New WD recruiting video shows how civilian careers can support military strength

The new NAWCWD recruiting video can be used at seminars and job fairs like the recent Aerotech Expo Career Fair in Lancaster where Jim Snipes, left, and Ken Chirkis talk with a potential new hire about opportunities throughout WD's technical programs.

Date: 22-May-08
News Release Number: ECL200805221

The Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division released a new recruiting video today aimed at hiring qualified science and engineering candidates and support positions to fill key roles throughout the command's technical programs.

The nine-minute video is available on DVD, and online at the NAWCWD public Web site, http://www.nawcwd.navy.mil. China Lake employees and Ridgecrest residents are encouraged to watch the video and share it with potential applicants. WD's recruiting efforts are focused on finding the expertise that can support its mission of providing the Department of Defense with a unique capability for full scale weapons research, development, acquisition and test and evaluation.

"Unfortunately we live in a world where there are bad guys out there who want to do this nation and our people harm," said Brad Harlow, deputy for Research and Engineering and head of Corporate Operations. "That means there will always be a need for places like this."

Dr. Melissa Midzor, EA-6B branch head, said she heard the call of service to her country in 2001. "I came here after 9-11 because I wanted to do something that served a higher purpose than just making money," she said.

NAWCWD's recruiting efforts span both the China Lake and Point Mugu sites. Opportunities are available for those with backgrounds in chemistry, embedded software, modeling and simulation, radio frequency engineering, and systems engineering, as well as logistics, human resources and support areas.

"I'm able to immediately have an impact on the troops in the field," said Chris Ruffin, a NAWCWD physicist. "When someone stands there and looks you in the eye and says, ‘your product saved my life two weeks ago in theater,' that reinforces what I do and why."

The video was produced by the BRAC Implementation Team to help reach as many experienced professionals as possible in an effort to support vacancies and to replenish the aging Weapons Division work force. Currently, the average age of the NAWCWD work force is 46.

The effect of baby boomers nearing the age of retirement is a nationwide trend that is not unique to the Weapons Division. During the last three years, the command lost 1,030 employees through normal attrition.

"The DVD will be used at job fairs, seminars, college recruiting and conferences to reach talented civilian employees to fill open positions," said DeAnne Bell, of the NAWCWD Public Affairs Office.

The video highlights the opportunities at NAWCWD to team with the best in the science and engineering field, and to create future technologies at China Lake's world-class facilities and laboratories.

"The future of the Weapons Division is bright because weapons systems continue to evolve in the way we use them, and the way we employ them," said Ben Rasnick, deputy for Threat/Target Systems. "The way we link weapons together to prosecute the war on terror is always causing us to sharpen our pencils and look at new solutions."

For more information about the recruiting video, contact Lance at 760-939-8404 or deanne.m.bell@navy.mil.

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