who was my first supervisor, had a great sense of humor, even on tough days.
Dorothy (Sissy) Maddox who I admired because of her thorough knowledge of the contracting rules. She could cite contracting regulations like children recite their alphabet.
Donna Feaganes has a calm demeanor in the midst of total craziness. She is extremely professional at all times.
Mary Boswell was totally committed to her job. She had faith in me and gave me my first opportunity to work in Contracts. And most of all,
My mother who told me, even as a young child, that I could do anything that I set my mind to.
Finish this sentence: “As a leader, my vision is . . . to be an integral part of an organization with highly motivated, highly skilled individuals that work well together to accomplish Indian Head’s mission.”
Favorite Quote or Motivating Words: The Golden Rule – Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
Dr. DOROTHY CICHRA
Division Director, High Energy Materials Division
Research and Technology Department
Total Years of Government Service: 30
How long have you worked at IHDIV? Since 1994, came down in BRAC move.
What is your educational background and what factors influenced your educational choices? I have a bachelor’s in chemistry from The Ohio State University and a doctorate in chemistry from Yale University. I did a postdoctoral fellowship in chemistry at Johns Hopkins University. I was always interested in science. Even though my parents had not gone to college - my mom graduated from high school, my dad did not, it was always assumed that my brothers and I would go to college. It was also assumed we would go to Ohio State since we lived in Ohio and we were not well off. When I started I was not sure what science I would major in - thought about biochemistry for a while or chemistry. I settled on chemistry when my older bother switched his major from Chemistry to microbiology - I did not want to major in the same things he was in. Since I wanted to do research getting a PhD was the logical decision. Yale was where there were professors doing work that looked interesting. I looked at places based on suggestions from my undergraduate research advisor. I went to Hopkins to work with someone my PhD thesis advisor had suggested.
What woman has most influenced your career? Why? I really can't think of anyone - maybe a nun from my high school who in a discussion with my Mom and me commented that I could “do anything I wanted to do“ but I don't think that was ever in question.
Finish this sentence: “As a leader, my vision is . . . to have a well functioning organization with highly creative and motivated scientists and engineers conducting research on innovative molecules, materials and formulations, and developing an understanding of their properties and behavior.”
Favorite Quote or Motivating Words: A ship in harbor is safer but that is not what ships are built for.
What is your educational background and what factors influenced your educational choices? I completed my bachelor’s degree in order to advance in my career field.
What woman has most influenced your career? Why? I would have to give my mother credit for raising me to believe I could pursue and excel in any career of my choice.
Finish this sentence: “As a leader, my vision is . . . to never take life for granted.“
Favorite Quote or Motivating Words: My favorite words are the Serenity Prayer.
‘‘God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”
CINDY GILROY
Lead, Financial Support Team C2, Comptroller
Total Years of Government Service: 18 years
How long have you worked at IHDIV: 18 years
What is your educational background and what factors influenced your educational choices? I have an associate’s in applied science, and an accounting degree.
What influenced that? After ending up in the Comptroller Department when the position I held in the Logistics field got outsourced to a contractor. My new supervisor in Comptroller told me “if you want to get ahead in this department, you will have to get an accounting degree“ - so I did.
What woman has most influenced your career? Why? I have two actually. Both Sandy Guy & Gayle Allan influenced my career. Sandy was the individual I was assigned to after entering the Comptroller Department and I currently work with Gayle. They both ended up probably being what we now call a mentor to me. They show a desire and a willingness to give up time for me, and are able to be realistic and have a strong interest in allowing me to become self aware and self directing, to develop a sense of my own purpose and to experience my own success.
Finish this sentence: “As a leader, my vision is . . . making sure everyone has resources necessary to follow and be productive, to build their confidence in their own ability to lead themselves.”
Favorite Quote or Motivating Words: You gain power by giving it away.
CAROL KASTERKO
Manager, CAD Acquisition Branch
CAD⁄PAD Department
Total Years of Government Service: 37.5 years
How long have you worked at IHDIV: 37.5 years
What is your educational background and what factors influenced your educational choices? High school and one plus years of college, studying accounting and general studies. I like working with numbers.
What woman has most influenced your career? Why? My mother. She was a strong, smart, hard working woman, but also flexible in her career choices. She moved from Pennsylvania to Maryland when my father was laid off and came here for employment. She had various types of jobs and encouraged me to grow in whatever field I wanted.
Finish this sentence: “As a leader, my vision is . . . to encourage other people to grow to their full potential.”
Favorite Quote or Motivating Words: Think positive
JOHNNA L.ROBINSON
Deputy Equal Employment Opportunity Officer & Diversity Manager
Human Resources Department
Total Years of Government Service: 22 years
How long have you worked at Indian Head Division: 22 years
What is your educational background and what factors influenced your educational choices? A better education, an opportunity for a career, to explore the world beyond my small community in Crozet, Va. (Noah’s Ark for the movies was built there) and to be the first in my family to graduate from college were the factors that influenced my initial educational choices. I received my bachelor’s in business administration from Howard University. Attending a HBCU was considered a real honor in my community because it was the realization of the hopes and dreams of those who were denied educational opportunities and those who remembered the sacrifice it took to establish schools where my generation would not only received a quality education, but affirmation and empowerment from scholars who would share the true stories of our history, so that we would appreciate the great cost of our education and share it with those who would follow, building a better community. I worked every semester to pay my way through school. P&J and Tuna fish are still my favorite sandwiches today, but not sardines and crackers. Marriage and family delayed my original plan to get my master’s. However, I stayed focused and taking it one semester at a time I received my master’s management from the College of Notre Dame with a triple concentration in public relations & communication management, marketing management & human resources management.
What woman has most influenced your career? Why? Margaret Trick, she was a mentor, a leader, and a woman I continue to respect. I learned a lot from her. She would always take the time to answer my questions, as well as teach me how to find the answers on my own. She used mistakes as teaching moments. She was a good listener, offered sound advice, was willing to discuss concerns and be a sounding board when needed. Her quiet demeanor, professionalism and integrity made you want to pursue excellence. She was well respected by her colleagues and her opinion valued at the highest levels in the Command. She was an advocated for her employees and encouraged us to take risk, take on challenging assignments and to enjoy the work we did or to make a change to find something that you did enjoy. Margaret had a sense of humor and kept a calming smile on her face even in the most difficult situations.
Finish this sentence: “As a leader, my vision is . . . to empower others to do the right thing because it’s the right thing to do“
Favorite Quote or Motivating Words: ‘‘Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”
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