By Renee Hatcher
PEO(A) Public Affairs

For people who may be searching for the right career path or the next promotion, Joanne Cardarelli serves as an inspiration and a reminder that the journey is as important as the destination.

Cardarelli is the acquisition deputy in NAVAIR’s Program Executive Office for Air ASW, Assault and Special Mission Programs (PEO(A)). Twenty-one years ago, she began working at NAVAIR as a secretary and now is the principal advisor to PEO(A) for acquisition matters relating to the 10 Navy and Marine Corps programs in the PEO.

“I think being dedicated, caring and doing your best will get you where you want to be,” she said. “Supervisors recognize those who care and want to contribute and I’ve been rewarded for that. It hasn’t been for anything big – just trying everyday in any small way to help.”

She makes it sound so simple.
“It is,” she agreed. “There are big steps to be taken in the work we do but the little ones we take are just as important.”

Cardarelli cannot speak of her accomplishments without first recognizing those of everyone around her. Early on, her parents set the example of dedication and a strong work ethic for her and her five brothers and sisters. Cardarelli’s understanding and appreciation of the defense of the country began at home, as her father served in the Navy for 30 years.

“I’ve always felt very dedicated to serving and protecting our country,” she said. “I am very fortunate to have worked with some of the most remarkable people and to have been surrounded by smart, dedicated, and motivated individuals with the highest integrity.”

Although she doesn’t have time to sit around and think about it, Cardarelli could have a major impact on the country’s defense because she works on things like the acquisition strategy for the new helicopter that will transport the president of the United States, or the next milestone for the revolutionary V-22 Osprey, and the source selections for the future Multi-Mission Maritime Aircraft.

“I rarely step back and look at how far reaching all of the things are that we do,” she said. “I feel really good about what I do but I wish I could do more and make it go faster. We’ve been working on some programs for a long time because we want to get them right and have them delivered safely to the warfighters in the fleet.”

As the deputy for acquisition in PEO(A), her primary job is to help the program managers successfully execute their programs and to establish successful acquisition strategies.

"Joanne's contributions are incalculable,” said Tom Laux, program executive officer for Air ASW, Assault and Special Mission Program. “She is the acknowledged expert in acquisition, and does a wonderful job leading all PEO(A) program teams through all the arcane regulations and Pentagon offices needed to get capability to the warfighter."

The government acquisition process is not a simple one.

“My goal is always to make things easier so acquisition can be a pleasant experience,” Cardarelli said. We are all here to get something to the fleet as fast as we can. Unfortunately, it’s never fast enough but we are doing what we can to improve that.”

Early in her career, Cardarelli developed a broad appreciation for the way the government works. She was encouraged by her first boss at NAVAIR to apply for the Public Administrative Development Program and she was accepted. That experience gave her a glimpse into many different areas including comptroller, logistics, contracts and program management.

“It let me see things from other people’s perspective and gave me a good understanding of what everyone else has to do to accomplish their jobs,” she said. “We all need to work together and help each other.”

Cardarelli has given a lot to NAVAIR during the last 21 years and feels she has been well recognized by leadership for her contributions. She has earned two Superior Civilian Service Awards and a Meritorious Civilian Service Award but said personal satisfaction from a job well done, and delivering quality products to the fleet are enough reward for her. She also met her husband, Joe, through the command; they have two daughters and a son.

Regarding the challenges of balancing a career and family, “Like everyone else, I do the best I can,” Cardarelli said humbly.

Any free time she has is spent at basketball games or lacrosse practice or Girl Scouts, and nothing could make her happier. “We have a lot of quality family time.”

To people just starting out in the work force today, Cardarelli says you don’t have to be limited to one career path, or so concerned about the next promotion.

“It’s important to make the best of wherever you are working and contribute however you can,” she said. “Day-to-day dedication, genuine concern and doing the right things for the right reasons are what it’s all about for me. The small contributions we make along the way are just as important as where we are going to end up.”