NAVWAR

Feds Feed Families is an annual campaign that encourages federal employees to donate food, money, and time to support food banks nationwide. For years, Naval Information Warfare Center (NIWC) Pacific has proudly participated, helping meet the increased summer demand when nearly 30 million children miss out on school meals. In San Diego alone, over 350,000 people struggle with food insecurity. Feeding San Diego bridges this gap by rescuing quality food and distributing it to those in need, providing over 35 million meals a year. This year’s Feds Feed Families campaign was a success, with NIWC Pacific raising $2,600 to help Feeding San Diego hit its $100,000 goal for FY24! Plus, 15 volunteers, including family members of Center personnel, joined in by sorting produce at Feeding San Diego. We spoke to Katherine Hess, who’s led the Feds Feed Families effort at NIWC Pacific for the past three years. She shared her motivation: “I was inspired by the passion of Cindy Milholland and Michele Ebbert for this cause. After learning about Feeding San Diego's impact, I saw how they help both people and the environment right here in our community. We might not solve the world’s problems, but we can make a difference locally—and Feeding San Diego does that every day. It’s great to be a part of it.” As Katherine passes the baton, we welcome Lisa Knox as the new chair. Lisa shared her inspiration for stepping into the role: “Being part of something bigger inspires me to keep giving back to the community, whether in big or small ways. I want to raise awareness about how volunteering can make a difference and encourage others to help in simple ways. Volunteering not only positively impacts the community, but also offers new experiences, perspectives, and fulfillment.” Want to help Feeding San Diego year-round? Sign up here: https://lnkd.in/g9ue5h7E. Feel free to give a ?, ??, leave a comment or even share on your own social media to show support and spread the word to inspire others to get involved in supporting the San Diego or their own community through Feeding America or other organizations. #NAVWAR #NIWCPacific #OneNAVWAR #FedsFeedFamilies #FeedingSanDiego #FeedingAmerica #WorkforceWednesday #community

As we continue our celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month, we are proud to highlight the diverse stories and achievements of our Hispanic American teammates. Today, we are excited to feature an individual from our #NIWCAtlantic team: Marco Tabora. Marco’s journey is one of resilience and determination. Born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana, Marco Tabora is a first-generation, American – his mother is from El Salvador and his father is from Honduras. “Growing up, I was discouraged to go to college by many of my teachers; they would tell me many kids from my neighborhood try and never make it,” said Tabora. “I soon realized that if you believe in yourself, anything is possible.” With the help of grants and scholarships, Tabora earned a B.S. in Computer Science from the University of New Orleans in 2023. Soon after graduating, he joined the NIWC Atlantic team as a computer scientist. Now a web developer for MyNavyHR (MNA) Suite and a researcher in Machine Learning for autonomous drones, Marco’s contributions to our command are already making a tremendous impact. His involvement in the New Professionals Council, the Hispanic Latino Employment Team, and his passion for mentoring exemplify his commitment to giving back to our nation, just as it supported him and his family. We are #proud to have Marco on our team, embodying the values of service, perseverance, and excellence that make our workforce great. #HispanicHeritageMonth #DiversityInTech #HispanicEngineers #LatinoLeaders #NAVWAR #STEM

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Happy 249th Birthday to the US Navy! ??? Today we honor the strength, sacrifice, and dedication of our Sailors past and present. Cutting the cake is a cherished tradition, symbolizing both the heritage and future of our Navy family. Here's to another year of service and commitment to our nation. ??? #NAVWAR #NIWCAtlantic #NIWCPacific #OneNAVWAR #NavyBirthday #USN249 #ProudToServe #HonorCourageCommitment

During #NationalHispanicHeritageMonth, we proudly recognize the achievements and contributions of our Hispanic and Latino teammates across the command. Today, we celebrate our #NIWCAtlantic teammate Carolina Ares-Cazares, a dedicated Business Financial Manager (BFM) on our Medical Information Delivery IPT. Born and raised in the Dominican Republic, Carolina’s journey has been filled with hard-earned achievements, including a master’s degree in marketing, leadership roles at Edwards Air Force Base, and a decade of impactful service in the federal government. She began her nearly decade-long career in our federal government in January 2015. Two years later, she was selected to participate in the Airman Leadership School, as a civilian, which she completed in September 2017. One of her proudest achievements was when she was selected by the Mission Support Group Commanding Officer to lead and establish the Executive Officer position for the 412th Security Forces Squadron at Edwards Air Force Base, California. Since joining our team in 2019, Carolina has been instrumental in managing funds and creating financial plans that directly support our warfighters and mission success. Her work highlights how strategic financial management leads to national-level results and U.S. military superiority. We are proud to have Carolina as part of our team, and we look forward to sharing more stories throughout the month! #HispanicHeritageMonth #DiversityInAction #ProudToServe #WarfighterSupport

Today, in celebration of National Coming Out Day, we’re sharing part of Brittany Berry’s powerful story. She is a protocol officer at Naval Information Warfare Center (NIWC) Pacific. “Walking into the house where my family gathered, nerves took over. As they congratulated me on graduating, I blurted out, ‘I like girls!’ Silence filled the room. My mom hugged me and said, ‘Baby girl, we already knew.’ My stepdad added, ‘We were just waiting for you to figure it out.’ Their acceptance made it easier to live my truth. “Years later, my biological father re-entered my life. He didn’t acknowledge my sexuality, but our relationship grew. In 2016, I got engaged and asked him to walk me down the aisle. Three weeks before the wedding, his girlfriend’s daughter, who was a bridesmaid, dropped out. Her grandparents threatened to stop paying her tuition if she participated in my wedding. “In addition to that, my dad asked, ‘Where did I go wrong?’ and recited scripture, claiming I was ‘damned.’ I stopped him and said, ‘You didn’t do anything wrong. I had a father figure who embraced me for who I am.’ ?I ended the conversation with saying ‘You are my father, and I love you and I always will.’ ?That conversation in 2016 was the last I had with him until he called me to tell me he had prostate cancer in March of this year. When I flew to see him for his last birthday in July, everything else faded away. I was just a daughter who wished for more time. I gave him the biggest most gentle hug I have ever given. He hugged me and whispered, ‘I am sorry for not being a better father to you and for not being there when you needed me the most.’ He passed a week later. I didn’t know I needed closure, but I left with it. Now, I have both my parents as guardian angels, proud of the woman I’ve become.” Thank you for sharing your story, Brittany! ??????? #NAVWAR #NIWCPacific #OneNAVWAR #NationalComingOutDay #NCOD #StrongerTogether #LGBTQIA #PRIDE #Inclusion #Diversity

Did you participate in last week's cybersecurity poll from PEO MLB? Check out the answer below! ?? Practice good cyber hygiene habits by changing your password frequently, utilizing multi-factor authentication and staying vigilant! #Cybersecurity #MultiFactorAuthentication #StaySafe #CyberAwareness #NavyCyber #SecureOurWorld

This year, NAVWAR played a pivotal role in supporting the Naval Opportunity Awareness Workshop (OAW)—the US Navy's premier outreach to the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) and Minority Institutions (MI) community. We're proud of our team members who contributed to the event’s success and showcased the incredible opportunities within the Navy for students and professionals alike. ?? TeKali Arnold: Engaged high school and college students, sharing insights about ONR’s Science Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP) and staffing an internship recruiting booth. ?? Shawn Frazier: Spoke with college students interested in HBCU/MI Cyber and Data Science internships with NIWC Atlantic and supported recruiting efforts. ?? Katrina Williams: Engaged students interested in HBCU/MI Cyber and Data Science internships, representing both NIWC Pacific and the 1NAVWAR Enterprise. ?? Allyson Dopwell: Introduced graduating college seniors to the DoD Scholarship for Service (S4S) program, while recruiting for permanent full-time positions. ?? R. Maurice Civers-Davis: As the Deputy Director of the DoN HBCU/MI Program Office and Chief Communications Officer for OAW, Maurice moderated panels, delivered keynotes, and led media outreach. We remain committed to fostering diversity, supporting future innovators, and expanding opportunities for students and professionals from HBCU/MIs. We are proud to be a part of this impactful event! ???? #NAVWAR #DiversityInclusion #HBCU #STEM #Cybersecurity #Internships #Innovation #ONR #S4S #DoN

Fact? Fiction? Or somewhere in between? Respond to DON PEO MLB's poll!

During National Hispanic Heritage Month, observed from September 15 to October 15, we proudly celebrate the diverse heritage of Hispanic Americans at our command! Today, we spotlight our #NIWCAtlantic teammate Luis Felipe Carvajal, a first-generation American whose parents immigrated from Colombia. For nearly 17 years, Luis has served our command, currently leading as our ATC Communications Supervisor. One of his proudest moments was saving the RIMPAC exercise from cancellation by restoring a 1990s microwave link—while on vacation! His team's innovation also earned the Dr. Delores M. Etter Award, saving the Navy over $1 million. We are proud of Luis and all he brings to our mission! #HispanicHeritageMonth #DiversityMatters #ProudNavyTeam