Photo By Thomas Perry | Navy Rear Adm. Deborah Haven joined Fort Lee community members at the Lee Theater,...... read more read more
Subscribe
Navy Rear Adm. Deborah Haven joined Fort Lee community members at the Lee Theater here to celebrate Women’s Equality Day Aug. 22. Haven, the Defense Contract Management Agency’s chief of staff, served as the event’s guest speaker.
“It’s an honor to be able to speak here today,” said Haven, the former DCMA International commander. “We owe a great deal to the women who paved the way for the rest of us. Some of those women you may already know. They may be your grandmother, mother or aunt. Be sure to thank them for being the trail blazers.
“I am certainly grateful for the opportunities I’ve had in the Navy that were not available in the not so distant past,” she continued. “I had the opportunity to be mentored by not only women, but also men who encouraged me to progress.”
Women’s Equality Day is celebrated each year to commemorate the women’s suffrage movement in the United States, which culminated Aug. 26, 1920 when the Constitution’s 19th Amendment was ratified prohibiting American citizens being denied the right to vote on the basis of sex.
Army Logistics University hosted the event, and their contributions exceeded a typical commemorative celebration. ALU students and staff provided the entertainment that included a simulated protest encouraging equal rights for all and a stirring interpretive dance set to themed lighting and music.
The day’s importance was echoed by Debra Simmon, the agency’s Equal Employment Office alternative dispute resolution manager, who characterized American women’s struggle toward equality as courageous, inspiring and ongoing.
“Throughout American history, women have served as pioneers and have diligently fought for their right to be treated equally and have made great strides in fields like science, politics, medicine, innovation, military, sports, literature and art,” said Simmon. “These are just a few of the remarkable accomplishments that historians, not to mention people across the world, celebrate.”
DCMA EEO News and Notes
—Upcoming celebrations include Hispanic Heritage Month (beginning Sept. 15), National Disability Employment Awareness Month (October) and National Native American Heritage Month (November). Team members across the agency are encouraged to contact their local special emphasis program coordinator to discover what events their command has in place to highlight and recognize special observances throughout the year.
—The EEO team is working closely with the Information Technology Directorate to ensure a successful agency-wide distribution of the upcoming 2017 Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute’s Defense Equal Opportunity Climate Survey. Linda Galimore, the EEO director, identified the survey as vital to organizational health. “Maximum participation will be crucial in identifying areas for improvement to make DCMA the employer of choice. Results will be studied closely and action plans will be developed to address opportunities for improvement.”
| Date Taken: | 09.05.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 09.08.2016 06:58 |
| Story ID: | 209016 |
| Location: | FORT LEE, VA, US |
| Web Views: | 24 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Haven salutes Women’s Equality Day, by Thomas Perry, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
LEAVE A COMMENT