JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. –
Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) Lakehurst (LKE) hosted a virtual Women’s History Month event March 18 to celebrate women trailblazers throughout history and listen to a panel of NAWCAD LKE women who are currently paving the way for the future.
Hosted by the NAWCAD LKE Women’s Initiative Network (WIN) and Equal Employment Opportunity and Diversity Division, the event focused on the theme “Change, Resilience and Growth during Unpredictable Times.”
WIN promotes a diverse and inclusive workforce, with a mission to foster “an environment where women are valued, respected and empowered to effectively contribute to the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) mission.”
“Every year March is designated Women’s History Month by Presidential proclamation. The month is set aside to honor, celebrate and reflect upon women’s contributions to American history,” said Kathleen Donnelly, NAWCAD LKE executive director. “This past year has brought a multitude of new challenges but through it all we have continued to adapt, lead and persevere. That is why it is especially important to come together in acknowledgement of our female teammates as well as their success and dedication to our mission.”
During the event, four panelists discussed their transition into NAWCAD Lakehurst and their experiences working in the traditionally male-dominated fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
“My first year here I went to a meeting and was the only female in the room. It could seem like this big, scary thing, but it mostly felt like an accomplishment,” said panelist Samantha Bartush, NAWCAD LKE mechanical engineer. “I was proud to be there and knew that someday there would be more women looking back at me. It was this overwhelming feeling of ‘we’re here, we made it.’”
The panelists also spoke on the benefits of bringing the female perspective into the workplace and exposing each other to the opinions of different people.
“It is important for women entering any field, especially STEM, to surround themselves with a diverse group of mentors and co-workers,” said panelist Emberle Pearson, supervisory workforce operations manager. “When you surround yourself with people of different sexes, ethnicities, nationalities, etc. it exposes you to new perspectives and allows you to grow beyond yourself.”
In addition to providing a unique perspective, the panelists also spoke on their awareness of how being in their current positions helps open the door for future generations of women in the workforce.
“It shows that women can do anything. Anything is possible. If you keep working hard, you can achieve what you want,” said panelist Danielle Baldwin, supervisory general engineer. “Regardless of gender there are no limitations.”
While women throughout history have paved the way for future generations to succeed, the panelists also acknowledged the importance of embracing change for the sake of personal growth.
“Get out of your comfort zone,” Pearson said. “Look at all the accomplishments and achievements of the women who came before us. Each one of them had to put themselves in difficult situations and face new challenges to get us where we are today. Trailblazers don’t make history from places of comfort.”
While some changes can be self-initiated, the “new normal” brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic brought many challenges to the panelists, who spoke on the additional responsibilities they acquired while teleworking.
“Working from home meant I was engineer, mother and teacher all at once. It felt overwhelming at times, but I can also see how it has benefited me,” Baldwin said. “Being home with my kid made me realize how much I had been missing. Finding gratitude in moments with him have helped me overcome the stress brought on by these added responsibilities.”
According to the panelists, maintaining a positive outlook in difficult situations is the key to resiliency.
“Don’t let anything stop you from doing what you want to do. Anyone can do what they put their mind to,” said panelist Gabrielle Korosec, supervisory general engineer. “Don’t let being a woman stop you – don’t let anything stop you. It may take you longer to do than others, it may be hard, but when you put your mind to it you’ll be unstoppable.”