Photo By Master Sgt. Salli Sablan | Claudia Puebla poses during a break in the Marine Corp Sergeants Course graduation,...... read more read more
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She was feeling excited, giddy, and in awe of the posters with award recipients’ pictures on the ballroom walls. As she entered, she was proud that her husband, Frank, was able to escort her. Mrs. Claudia Puebla, a former Marine and a member of the California Military Department, was present to receive the Distinguished Military Service Award at the National LATINA Symposium in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 19, 2024.
The nomination criteria for the award consist of candidates distinguishing themselves as advocates of diversity and the full integration of Latina women in the Armed Forces, embodying qualities of the service’s mission, and being well-respected by superiors and peers as military and community leaders. The Symposium stands as the largest gathering of Latina military leaders across the nation.
“Claudia is a leader in her community and helps create many prospects for our diverse workforce,” said Col. Jonathan Cartwright, director of the United States Property and Fiscal Office (USPFO). “She is an integral part of the California Military Department’s contracting office and does great work partnering with the Defense Acquisition University (the Department of Defense’s corporate college) and companies to provide numerous training opportunities.”
In addition to this cultural recognition, Puebla, the supervisory contract specialist of the purchasing and contracting division, added DoD awards to the team’s record. With a focus on the Hispanic business community in San Diego, she partners with the city’s Small Business Development Center to provide free classes and improve written language proficiency, enriching others with the knowledge to compete for government contracts.
“The division’s contributions resulted in their ability to surpass all six DoD Small Business Goals, infusing $38 million into small businesses. These efforts, along with active partnerships, small business engagements, and transparent collaborations, were key to earning the DoD’s Verdure Award for Small Business, a first for the National Guard and California,” said Cartwright.
Puebla runs her own small business specializing in document translation. Her focus is not solely on the business community; she also volunteers at the Vista Women’s Shelter, where many of the families do not speak English. She provides counseling services to teens on college and trade school opportunities, giving hope to an underserved Hispanic population.
She is also an active member of both the Association for Talent Development (ATD) and the National Contract Management Association (NCMA), volunteering time to provide training, support conferences, and mentor other contracting professionals.
As Puebla reflects on key influences on her leadership and success, she talks about her early days. She was raised with a strong focus on the pursuit of higher education, connection to family, and giving back to the community. During that time, her family lived in Mexico, where education was a luxury with high costs. Fortunately, her grandparents helped fund her schooling.
Education continues to be a family focus. Her husband, a retired Marine, is a high school teacher. Their oldest daughter earned her master’s degree in public health, and the youngest daughter is a freshman at California State University, San Marcos, working on a bachelor’s degree in environmental science. Puebla is pursuing a doctorate in industrial-organizational psychology at the University of Arizona and is an adjunct professor at San Diego State University, teaching in their Contract Management Program.
"I like to believe that education fosters social cohesion, promotes equality, and enhances civic participation,” Puebla said. “With my dissertation nearly complete, I hope to earn my doctorate next year and continue making a meaningful impact."
| Date Taken: | 11.26.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 11.27.2024 14:11 |
| Story ID: | 486233 |
| Location: | SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Web Views: | 25 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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