Mentoring Celebration at DTRA Highlights Growing Internal Talent, Mentorship Value and Agency Return on Investment

FORT BELVOIR, VA, UNITED STATES

10.25.2019

Story by Melissa Tune 

Defense Threat Reduction Agency

Mentoring Celebration at DTRA Highlights Growing Internal Talent, Mentorship Value and Agency Return on Investment
Defense Threat Reduction Agency Public Affairs

FORT BELVOIR, VIRGINIA – The Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) celebrated the success of its mentoring program during a ceremony held at its Ft. Belvoir, Va. headquarters Oct. 24.

The event focused on the gains made by the DTRA mentorship team over the past 9 months, and the long-term benefits it provides to DTRA personnel during their career growth.

“We have tremendous potential in this agency,” said DTRA Director, Vayl S. Oxford. He stated that his charge for the mentorship program is to synchronize and integrate with the recruiting and diversity program to support retaining Agency talent and maximizing this potential.

In keeping with Oxford’s intent, the DTRA mentorship program seeks to reinforce and influence an enduring mentoring culture throughout the Agency. It provides a means for DTRA leaders to invest in human capital as a strategic corporate asset, enhancing the competencies and capabilities of their mentees by providing guidance and insight gained over a long, successful career.

“The program allows an open opportunity to meet many senior leaders,” said Joyce Gamboa, a mentee. “I also gained a holistic view of how the agency operates which helps me personally and professionally.”

Valarie Wright, the Agency mentoring program manager, noted that the benefit of mentoring flows both ways.

“The program broadens both the mentor and mentee's perspectives on the organization,” Wright said. “It helps grow individual networks, and provides a sense of connection across the Agency."

According to Wright, the program is built on three pillars: Strengthening expertise, building professional relationships and navigating the organization. Supporting those pillars is in-depth constructive feedback between program participants and a variety of learning experiences. As a result, the program helps to increase individual and organizational performance, and maximize DTRA’s return on investment for its human capital. Wright also notes that the technical-competence coaching and overall career-path guidance that participants receive over the course of the program will endure and be applied in future positions and assignments.

The DTRA mentorship program has been growing and evolving since its 2002 inception. The program results in a network of connections across the Agency’s global footprint that provides opportunities for increased awareness of the Agency’s mission and impact, while enhancing the personal and professional pursuits of its participants. The 2019 program included 66 mentees, 47 mentors, and 20 additional situational mentors, with participants hailing from the Agency’s headquarters as well as remote offices in Albuquerque and Germany.

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Mission: The Defense Threat Reduction Agency enables DoD, the U.S. Government, and international partners to counter and deter weapons of mass destruction and improvised threats networks.

• Date Taken: 10.25.2019
• Date Posted: 11.05.2019 14:07
• Story ID: 350533
• Location: FORT BELVOIR, VA, US