JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. –
Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division Lakehurst (NAWCAD LKE), as part of Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), received the “Best Continuous Partner Award” from the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) during a ceremony on May 5 recognizing a relationship dating back close to 50 years.
Workforce Operations Office Director Michele Huk, who represented NAWCAD LKE at the ceremony, noted the educational partnership has helped both parties over the years, especially given NJIT’s focus on engineering.
“We found our success is in our backyard. The partnership brings awareness to the students at NJIT to understand who NAVAIR is, what we do, what the mission is, the importance of it, and how they could fit in,” Huk said. “And it provides them with what opportunities we have and the benefits of becoming a federal civilian employee, and just try to make that connection to our mission.”
NAWCAD LKE provides support and assistance to NJIT students with resume reviewing and interview skills. It also holds mission and career information sessions and attends all recruitment events at NJIT.
Greg Mass, the executive director of the school’s Career Development Services, said in a release about the event that the organizations recognized play a critical role in helping the graduates after leaving the Newark campus.
“Without recruitment partners’ participation, there is no Career Development Services, there are no career fairs, no information sessions, none of that,” Mass said. “So we thank you for your participation at NJIT.”
By partnering with schools like NJIT, NAWCAD LKE can continue its goal of increasing inclusion and diversity while providing career opportunities for people with different levels of experience through internships and other programs.
Huk said the recognition by the school is appreciated by the command and the workforce development team, noting the reciprocal nature of the partnership. After all these years working together, she said both parties know what the other is looking for and how they can help each other to succeed.
The relationship has grown in recent years since NAWCAD LKE transitioned from a competency-aligned organization (CAO) to a mission-aligned organization (MAO). While prior recruitment efforts focused on students with majors geared toward technical careers, NAWCAD LKE expanded its search criteria to other areas including business and liberal arts graduates as well.
NJIT previously recognized NAVAIR as the “Employer of the Year” in 2019 and as a “Best in Class Recruiting Partner” in 2014.