NAWCWD holds recruiting event for wounded warriors

Date: 28-Jul-10
News Release Number: ECL201007281

Joan Johnson, director of Software Engineering (4.1), explains what NAWCWD is all about at the Individuals with Disabilities/Wounded Warriors recruiting event at China Lake on July 22. Photo by Renee Hatcher.

Mary Wedel, deputy NAWCWD EEO officer, welcomes Leroy Sumter, left, and Lawrence Gaceta to the recruiting event for Individuals with Disabilities/Wounded Warriors at China Lake on July 22. Photo by Renee Hatcher.

Sean Corcoran, left, a NAWCWD hiring manager in 5.1.J, interviews Ken Banks during the Individuals with Disabilities/Wounded Warriors recruiting event at China Lake on July 22. Photo by Renee Hatcher.

Participants of the NAWCWD Individuals with Disabilities/Wounded Warriors recruiting event gather at the NAWS Training Center on July 22. Photo by Renee Hatcher.

NAVAL AIR WARFARE CENTER WEAPONS DIVISION CHINA LAKE, Calif. - The Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division Total Force Strategy and Management (TFSM) Department held its first recruiting event for Individuals with Disabilities/Wounded Warriors at China Lake on July 22.

“I was very pleased with the success of this event,” said Betty Miller, head of TFSM’s Professional Recruitment Office. “The participants were extremely appreciative of the efforts that went into providing such a quality event.”

Twenty-seven people attended the invitation-only recruiting event, held at the Naval Air Weapons Station Conference Center. Based on the participants’ education and prior experience, TFSM consultants scheduled interviews throughout the day with more than 20 NAWCWD hiring managers. Each participant had at least two interviews.

Juan Villalpando, who spent five years in the Navy, came up from San Diego for the event. He was hoping to find work in the information systems field in one of the three interviews that were scheduled for him.

“This was a very impressive event,” said Villalpando, who was also planning to attend the same event at NAWCWD Point Mugu on Aug. 5.

In between interviews, participants had the opportunity to go on a windshield base and community tour provided by Cyndi Townsend and Rena Jacobson, of the NAWCWD China Lake Protocol Office.

Joan Johnson, director of Software Engineering (4.1), gave an overview of NAWCWD, but first took some time to recognize the veterans in attendance.

“I would like to say to the veterans, thank you for your service,” Johnson said. “You are heroes to everybody who works on this base and we are really excited to be hosting all of you today.”

Johnson talked about the long and rich history of the base and the community.

“We’re a tight-knit community that’s proud of our tradition and proud of our heritage,” Johnson said. “We enjoy who we were but we really enjoy looking forward to what we can be.”

She spoke of the NAWCWD core values – honesty, fairness, mutual respect, compassion, integrity and accountability – as not just words but a way of life.

“Another thing we value here at Weapons Division is self-awareness and having a passion for personal improvement,” Johnson said. “We value the unique skills that everyone brings to the table. With diversity we get a real richness of ideas and unique ways to solve problems.”

Feedback from participants included the following comments. “This was my first job fair. I was very impressed and will use this one as a comparison in any future events I attend.” “This was a fantastic event. Well organized and planned. I appreciate that it was genuine and low-key, and not a dog-and-pony show. I am very grateful for this opportunity.”

Miller said she expects NAWCWD to host similar events at least once a year at both sites.

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