Photo By Brittny Odoms | Headshot of Jessica Klotz, Technical Area Leader for the Hazardous Materials and...... read more read more
For Jessica Klotz, a 25-year veteran of Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division, creating organizational change doesn’t happen in the limelight — it happens in the unseen safety of every Sailor who steps aboard a Navy ship.
Klotz serves as the Technical Area Leader for the Hazardous Materials and Pollution Prevention Team within the Acquisition Safety and Environment Branch.
"Every time I try to branch out, I get pulled back," said Klotz. “But honestly, I’ve always wanted to do environmental chemistry. I like problem-solving, and this field is always evolving.”
Her journey at Carderock began shortly after graduating from Bucknell University with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry. She started her career as a contractor before converting to a government position and later earned a Master of Science in Environmental Engineering from Johns Hopkins University.
In 2014, Klotz authored the NAVSEA Hazardous Material Avoidance Process technical manual, a foundational document that addressed a long-standing gap: there was no standardized process for avoiding hazardous materials in new acquisition programs.
“Without a standard, companies like Boeing, Raytheon or Lockheed Martin were doing things differently depending on the branch of service,” said Klotz. “That lack of consistency was costing the government time and money — and creating risk.”
Klotz’s work laid the groundwork for the DoW’s adoption of a unified hazardous material avoidance standard.
Recognized as a subject matter expert, she was selected to chair a DoW-wide working group tasked with developing the new industry standard.
“This effort has been going for more than a decade,” she said. “There are always new chemicals, new regulations, and new challenges. But the goal remains the same: protect our warfighters and the environment.”
While her work may be behind the scenes, its impact is far-reaching — from shipyards and submarines to congressional briefings and Pentagon policy.
“I talk to sailors on the deck plates and senior leaders at the Pentagon in the same day,” said Klotz. “I feel very satisfied knowing I’m helping remove one more thing they have to worry about — whether that’s cancer risks, reproductive hazards, or exposure to greenhouse gases.”
Still, progress doesn’t come easy. Changing decades-old practices and shifting the culture around materials use has been an uphill battle.
“HazMat is mostly about risk — and risk isn’t always visible,” she said. “It’s like smoking cigarettes. One won’t kill you, but over time, the damage is there. My job is making sure we don’t introduce that risk to begin with.”
Klotz’s efforts recently earned her a nomination for a division-level award, recognition she said was humbling.
“It feels great to be recognized not just by Carderock, but across [DoW],” said Klotz. “To have leaders say, ‘Whatever Jessica recommends is the path we’re going to take’ — that means a lot.”
Looking back, Klotz said the only thing she might do differently is expand educational outreach earlier. “I’d like to do more training — help more people understand why this matters.”
Her reason for staying at Carderock for 25 years is simple.
“Because I can see change. I can see policies I’ve influenced actually being implemented,” she said. “That’s a rare thing. And it keeps me motivated every day.”
| Date Taken: | 11.19.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 11.20.2025 15:34 |
| Story ID: | 551744 |
| Location: | BETHESDA, MARYLAND, US |
| Web Views: | 82 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Leading Change Below the Surface: Jessica Klotz Champions Safer Seas Through HazMat Reform, by Brittny Odoms, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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