WASHINGTON NAVY YARD - “When you’re comfortable and you know your strengths and weaknesses, that’s when you can capitalize on your personal and professional lives,” said Mr. Michael Odle (SES), Director of the Department of Defense/Veterans Affairs Collaboration Office (DVCO).
Odle shared his leadership philosophies, as well as personal stories that exemplified the challenges and successes of the DOD’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex (LGBTQI+) community, with Strategic Systems Programs (SSP) in honor of LGBTQI+ Pride Month, 6 June.
“Pride Month is a time to remind the LGBTQ+ community that they are valued,” said Ms. Kelly Lee, Director of Plans and Programs for SSP.
Odle, who is also a reservist in the Air Force, has held positions at four different agencies and credits his wide-ranging roles within public affairs with providing him with a leadership “toolbox.” His time at the Department of Agriculture, Department of the Interior, Department of Veterans’ Affairs, and now at the Department of Defense whittled his leadership philosophy down to three strong tenants: “Never settle, be self-aware, and celebrate the little wins,” he said.
He emphasized that these tenants, along with the understanding that timing is everything, were just as useful when navigating his personal life, including his decision to come out as a member of the LGBTQI+ community.
“When we force things to happen, when we try to fit into a role, that’s when we are going to face challenges,” said Odle. “The same thing applies to coming out.”
Growing up, Odle dreamt of becoming a pilot. Life, however, flew him in a different direction. After an engine mishap during pilot training caused him to conduct an emergency landing at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington, Odle decided to consider alternate, land-based career paths that would allow him to serve his country. The minor media frenzy that occurred as a result of his emergency landing exposed Odle to the work and mission of DOD public affairs professionals, and he set off on a new career path.
“The best action sometimes is to allow things to happen in their own time,” said Odle, remarking on how being open minded to a career change enabled him to take advantage of new opportunities that he may not have considered before.
Over the subsequent twenty years, Odle continued to keep his eyes open for new experiences while also building his reputation as a leader and mentor. During his military career, Mr. Odle served as the Assistant Director, Military Compensation Policy in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Manpower & Reserve Affairs), Pentagon; Senior Press Officer for the International Security Assistance Force in Kabul, Afghanistan; spearheaded the Multinational Public Affairs Office in Bangladesh during a United Nations peacekeeping support operation; and served as a Public Affairs Officer in Louisiana during critical phases of rescue and relief efforts during Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
Speaking to SSP, Odle emphasized that his DVCO team’s mission today is just as important as any he has supported before. DVCO’s key initiatives include veteran suicide prevention, federal healthcare record modernization, and military-to-civilian transitions.
“We are working to modernize the military-to-civilian transition process,” Odle said, specifically digging into the new transition framework that “aligns the myriad of disparate transition activities under one overarching umbrella, 365 days pre-separation through 365 days post-separation, providing service members a roadmap back to civilian life.”
Odle’s enthusiasm for inclusive, positive change clearly had an impact those listening to him.
“I enjoyed his encouragement to find what you love and not to settle for what you think everyone else around you expects you to do,” said Maria Poletis, SSP Management Services Branch Head. “His leadership philosophy was very inspiring - he showed how we can make a difference a little bit at a time and eventually accomplish big things that have an impact.”
Pride Month celebrates the rich tapestry of the LGBTQI+ community. Annually celebrated in June to commemorate the anniversary of the Stonewall Rebellion in New York City, June 28, 1969, it is an opportunity for the DON to join with the rest of the nation in honoring those DON LGBTQI+ service members who have faithfully served their nation. DOD began observing Pride Month in June 2012, and in the twelve years since, has continued to make strides in molding the Navy into a model of opportunity and equality.
People are SSP’s biggest strategic asset. The ability for all qualified people, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, to contribute to the sea based strategic deterrent mission openly and free from discrimination is a foundational part of the command’s values.
A credible, effective nuclear deterrent is essential to our national security and the security of U.S. allies. Deterrence remains a cornerstone of national security policy in the 21st century.
Strategic Systems Programs is the Navy command that provides cradle-to-grave lifecycle support for the sea-based leg of the nation’s nuclear triad. This includes training, systems, equipment, facilities and personnel responsible for ensuring the safety, security, and effectiveness of the nation’s Submarine Launched Ballistic Missile (SLBM) Trident II (D5LE) Strategic Weapon System.
| Date Taken: | 06.25.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 06.25.2024 13:10 |
| Story ID: | 474765 |
| Location: | WASHINGTON NAVY YARD, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, US |
| Web Views: | 20 |
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This work, Leader Encourages SSP and LGBTQI+ Community to “Never Settle”, by Shelby Thompson, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
