Photo By Petty Officer 2nd Class Tristan Lotz | 211108-N-ME396-1063 GROTON, Conn. (November 8, 2021) Naval Submarine Base (SUBASE) New...... read more read more
GROTON, Conn. – Naval Submarine Base (SUBASE) New London recently welcomed a new Fleet and Family Support Center (FFSC) director. While new to Connecticut and the Home of the Submarine Force, Yonette Davison-Wolfe has a long history of serving members of her community, military members, and families.
Beginnings: Serving the Helpless
A native of Detroit, Michigan, Wolfe began her career in 1995 when she completed her Master’s Degree in guidance and counseling from Loyala University in New Orleans. The needs of service members and their families first caught Wolfe’s attention while working for Child Protective Services.
“This was a whole world I never knew existed!” said Wolfe. “Having come from a big military family with tons of relatives that served, it just made sense. At that point, I started researching what to do for the military and started my first Navy job in 1999.”
In the years that followed, Wolfe would alternate between working for the government and working for non-profits. Wolfe found herself in such far-flung places as Nevada and Germany and took great honor in helping those around her and improving the lives of not only of her clients, but also of her employees as well.
“When I was in the Rape Crisis Center in San Antonio, I was able to configure our finances to offer health insurance [to our employees],” said Wolfe, recalling one of her many proud moments. “We were actually well funded, and I couldn’t understand why this hadn’t happened before. We had offered health insurance, we had a small employer contribution, but the employees paid the majority of it. I was able to configure the finances where we paid health insurance for the employee.”
For Wolfe making a difference for your team of employees can translate improving the experience of clients.
“It’s not enough just to come in every day and make sure people do that work, but to create climate or that culture where people want to be there,” said Wolfe. “Let’s face it, human services is really hard work. It takes a lot to grow people and take care of people. Having been in social services upward of 25 years now, I’ve learned you have to take care of your staff first, then they’ll take care of their clients and customers.”
Fleet and Family: From the Desert to the Sea
Through her career, Wolfe has travelled extensively from the Midwest, South, and West to Germany and Belgium. She most recently served as the director of an FFSC in the Great Basin of Nevada.
“I was at Naval Air Station Fallon in northern Nevada, out in the desert,” said Wolfe. “It had its pros and cons … but we wanted to come to the East Coast for the green, the weather, the snow,…the history. Where else can you live in the United States that has history from the 1600s?”
She found her opportunity when the position of SUBASE New London FFSC director became open and she was selected.
“We live in Groton… it was hard to choose… because everywhere is so beautiful,” said Wolfe. “I’m looking forward to cold and beautiful falls, and that quintessential … New England Christmas.”
She’s also looking forward to growing roots here, “it’s a great place for it,” she says, and to leading such an experienced team.
Taking the Helm at SUBASE
“I’ve got some staff, one going on 17 years, another going on 20 years, and we just celebrated one who has been here 25 years,” said Wolfe. “[And,] I’m filling big shoes.”
The previous director of SUBASE New London FFSC retired in July 2021 after nearly three decades of service. Wolfe assumed her leadership role on August 16 that same year, and is excited about lays ahead.
“I love military family programs and I love being able to be a part of something that is so wonderful,” said Wolfe. “Being able to provide an opportunity for Sailors and their families to get the support they need; and, developing a team where we can provide as many support services and wellness programs to them while they’re out doing great and wonderful, but also very dangerous, things.”
Wolfe said she wants FFSC to be the first place Sailors, their families or their leadership think of whenever they need guidance, resources or support in career or personal life.
“There’s no secret that there’s a stigma around Fleet and Family in general, but what I’d like to do is focus on the good things we do and try to rebrand where people think of us first, and not just for the bad things,” said Wolfe. “Yes, we are here for a crisis, but also for wellness and resiliency.”
She also wants the FFSC to be a fun place for clients and staff alike.
“We want to increase our usage,” said Wolfe. “We want to highlight our integrated prevention programs coming down from the DoD. We [also] want to make this a place where people can have fun. If you need us for some of the icky stuff, we’re here; but come first for some of the fun stuff.”
For Wolfe it’s all about being able to “influence or impact, in a good way, some service member or family who is going on to do great things.”
“I wouldn’t even consider this a job as much as it is a calling,” said Wolfe. “Just being able to serve those who serve is my honor, my blessing. Being able to do it here, at this submarine base, in this beautiful area; I’m the lucky one.”
| Date Taken: | 11.15.2021 |
| Date Posted: | 11.15.2021 11:43 |
| Story ID: | 409320 |
| Location: | GROTON, CT, US |
| Web Views: | 300 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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