WID -

June 2003

Women in Defense Membership Growing Quickly
The fastest growing affiliate of the National Defense Industrial Association is Women In Defense, A National Security Organization. The association experienced 74 percent growth during the fiscal year that ended on March 31.

Most of the association’s growth is due to the development of four chapters since 2001. Chapters represent a means of fulfilling the association’s mission while serving members and the defense community on a local basis. Among the chapter endeavors are hosting programs in cooperation with local military installations, providing professional development for members through leadership opportunities, and supporting community-based charitable drives and defense-related educational pursuits.

The first two chapters developed at military installations. The Iowa/Illinois Chapter formed in 2001, with the help of NDIA’s Iowa/Illinois Chapter. Most of the members are civilian government employees working at Rock Island Arsenal, Ill.

In 2002, the next WID chapter to organize was Picatinny Arsenal, N.J. Its membership also is predominately government civilian workers, and its leaders received assistance from the local NDIA chapter.

Also founded in 2002 was the Chesapeake Bay Chapter, which draws many of its members from the Naval Air Station Patuxent River in southern Maryland, and nearby industry.

The Tennessee Valley Chapter of WID was created in April of this year, with the encouragement of the local NDIA chapter. Just over half the membership represents industry, both large and small. Chapter leaders expect to draw upon the expertise of the small, woman-owned business community. Most members work in or around Huntsville, Ala., home of the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command.

A committee to establish a metropolitan Washington, D.C., chapter has been organized. Heading it is Merritt Allen, CES.

—Jane Patrick Casey, director of membership for NDIA and staff liaison to WID.

WID’s 2003-2004 Officers Are Installed at Annual Dinner
At WID’s annual dinner meeting in April, NDIA President Lawrence P. Farrell Jr., Lt. Gen., USAF (Ret.), installed the newly elected Board of Directors members for the 2003-2004 term. They include: President Jan Menker, of Concurrent Technologies Corporation; Vice President Jane Walter, of Booz Allen Hamilton; Treasurer Rebecca Patton, of Booz Allen Hamilton; Secretary Marie Danco, of Northrop Grumman; and Horizons Director Lois Brand, of the National Community Pharmacists Association. Members of the outgoing board were recognized for all of their hard work and support.

The keynote speaker at the meeting was Beth M. McCormick, director of policy in the Office of the Deputy Undersecretary of the Air Force, who discussed the high performance and efficiency requirements for Air Force aircraft maintenance.

A WID national conference, “Defense Workforce Outsourcing—Opportunities for Business,” explored plans to privatize a large number of Defense Department jobs.

Keynote speaker Annie L. Andrews, assistant director for competitive sourcing and privatization for the deputy undersecretary of defense for installations and environment, said that competitive sourcing would save money, improve operational efficiency, and reduce government infrastructure.

Ariane Whittemore, assistant deputy chief of naval operations for fleet readiness and logistics, said that competitive sourcing would allow the Navy to reduce its manpower needs.

Maj. Gen. Larry Lust, the Army’s assistant chief of staff for installation management, said his service would review 214,000 positions identified as non-core to see if those jobs can be privatized. Draft plans are due by July, he said.

Recipients of the Distinguished Member of the Year Award included: Mary Adams, of the Iowa/Illinois Chapter; Barbara Machak, of the Picatinny Chapter; and Cindy Broyles, of the Chesapeake Bay Chapter. Outgoing WID National President Norma Byron received NDIA’s prestigious Gold Medal, presented by NDIA President Lawrence P. Farrell Jr., Lt. Gen., USAF (Ret.)

—Carmella Thompson, of BAE Systems and assistant secretary of WID.

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