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MANAMA, Bahrain - Rear Adm. Carol Pottenger, commander, Naval Expeditionary Combat Command, and Rear Adm. Michelle Howard, commander, Expeditionary Strike Group Two, forward-deployed to Bahrain, met with a group of women surface warfare officers June 30 to encourage them to continue to progress in their careers and lives.
While striving to make every officer and Sailor better, Pottenger and Howard both said they understand young women need senior female mentors and leaders to guide them in their career paths.
"In the Navy, a leader is a leader," said Pottenger. "The key is mentorship, caring for Sailors, motivating them to succeed and understanding that you can truly be anyone you want to be. I've had some great role models in my life and career, both men and women, each allowing me to shine by giving me room to excel. I'm always looking forward, not back, and it's my hope that I have been able to help those that will follow me."
Both women have led from the front since the beginning of their careers. Pottenger volunteered for sea-duty in 1978, one year after she earned her commission. Howard is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy in 1982 and reported aboard USS Hunley for her initial sea-duty assignment. Both women have commanded ships as well as amphibious expeditionary strike groups.
Though both admirals have taken on jobs where they were the first women to hold those positions, neither view their accomplishments as gender-specific.
"There is a terrific opportunity for women in the Navy today," she Howard. "Life is about what you choose to make of it and a woman can do anything she sets her mind to. I'm at a point in my life where I think it is important to reach out to young women in the Navy and help them develop into the leaders of tomorrow."
Some women SWOs took their words to heart and said that they were motivated to follow in their footsteps.
"Both admirals are great examples of what women can achieve in the Navy," said Lt. Lisa Masso, a SWO assigned to Commander, Task Force Individual Augmentee headquartered in Bahrain. "I really get the sense from talking to them, that you can achieve whatever you want. I admire both women because they care so much about people. I hope that I can help those Sailors under me grow, like
she has grown others."
| Date Taken: | 07.01.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 07.01.2009 08:58 |
| Story ID: | 35837 |
| Location: | MANAMA, BH |
| Web Views: | 254 |
| Downloads: | 233 |
This work, Senior Women SWOs Provide Insight and Mentorship in Bahrain, by LT Nathan Christensen, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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