By Staci Mathews
NAWCWD Public Affairs

The Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division is continuing to rejuvenate its administrative hiring by recruiting men and women for its Administrative Professional Development Program (APDP) in support of the command’s mission to provide the warfighter with effective and affordable integrated warfare systems, and to find future business leaders to support the fleet.

APDP, put together by the Total Force Strategy and Management Department (TFSM) - formerly known as Human Resources, managers, and senior analysts across the command, is an umbrella term that covers the formal Navy intern programs such as, the Acquisition Intern Program and Financial Management Intern Development Program as well as those hired directly by WD. APDP interns are usually recent college graduates with master’s degrees, or bachelor’s degrees with one year related work experience.

The administrative professional departments are hiring directly into their departments, and there are a group of people that are hired as business professional interns. The business professional interns are in a program that is similar to the former Administrative Junior Professional Program. The direct hire candidate fits directly under one specific department, which provides the employee with an in depth understanding of all levels within a particular area. The business professional interns are given the opportunity for rotational assignments with various departments such as TFSM, contracts, business and program analysis, and comptroller. The objective of the business administrative program is to support individuals with professional growth by expanding their knowledge to become future business leaders at NAWCWD.

“The APDP is new and evolving and these programs are very highly competitive because these are our future senior leaders,” said Jacqui Walters, deputy comptroller. “We are selecting everyone for particular spots to balance and grow each of the areas within business operations.”

Currently, there are 30 men and women within the APDP program.

“It is exciting to see the fusion of new talent into the administrative community,” said Betty Miller, of the Professional Recruiting Office.

The administrative program provides these employees with a lot of fun and exciting tours within various departments throughout the base to discover the real life adventures of the scientists and engineers working at China Lake.

Tony Damiano, Logistics management specialist, recently provided a tour of the Ordnance Test and Evaluation Division’s test sites at the China Lake Propulsion Laboratory for the current APDP personnel.

“I exposed these new hires to energetic and material research, development, test and evaluation, which make up the legacy and history of some of China Lakes’ greatest contributions to energetic and weapons development for World War II, Koreas, Vietnam, many other Department of Defense endeavors and our current conflict,” Damiano said. “These are extreme examples of China Lake’s support for the U.S. military and the civil servants that work here in support of the warfighters’ mission to protect our nation.”

“It is important for the administrative community to see the various testing facilities and individuals working here at China Lake to understand the passion and dedication that these person’s offer daily to the civil service community,” Damiano said. “I believe that the APDP’s fervor and passion for their jobs will match that of the technicians and or specialists they support.”

The administrative program holds monthly luncheons for employees to network and share experiences and thoughts on how to improve their quality of work at China Lake. Many have established relationships with one another and are getting together outside of work to explore the community and some of nature’s landmarks around the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

Some of the NAWCWD administrative professionals are former residents of the China Lake area and feel this is a great place to live, learn and enjoy the serenity of the desert.

“Once you leave, you look back and realize how much you miss the desert, it definitely has a way of growing on you,” said Genesis Smith, an APDP intern.

Smith discovered she belonged in Ridgecrest after studying and teaching cross-cultural skills abroad in China for two years and felt she needed to make a positive change in her own country.

“The opportunities I’ve encountered during my five months as an APDP would have taken me years to accomplish elsewhere,” Smith said. “It’s great to know that the work I’m doing now supports the defense of my country, its allies and the global community at large.”

PHOTO CUTLINE

Photo by Ron Rodriguez
The Administrative Professional Development Program holds monthly luncheons for interns to network and share their experiences about working at China Lake. Some of the current administrative professionals gathered recently. Pictured from left in the front are Barbara Harlow, Staci Mathews, Kelly Russell and Laurie French. In the back from left are Genesis Smith, Nick Mills, Asuncion Celis, Cari Fulton, Annie Martinsen and Alex Larson.