PANAMA CITY, Fla. - Equal Opportunity Publications Inc., has recognized exceptional individuals with disabilities in the workplace for the past 32 years. One of their magazines bestowed these individuals with the title of CAREERS & the disABLED Magazine Employees of the Year for their outstanding personal and professional achievements. This year, the program has selected a Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division (NSWC PCD) employee, as one of their 2024 awardees.
Kristin Shaw is a warranted, contracting officer for the NSWC PCD Littoral and Mine Systems Division (Code 022). She began working at the Navy lab in 2011 as an administrative assistant and quickly progressed being accepted into the command’s Contract Intern Program in 2013. In addition to her contract procurement and management responsibilities, her role requires she maintain direct relationships with key stakeholders and oversee negotiations to ensure fleet needs are cost efficient and met in a timely manner.
“She is deserving of this award because she consistently puts in 100-percent effort and maintains a positive attitude despite the often-challenging nature of her work,” says Jason Boudreaux, Code 022 Division director. “Kristin has had many successes over the years, including one acquisition of a small, local firm based here in Panama City on the Mine Countermeasures Targets Production supply contract. This met the needs of the warfighter and supported a local small business.”
NSWC PCD aligns under the Naval Sea Systems Command organization that is dedicated to maintaining a diverse and high performing workforce. The entire enterprise strives to build a team to compete and win through respect, valuing its workforce’s efforts as important for the Navy and the nation while ensuring every employee has the opportunities to contribute, advance, and develop in their careers.
“I feel humbled [to receive this award] and am aware that there are many people that work with disabilities every day,” said Shaw. “I hope this award/publication provides awareness that the Navy encourages having more diversity in the workforce, and that physical strength or being of average height is not the only attribute required to be successful and to make a positive impact on the overall mission of the Navy and the warfighter. At the end of the day, my mission is to create a better outcome then when I first started any action that I’m currently working on. Contracting does not require physical strength; however, it allows someone with a physical disability to contribute to the overall mission success for the Navy.”
Shaw’s dedication to continually grow as an individual and employee is an inspiration to those around her, emulating the Navy’s Get Real, Get Better (GRGB) mission, which is about building better leaders and problem-solvers toward one goal: warfighting advantage. Through GRGB, every Navy employee chooses to think, act and operate differently. Shaw’s ability and initiative helps this NSWC PCD accomplish that mission.
“A unique aspect about Ms. Shaw is she is always interested in learning and sharpening her skills, often participating in non-mandatory training to expand her knowledge in contracts. It is impressive and inspiring to see that type of enthusiasm towards continuous learning,” says Boudreaux.
The Careers and DisABLED organization is featuring the 2024 Employees of the year in their spring awards issue and awardees will also receive an award plaque commemorating the honor.
| Date Taken: | 07.10.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 09.12.2024 14:03 |
| Story ID: | 479058 |
| Location: | PANAMA CITY, FLORIDA, US |
| Web Views: | 16 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, NSWC Panama City contract specialist named ‘Employee of the Year’, by Cierra Burch, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
