NOSSA Employee Recognized for Career Achievements by SAIGE

From Naval Sea Systems Command Public Affairs

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- John Mario Harley, traffic management specialist, for Naval Sea Systems Command's (NAVSEA) Naval Ordnance Safety and Security Activity (NOSSA), will be recognized with the 2011 Society of American Indian Government Employees (SAIGE) award, June 13.

The organization's eighth annual training conference will be held at the Hard Rock Hotel in Tulsa, Oka., June 13-17.

SAIGE awards recognize those who promote the recruitment, hiring, retention, development, and advancement; ensure equitable and fair treatment; foster communications; and establish employee associations of, and for, American Indians and Alaska Natives in the government workforce.

"Mr. Harley not only supports a myriad of Native American diversity programs," NOSSA Commanding Officer, Capt. Robert Fowler. "He's also a strong mentor within the Native American/Alaskan Native community, and has developed plans to target applicants for all areas of career opportunities to include Engineering, Science, Research and Development. We're very proud of his recognition."

In addition to his efforts as a youth mentor and counselor for his local tribe in the Southern Maryland area, Harley was instrumental in the establishment of the NAVSEA Native American Outreach Program and helped target the recruitment of Native Americans with Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematic (STEM) skills. Harley's efforts also provided the opportunity for more than 1,000 Native American students to participate in hands-on STEM demonstrations at the 2010 United National Indian Tribal Youth (UNITY) forum in San Diego, Calif.

NAVSEA is an organization that values, and benefits from, a diverse workforce. Recognition of our workforce by organizations such as SAIGE helps the NAVSEA enterprise support the Chief of Naval Operations' objectives for the Navy to become increasingly diverse, to build an inclusive climate that retains talent, and have the Navy recognized as an employer of choice in the United States.