AFNWC Champions Diversity

  • Published
  • By Marie Vanover
  • 377th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
Kirtland Air Force Base, NM --  Diversity means different things to different agencies, organizations, and people. Although historically within the Air Force, diversity has focused on equal employment opportunity and affirmative employment, the definition has been broadly expanded as a 'composite of individual characteristics, experiences and abilities consistent with the Air Force core values and mission.' Here at Kirtland, the Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center is postured to lead the way in diversity initiatives, programs and hiring practices.

The Center Personnel and Equal Opportunity staff have joined with other directorates in the Center and mission partners across Kirtland to enhance recruitment from minority groups. They have developed initiatives to incorporate recruitment activities at locations throughout New Mexico and the tri-state region. While the primary objective is to educate people on the science and engineering opportunities available at the Center, they also identify opportunities across the Team Kirtland enterprise.

Since the beginning of the year, Personnel and Equal Opportunity staff members have participated in six recruitment career fairs with another seven on the calendar from now until October. The most recent one was a May 1 career opportunity at the National Museum of Nuclear Science and History. Representatives from the Center's Engineering Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, and National Nuclear Security Administration spoke to about 50 undergraduate and graduate students from Arizona State University, New Mexico State University, New Mexico Tech, and the University of New Mexico. Professors from some of the universities also attended.

"This was a great opportunity to talk to students on a one-to-one basis in a relaxed atmosphere, and explain the engineering and science career opportunities to them," said Dr. Yolanda Jones King, Director, Engineering and Technical Management Directorate. The students were able to talk with representatives and with Brig. Gen. Everett Thomas, Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center commander.

A tour of the museum gave the students an overview of the history behind the nuclear enterprise at Kirtland.

The Center will sponsor similar future events to build partnerships with academia and community leaders as well as enhance recruitment goals.

The efforts were evident at the May 6 Affirmative Employment Community Outreach Breakfast. About 60 people from across the community, as well as representatives from the National Association for Mexican-American Rights and other organizations, attended the event and received an update on Kirtland's demographics and hiring statistics.

The briefing, presented by Cyrus Salazar, Director, Equal Opportunity, spoke to the activities of the disability working group and highlighted Kirtland's demographics, accomplishments and partnerships.

Of particular note were updates from three of Kirtland's community partners: The New Mexico Business Leadership Network, Cornell University Employment Disability Institute and the New Mexico Commission for the Blind.

Judy Young, Assistant Director of Training and Development, Cornell University Employment Disability Institute, lauded Kirtland for its hiring efforts, especially for individuals with disabilities, and said, "We are always looking to find a model employer and I think we have found our first model employer in the Kirtland Team."

Mr. Salazar spoke of the Center's two-prong EO strategy to enhance recruitment goals: a robust professional development of the Kirtland workforce coupled with community engagement and partnerships.

"The goals for Team Kirtland are only achievable through the support and participation we receive through our many community partners, Mr. Salazar said. Together, we can expand our recruitment and hiring efforts for all under-represented groups."

A highlight of the breakfast included the presentation of the Air Force 2009 Affirmative Employment Program Award to General Thomas. The general, who was cited for aggressive internal and external involvement with equal opportunity and affirmative employment programs, shared the credit.

"This award belongs to everyone at the Center--we are all actively committed and involved to ensure equal opportunity for all."

The general continued by citing a line from the Airman's Creed, 'I have answered my Nation's call' and said, "this line belongs to everyone in America; unfortunately, not everyone can answer that call unless they have the opportunities--this is what our programs do--they try to reach out and give everyone an opportunity."

The general referred to a 1988 song by Michael Jackson, "Man in the Mirror," and asked everyone to change their ways. "We must be great mentors and continue to build on our diverse work force -- I am personally committed to all our development programs."

In the coming months, organizations from throughout the base will continue to participate in recruiting efforts throughout Albuquerque as well as Texas and Florida.

Plans are underway to participate in the League of United Latin-American Citizens National Convention and Exposition in July as well as the National Association for Mexican-American Rights Career Exposition in August and regional job fairs. The Kirtland/Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce Career Fair, scheduled for Aug. 4, already looks to be bigger than last year's event.

Mr. Thomas Berardinelli, 377th Air Base Wing executive director, is working closely with Team Kirtland leadership and other Federal agencies in the Albuquerque area to encourage maximum participation in the Joint Kirtland AFB/Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce Job Fair in August.

"Our partnership with the Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce has provided us with a tremendous opportunity to reach out to the community. It began with the annual small business expo and we added to that last year with the annual job fair. We are now working closely with the Albuquerque Hispano Chamber's Barelas Economic Opportunity Center on offering classes on how to navigate USA Jobs and classes for small business owners that are not familiar with how to do business with the Federal Government. We are indeed fortunate to have such great partners in the Albuquerque Hispano Chamber."

Overall, Team Kirtland has made great strides in affirmative employment hiring practices and according to Mr. Salazar, is committed to continuing to partner with organizations throughout the state to enhance recruitment efforts of under-represented groups.