Photo By Travis Kuykendall | Official portrait of Ms. Eunice Meekins, engineer, Naval Surface Warfare Center...... read more read more
By Carlee MacPherson, NSWCDD Dam Neck Activity Public Affairs
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – Eunice Meekins, ships self-defense system (SSDS) product support task lead at Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division, Dam Neck Activity (NSWCDD DNA), was named a recipient of the Black Engineer of the Year Awards (BEYA) Modern-Day Technology Leader Award, as part of the, Oct. 22.
The Modern-Day Technology Leader Award is given to men and women who demonstrate outstanding performance in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Meekins, along with her fellow awardees, will be recognized for her hard work at a ceremony that will take place as part of the BEYA Conference in February 2025.
“Receiving this award is shocking and it’s humbling,” said Meekins. “I feel honored that [my supervisor] would even think to nominate me for this.”
Brandon Brown, Meekins’ supervisor and manager of the Deployment and Operational Support Branch at NSWCDD DNA, was the one who clandestinely nominated her for this award.
“Some people, like Eunice, you see doing things that go above and beyond over and over again,” said Brown. “She brings new ideas for her technical team, questions why we do certain things, or why some things aren’t available for her team. She makes sure her community is taken care of.”
Inspired by the teachers who helped mold her, Meekins pursued a degree in mathematics with a minor in education at Elizabeth City State University (ECSU). After graduation, she sought a career in the classroom, where she worked as a sixth through twelfth grade math teacher for nearly twenty years in Maryland and North Carolina.
After receiving her master’s degree in mathematics from ECSU she decided it was time for a change. She entered into the Naval Acquisition Development Program—a two to three year developmental and leadership program—in 2018 to work in logistics management. Since then, she has transitioned to become the SSDS Product Support Task Lead, where she oversees a team of 10 civilians and contractors.
“Some of my favorite aspects of my job are working with my team, learning new things, and the atmosphere here—especially within my group,” reflects Meekins. “I feel like a lot of people here have really positive attitudes, and they’re really eager to learn. They really have a team spirit. They do their jobs for the betterment of the group and to make sure we do what we need to for the fleet.”
Meekins’ career is really just beginning, and though she knows there is more for her, she also believes that the way she moves forward is just as important as the act of advancing.
“I don’t know what the future holds, what other roles I may step into,” Meekins notes, “but I want to keep putting forth my best effort, do things for the right reason, be a team player, and try to keep a positive attitude.”
| Date Taken: | 11.14.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 01.17.2025 14:46 |
| Story ID: | 489289 |
| Location: | VIRGINIA BEACH, VIRGINIA, US |
| Web Views: | 46 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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