2009 Women of Color Special Recognition Honorees
Lieutenant Jennifer L. Tietz
training in Charleston, SC. On completion, she was assigned
Instructor, Mechanical Engineering onboard the aircraft carrier, USS Theodore Roosevelt, where
Department
she completed a 6-month deployment in support of Opera-
US Naval Academy
tion Enduring Freedom.
BSc - mathematics, US Naval Academy
MA – engineering management, Old Do- In May 2006, she reported to the US Naval Academy. Shortly
minion University
after, she was chosen to serve as part of the Navy Provisional
Detainee Battalion-THREE to Camp Bucca, Iraq. She served in
Iraq for nine months, responsible for the oversight and care
Following her commission, Lt.
of over 20,000 foreign insurgent detainees. While in Iraq,
Tietz reported to the United States
Lt. Tietz completed her master’s degree. She returned to the
Ship (USS) O’Kane where she
Naval Academy after her tour of duty, and attended Depart-
served as fi rst lieutenant/deck
ment Head School this July in preparation for her assignment
and training division offi cer and
as Operations Offi cer onboard USS Vandegrift.
earned her Surface Warfare
Offi cer qualifi cation. After two years on-
board USS O’Kane, Lt. Tietz reported for Navy nuclear power
Charlene M. Terry Cassie Weissert
Command Master Chief
Technical Manager, Software
United States Navy
Advanced Information Systems,
BAS – resource management, Troy University
Integrated Space Systems
AS –general studies, Central Texas College
General Dynamics
BSc – mathematics, Northern
Arizona University
Charlene Terry joined the Navy in
MSc – computer science, California
State Polytechnic University,
September 1982, and has climbed Pomona
to the top of the enlisted ranks—E-9
Master Chief. She currently serves as
command master chief aboard the Aegis Cassie Weissert has 17 years
guided-missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill, where she is a key of experience in software
aide to the captain in handling such issues as crew motiva- and systems development.
tion, training opportunities, enlisted qualifi cation in technical She joined General Dynamics in 2005 as a software develop-
specialties, and re-enlistment drives. ment engineer. During her fi rst year, she quickly became a key
In a recent message to her shipmates, Master Chief Terry
resource within the ground software development group, and
wrote, “I’ve seen plenty of sailors, who seemed to be headed
her responsibilities have only grown wider since then.
for the shoals, make 180-degree turns for the better with a Being a technical manager within General Dynamics means
cheerleader in their corner.” It’s her job as a master chief to to manage the time, talents and livelihoods of other technical
rally the troops and make it clear that their contributions are people—the key resource for a company engaged in advanced
valued and important to the success of the organization. technology development. Managing in this environment can
“Every study on what employers want from their managers
require everything from giving “pep talks” to subordinates to
places RECOGNITION at the top of their list, “she added.
career- and even lifestyle counseling.
“Always remember to praise, coach, encourage and provide Additionally mangers have access to sensitive employee infor-
honest feedback.” mation and must employ judgment in handling data appro-
Terry said that after 27 years of service, while many people
priately. Her judgment is required weekly in any number of
have played major roles in shaping her into the Sailor she can
situations and she continues to make solid decisions represent-
be proud of, she believes most of her achievements can be
ing the interests of both the individual and the company as
attributed to simply “doing the right thing.”
equitably as possible.
There are only 45 female command master chiefs in the Navy,
Weissert is supportive of her community. During the 2009
and Terry is one of only four chosen to serve as the senior en-
“Engineering Week,” she led a community outreach project,
listed leader for a $2-billion Aegis missile cruiser. She propelled
where she interacted with a local Brownie troop and discussed
the quality of life and professional development of the 360
her work as an engineer in the aerospace industry
Sailors embarked on Bunker Hill. Her Navy superiors say that
Master Chief Terry’s deck-plate leadership has led to increased
advancement rates, high morale and operational excellence.
www.womenofcolor.net WOMENOFCOLOR | FALL 2009 53
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