The Naval Air Systems Command Leadership Development Program and Journey Leadership Development Program gained three new graduates from Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division Point Mugu during a ceremony March 28.

NAVAIR recognized 68 JLDP graduates and 70 from NLDP in the commandwide ceremony.  

NLDP is NAVAIR’s flagship leadership development program, aimed at high-performing employees who have demonstrated the desire to fully develop their leadership, management, and process improvement skills. JLDP is the command’s mid-level leadership development program that provides participants with foundational training in a structured framework.

“I decided to apply for JLDP because of potential career opportunities the program provides,” said Derek Brooks, who is the Intrepid Tiger II production lead with the Joint Electronic Attack and Compatibility Office. “I have a professional goal of moving up into a leadership position in my future with NAVAIR, and JLDP provided the right level of exposure, mentorship, and training and development for the current stage in my career.”

Both programs also enable participants to develop and enhance their personal network, create increased visibility and opportunities and broaden their knowledge of the organization. JLDP participants interview senior leadership, working with high-level mentors, and get on-the-job exposure to parts of the organization they may be unfamiliar with.

“My favorite part of the program was the job shadowing,” said Amanda McWhorter, a computer scientist with the Range Data Systems Division and JLDP graduate. “I really enjoyed shadowing one of my mentors and seeing what their everyday work was like.”

John Ma, Point Mugu Sea Range Telemetry Branch head and NAWCWD’s sole NLDP graduate this year, said he also benefitted from that broader exposure.

“I applied for NLDP to understand the bigger picture,” he said. “Working like a lab rat engineer for over 12 years, I felt there was something missing.  I realized there was a disconnect sometimes between what engineers were working to and what the fleet may really need.”

In addition to completing training that helped him connect with the Navy’s mission and the warfighters’ needs, Ma completed a rotational assignment outside of NAWCWD.

“The rotation truly allowed me to live day-to-day and experience not only how NAVAIR operates, but how we fit into the bigger Navy's mission through OPNAV,” he said. “I learned about how the Navy works with the Office of the Secretary of Defense and the other services to realize the greater DoD's vision.”

Keynote speaker Vice Adm. Dean Peters, NAVAIR commander, highlighted that interconnectedness and mission-focus in his remarks. He noted that the organizations with the best potential for high performance and success are those whose people share a common goal. For Peters, that’s NAVAIR.

“We have a common goal; we have a compelling mission,” he said. “The mission of the United States Navy and the United States Marine Corps. You are civilian Sailors. You have careers that matter, and you are connected to that mission.”

Click here to read about the national graduation ceremony.