Photo By Michael Kleiman | Maj. Elisa A. Hammer, bio-environmental engineer, 779th Aerospace Medical Squadron,...... read more read more
Story written by Michael P. Kleiman
Observed each March, Women’s History Month recognizes females who have significantly shaped American culture, heritage and history.
This year’s theme, Women Inspiring Innovation Through Imagination: Celebrating Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, focuses on four specific careers, which tend to be male dominated, but also have become the life-calling for many of the opposite sex.
Four women working for the Air Force District of Washington embody the annual observance’s 2013 emphasis. Their specific stories begin below.
Science
After her initial two and a half years of college, Col. Janice D. Wallace wanted a career major, which would afford her variety, yet offer challenges. She subsequently found her niche as a nurse. After graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing from Murray State University, Murray, Ky., Wallace, who serves as the 79th Medical Wing’s vice commander, applied her clinical skills and experience at the Lexington Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Lexington, Ky., initially in the Post-Operative Surgical Ward and then in the Surgical Intensive Care Unit.
Following a transfer to the Southern Arizona Veterans Affairs Health Care System, Tucson, Ariz., Wallace not only served in the Surgical ICU, but also in the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory. She subsequently joined the Air Force to enhance and broaden her nursing experience. The 26-year career airman began her military service as a Surgical ICU nurse, Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Unit, Wilford Hall Medical Center, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. She has since worked as the chief nurse for medical groups at two separate Air Force installations in Oklahoma and at Joint Base Balad, Iraq. Wallace has also held command positions at five different bases. Her keys to attaining successful medical and military careers include flexibility, opportunity and diversity.
“I would recommend to any female interested in pursuing a career in nursing or in a science-related field to remain open and flexible when pursuing what you want to do. In today’s workforce, there is a lot of opportunity and diversity when choosing a career. Don't limit yourself,” Wallace said. “As a nurse, I have enjoyed helping people, as well as the variety of work experiences it has provided. Ultimately, you want to bloom where you’re planted, and be the best you can be.”
Technology
Growing up in Lexington Park, Md., near the Chesapeake Bay, Patricia Gray knew in her teen years that her future involved environmental work. While in high school, she participated in the Maryland Envirothon, a competition similar to a sports meet in which teams of students attempt to resolve real-world ecological issues in natural surroundings. Event winners progress through local, state and international contests.
Gray continued her passion for the natural world while earning a Bachelor of Science degree in geography and environmental systems from the University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore. Although wanting to continue her education in graduate school, she opted to work as an environmental scientist for a contract pollution prevention program at what was then known as Andrews AFB. Gray continued to serve for 12 years at the installation as a contractor and federal government civilian.
During her first three years working at Andrews, she tracked hazardous materials from cradle to grave, as well as monitored emerging technologies, which reduced waste. Gray subsequently moved on to leading the hazardous waste program. Her initial Air Force position, Environment Quality Program manager, provided Gray the opportunity to conduct education and outreach across the base while advocating senior leadership support in ensuring regulation compliance.
In 2007, she earned a promotion to chief, Conservation and Planning. This new duty gave Gray the opportunity to head the base’s Natural Infrastructure/Resources, Cultural Resources, Environmental Management Systems and Environmental Planning programs. While serving in the position, she learned about the various archaeological sites on Andrews, and worked with the state of Maryland in preserving relics from the base’s past. She concluded her 11th Wing service as chief, Asset Optimization, supervising 11 personnel and directing environmental and community planning, real estate/real property and energy projects. In her current job as Air Force District of Washington’s Asset Optimization Program manager, Gray works with the latest environmental technologies and guides the energy conservation program in support of managing sustainable installations. Although the environment has been the focus of her career, she believes people remain our most important resource.
“While serving as a supervisor in the Air Force, I have really enjoyed investing in people – watching those who work with you grow and develop. I also love working with a team – perhaps that dates back to my time participating in science fairs and the Maryland Envirothon,” Gray said. “My advice to those interested in the environment (or any other career) would be to try it, and see if you like it, as well as be flexible as can be and explore what’s out there. Technology has changed the playing field in the environmental career field and others. Today, you have more info at your fingertips than ever before, but make sure you fact check. Finally, you have to always keep growing.”
Engineering
Similar to Gray, Maj. Elisa A. Hammer, bio-environmental engineer, 779th Aerospace Medicine Squadron, spent her formative years in Waialua on the north shore of Oahu, Hawaii, adjacent to the Pacific Ocean. She enjoyed living by the beach and experiencing firsthand the huge waves surfers have referred to as the pipeline. Due to her love of the native ecosystems, Hammer wanted to become an environmental engineer, but the University of Hawaii did not offer that particular career path, so she studied civil engineering and eventually received her Bachelor of Science degree in that specific field.
Following college, she stayed in Honolulu to work for an environmental consulting firm, performing environmental site assessments to determine ecological liabilities for businesses and the government. During this two-and-a-half-year time period, Hammer would occasionally leave Hawaii for environmental projects at Naval Base Guam, and Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan. At the latter installation, she met a bio-environmental engineer who helped push her toward a military career.
Hammer subsequently became an Air Force officer serving in the same career field as her mentor from Kadena AB. In the past 12 years, she returned to Guam (Andersen AFB), and also served at Maxwell AFB, Ala., Kunsan AB, South Korea, and on her home island at the former Hickam AFB. Prior to assuming her current position eight months ago, Hammer worked at the Pentagon.
At Andrews, her responsibilities include industrial hygiene (i.e. worker protection respirators, ear plugs, gloves, and eye wear), environmental protection (particularly drinking water sampling) and chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear response. Hammer believes people can overcome obstacles to achieving their heart’s desires.
“If you are interested in engineering and/or the sciences, dream big, but know what you want to do and make a plan to get there. I went through college as a single mother, but I had a dream and pursued my passions,” Hammer said. “If you are determined, you can make things happen. There are all kinds of obstacles in life, but with determination, you can get through them. For women, engineering and the sciences can be intimidating. You need to have a role model who can help you achieve your dream. I relied on one in college and then again when I worked at Kadena AB.”
Mathematics
Maritza LoGrasso also knows about island life. A native of Isabela, Puerto Rico, she gravitated toward mathematics at an early age. Several of her aunts and uncles were accountants, so working with numbers came naturally to LoGrasso. She wanted to be a civil engineer, but while in high school, her interest in math grew. As a result, Lograsso majored in accounting at the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez, but also found time to participate on the school’s varsity volleyball and softball teams for three years and in the Air Force ROTC.
She ultimately earned her accounting degree and commission, and accomplished a 23-year Air Force career, primarily serving in the cost, finance and budget fields. After retirement at the rank of lieutenant colonel, LoGrasso labored for a year as a government contractor and then returned to the last job she held on active duty at the Pentagon, but this time as a federal civilian.
Following an additional six years working across the Potomac River in Arlington, Va., she assumed the position of director, Financial Management and Comptroller, Headquarters AFDW, in February. LoGrasso encourages those seeking any career to choose a calling that you like, and not let others make that important decision for you.
“In today’s work environment, women can do anything that they want to do. When I was growing up, I let others sway me into making career choices. Today, the road has been paved by other women,” LoGrasso said. “Set your sights on what it is you love and then go for it. If you do not like what you do, you will not succeed. Find the right field and then make things happen.”
The four women profiled above serve as an example of women serving our Air Force in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics career fields.
| Date Taken: | 03.27.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 03.27.2013 15:46 |
| Story ID: | 104178 |
| Location: | ANDREWS AIR FORCE BASE, MD, US |
| Hometown: | ISABELA, PR |
| Hometown: | BALTIMORE, MD, US |
| Hometown: | HONOLULU, HI, US |
| Hometown: | LEXINGTON, KY, US |
| Hometown: | MURRAY, KY, US |
| Hometown: | TUCSON, AZ, US |
| Web Views: | 139 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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