Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division (NSWC PCD) Mechanical Engineer, Sheyla Matos, was selected by Great Minds in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) (GMiS) as a recipient for their 2016 STEM Hero Award.
According to the GMiS website, this award recognizes the achievements of America's top engineers and scientists within the Hispanic community during the annual Hispanic Engineer National Achievement Awards Conference (HENAAC). The website states that the HENAAC award winners are proof that the Hispanic community is capable of stepping up to the leadership roles that the new demographics position demands.
During her short tenure as a System Safety Engineer (SSE) at NSWC PCD, Matos was responsible for identifying system safety hazards and ensuring hazard mitigation plans are in place to minimize and/or eliminate these hazards. After arriving at NSWC PCD, Matos quickly met her certification requirements and was appointed Principal for Safety for two acquisition programs. NSWC PCD serves as the engineering agent for those programs and is responsible for providing these safe systems to the U.S. Navy warfighters.
NSWC PCD Off-Board Systems Development Branch Head Leslie Lugo, who nominated Matos for this award, said Matos is motivated, committed, and confident and has a desire to succeed.
Lugo said Matos demonstrates commitment to self-improvement, motivation to expand her knowledge of the SSE field and determined to develop new, proven leadership skills to allow her to excel in the performance of her duties.
“In the relatively short time I have worked with Matos, she has demonstrated an unquestionable work ethic and exhibited leadership qualities that separate her from other engineers in her field which are indicators of a bright future as an engineer,” said Lugo. “Matos possesses natural leadership traits that establish her a promising candidate for growth within the organization and an agent of change within her sphere of influence. Matos possesses a genuine interest in the improvement of the SSE group as a whole.”
In her community, Matos welcomes many newly hired NSWC PCD Hispanic employees and their families to her home providing a feeling of ‘home’ with authentic, ethnic food and comfortable conversation.
Although she is fairly new to the area, Matos goes above and beyond to ensure newly hired Hispanic co-workers and their families feel welcomed.
Receiving this award gives Matos immense gratification.
“This award comes at a time in which it reiterates that the work we as a WC do for our Fleet is not gone without notices. It proves that all of the hard work and dedication invested for the betterment of those around us, pays off,” said Matos. “To be recognized by HENAAC as one of the 2016 STEM Heroes is a wonderful feeling. I am humbled and honored to be representing NSWC PCD and Naval Sea Systems Command at this event.”
Matos dedicates this award to her main inspiration in life – her family.
“I dedicate this award to my parents for their unconditional support and equally to my children, who keep the light in my life,” said Matos. “They push me to be better for them each and every day.”
Matos offers words of encouragement to her colleagues who want to achieve success in their careers.
“I encourage my fellow co-workers to seek a mentor and determine what drives their passion and ignites creativity in their minds” said Matos. “NSWC PCD has so many positive opportunities and experiences through challenging assignments to offer to the workforce. It is up to you to go after these opportunities.”
Matos will be recognized at the HENAAC Conference October 5-9, 2016 in Anaheim, California.
NSWC PCD: Technical Center of Excellence for Littoral Warfare and Coastal Defense
| Date Taken: | 08.24.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 08.29.2016 09:26 |
| Story ID: | 208240 |
| Location: | PANAMA CITY, FL, US |
| Web Views: | 22 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, NSWC PCD Engineer Selected to Receive GMiS STEM Hero Award, by Katherine Mapp, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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