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CAREERS & the disABLED Magazine, established in 1986, is the nation's first and only career-guidance and recruitment magazine for people with disabilities who are at undergraduate, graduate, or professional levels. Each issue features a special Braille section.

CAREERS & the disABLED has won many awards, including several media "Award of Excellence" acknowledgments from the President's Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities.

This magazine reaches people with disabilities nationwide at their home addresses, colleges and universities, and chapters of student and professional organizations through a paid subscription.


CAREERS & the disABLED

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 PILOT THE OPPPORTUNITIES IN AEROSPACE AND DEFENSE

Nyema R. Pinkney
 
 
A DISABILITY NEEDN’T INHIBIT ANYONE FROM REACHING FOR THE STARS BY PURSUING A CAREER IN AEROSPACE, OR SERVING OUR COUNTRY IN THE DEFENSE INDUSTRY. DEDICATION, DETERMINATION, AND THE RIGHT SKILLS ARE THE REQUISITE TOOLS FOR MANY POSITIONS. READ ON TO LEARN MORE ABOUT WORKING FOR THE DEFENSE CONTRACT MANAGEMENT AGENCY, UTC AEROSPACE SYSTEMS, NASA GODDARD, AND THE NATIONAL GUARD.
 
SOARING TO NEW HEIGHTS AT UTC AEROSPACE SYSTEMS
 
NYEMA R. PINKNEY WAS ALWAYS FASCINATED WITH FLYING. “I FIND THOSE TECHNOLOGIES AMAZING THAT CAN GET SOMEONE TO NEWYORK ONE MOMENT TO CLOSE A DEAL AND BACK HOME IN CALIFORNIA WITH THEIR FAMILY BY BEDTIME,” SHE EXPLAINS. “IT IS THE AWESOME RESPONSIBILITY OF GETTING A CHILD’S GRANDMA OR GRANDPA FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY OR THE OTHER SIDE OF THE GLOBE SAFELY TO SHARE A SPECIAL MOMENT, LIKE THEIR FIRST DANCE RECITAL, COMPETITION, OR BIRTHDAY.”
 
She loves flying so much and considers aerospace such a necessary aspect of an advanced civilization that she once aspired to earn her pilot’s license so she could fly small planes. In 2007, however, Pinkney lost her sight – but not her interest in flying. “Although my dream of piloting has changed, my love of flying remains,” she says. “I marvel each time I get on a plane at all the systems, materials, and science that keeps a metal bird that big in the air!”
 
Pinkney's limited sight didn't prohibit her pursuing her dream of working in areospace. Since 2009, she has worked at UTC Aerospace Systems with the SupplyChain Management group, specifically in new product introductions. As strategic commodity specialist at UTC Aerospace Systems, Pinkney manages strategic savings initiatives and projects, negotiates long-term agreements, and develops supplier relationships.
 
“I joined United Technologies Corporation through the Operations Leadership Program, a competitive program where selected employees rotate throughout UTC’s business sectors for a comprehensive knowledge of the company’s operations,” Pinkney explains. She graduated UTC’s OLP in 2009 as the first legally blind participant.
 
Armed with a BA in political science from California State East Bay and an MBA from Howard University in Washington, D.C., she began work at UTC in 2005 as an MBA intern in Rockford, IL, before returning as a full-time employee in the OLP in 2006. Attracted by the UTC’s diverse group of products, as well as the company’s global performance, she affirms “the fact that UTC is a leader in every market we do business is commendable.”
 
Reluctant to concede her own contributions to that record, Pinkney does acknowledge that her graduate school experience of participating in supply chain case and business plan competitions and supply chain activities prepared her for her current role. “I also took advantage of courses offered by the Institute of Supply Management and career coaching offered by the National Black MBA Association. These activities helped me analyze data and practice making decisions in a fast-paced environment. They also showed how, in real life, you cannot always have the perfect circumstances at work, or anywhere for that matter. There will be challenges in data, people, and technology, but it is critical to not give up. Change comes and your contribution could be the catalyst. Tenacity pays off!”
 
Pinkney enjoys learning new negotiation strategies and the “art of the deal” aspect of contract negotiation. “No agreement is the same,” she reflects. “There are many moving parts. It is difficult, yet exciting, to start a negotiation when parties seem far apart, then work together toward a solution that is mutually beneficial and which both feel is worth executing.” It requires fair dealing and when it happens, it’s an accomplishment.
 
As challenging as that can be, using adaptive software on systems that have multiple applications is especially difficult for a blind person. “It has been proven that when given the opportunity with the right tools, the disabled are productive and make lasting contributions,” she points out. Pinkney is encouraged by the fact that her team has begun working to find a remedy that will provide the tools needed.
 
Until then, she remains positive and undaunted, sharing advice that has benefited her: “To work at UTC Aerospace Systems, my advice is to be humble, honest, and hungry. Honesty, in both deed and reflection, is important at UTC Aerospace Systems.”
 
In addition, she says, “Be genuine. Be a team player who motivates others. Go the extra mile and don’t be afraid of seizing opportunities. Don’t hide or be ashamed of your disability. Counter perceptions of the disabled by sharing your successes despite your disability.”
 
Employees who succeed at UTC Aerospace Systems are intelligent, possess soft skills, and contribute collaborative thinking and inclusive decision making, adds Pinkney. “I also believe there is a formula for staying a part of the UTC Aerospace Systems culture: Focus on ethics, energy, enthusiasm, and the end product.”
 
THE IMPOSSIBLE BECOMES POSSIBLE AT NASA GODDARD
 
HIS DIRECTION WAS SET AT AGE NINE WHEN AL GONCER WATCHED THE MOON LANDING JULY 20, 1969. “THE CONCEPT OF SPACE IS PHENOMENAL,” HE MARVELS. “I HAD TO GET INVOLVED.”
 
It took 40 years, he jokes, but he now works as air space engineer at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. With a focus on computer-aided design, he is a CAD administrator – or, as he defines it, a fireman, putting “fires” out. “I keep the systems up and running and assist with special requests,” he explains. “We model satellites and spacecraft on the computer and run simulations before building the hardware.”
 
Fortified with an armload of degrees, including a BS in math and physics from Jacksonville University, a BS in mechanical engineering from the Florida Institute of Technology, and a MS in mechanical engineering from University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, as well as experience at Hughes Aircraft Company, where he wrote the automation for the first square axis satellite, eliminating a bottleneck in the design and reducing a 40- hour job to 10-15 minutes, Goncer embraces learning by attending lectures to review missions. “You can hear directly from the person involved,” he says. “It’s amazing.”
 
He finds more informal educational opportunities from encounters with co-workers. “One of the really cool things about NASA is that everyone is on the cutting edge,” he says. “NASA is a wonderful place to work; it has a bunch of smart people coming together to do the impossible.”
 
Goncer appreciates the corporate culture at NASA and its “can-do” environment. “It’s not ‘if,’” he explains. “It’s ‘when.’ It’s amazing to work in a place where things are possible.” He believes it generates from the fact that “nobody’s here for the money.” It’s about passion, he insists. “It’s not a 40-hour work week, but when you love what you do, it becomes your life.”
 
The positive attitude is enhanced by a strong team concept. “We work on complex, huge systems,” Goncer notes. “It has to be a big team.” And it doesn’t matter if a team member has a disability. “NASA has lots of support structure in place,” Goncer says. “They get the equipment needed; they are organized to help.” The Equal Accessibility Advisory Committee “eliminates barriers, perceived and physical,” but, once again, it’s the corporate culture. “Everyone can contribute because of their commitment to inclusion.”
 
Goncer suffers from a genetic condition that has gradually decreased his vision. He started losing his vision in 1992. By 1994, he was declared legally blind. At work, his change in vision caused him to shift from computer-aided design to programming and customization. Today, he says it’s not a handicap. “When I could see, I was thinking with my eyes. I would scribble, write, sketch …” he describes. “It can be limiting. Now that I’m blind, I can’t do that. I’m forced to model in my head in 3-D. I can model faster than I can draw.”
 
Considering how many years Goncer worked on CAD products, that’s an impressive feat. After Hughes, he worked at Structural Research Dynamics Corp. (which was bought out by Seaman’s), hired for his computer-aided design expertise. At NASA Goddard, he worked on Global Precipitation Management satellite issues. “I solve the hard problems.”
 
The GPM satellite was deployed in space. “I loved launch day, seeing my baby going up,” he recalls. Now he’s on to a new one-year position at NASA.
 
Moving to a new project isn’t daunting for Goncer, who breaks down barriers quickly. Nevertheless, having worked at NASA for five years, he says he’s still the new kid. His boss, for example, has been there 45 years. “That’s very common … and that’s why it can be tough to break into the culture,” he admits.
 
For Goncer, the challenge is worth the effort. “Space is a large place; there’s so much we don’t know,” he says. “If it excites you, there’s no better place to work [than NASA]. If it drives you, focus on math and science, read articles about what’s going on. It’s never too early to get involved: high school robotic competition, internships, special projects. Don’t let anybody else tell you what you can and can’t do. Try hard; you can surprise yourself.”
 
DIVERSE ABILITIES WELCOME AT THE NATIONAL GUARD
 
THE NATIONAL GUARD WAS FOUNDED IN 1636 AS A CITIZEN FORCE TO PROTECT TOWNS AND RESIDENTS FROM ATTACK. THEN, AS TODAY, NATIONAL GUARD SOLDIERS HOLD CIVILIAN JOBS OR ATTEND SCHOOL WHILE MAINTAINING THEIR MILITARY TRAINING IN ORDER TO BE READY TO DEFEND THEIR COUNTRY OR COMMUNITY IN AN EMERGENCY.
 
Passage of the Dick Act in 1903, forming the predecessor to today’s National Guard, distinguished organized forces from reserve forces. Subsequent acts of Congress have further defined the group serving as the first line of defense for the country, but no matter how it’s defined, it welcomes people with diverse backgrounds and qualifications.
 
Each candidate for the National Guard must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident between the ages of 17 and 35 with a high school diploma or GED (or be at least a junior in high school) and meet specified medical, physical, and moral requirements. The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery is a series of tests used to determine an applicant’s qualification for military service and helps determine intellectual and occupational strengths.
 
To address issues of selection, promotion, and development of all groups that are underrepresented, the National Guard has established diversity councils in 54 states, territories, and the District of Columbia, according to Lt Col Berlinda Goodson, NGB diversity program manager. The councils participate in initiatives, training, and professional development seminars conducted by national organizations whose focus is on affinity groups.
 
“Initiatives include ensuring all members are aware of programs and processes to enhance career progression, introducing succession planning programs such as mentoring (both formal and informal), and a focus on exit survey/counseling to increase retention,” she elaborates.
 
As Goodson reiterates, candidates must possess the “qualifications that meet the requirements of the job.” However, the National Guard’s Equal Opportunity/ Equal Employment Opportunity off ice offers support and resources, and will address reasonable accommodation issues for people with disabilities.
 
“Because we are uniquely located in the nation’s communities, our organization provides outreach initiatives to newly established cultures and communities or shifts in military culture (e.g.: women in combat, LGBT serving in the military, Wounded Warrior programs, etc.),” Goodson reports.
 
State active duty missions typically last 15-60 days. Federal deployments usually last a minimum of 12 months. The total enlistment period is eight years, although it’s possible to serve as little as three or six years, spending the remainder amount of time in the Individual Ready Reserve. IRR soldiers don’t train with a unit, but can be called up during emergencies.
 
Currently, there are nearly half a million National Guard soldiers. Anyone interested in joining the National Guard can post a resume at: Usajobs.gov.
 
CHERISHING THE SENSE OF PURPOSE AT DCMA
 
HIS EIGHT YEARS WORKING ON TURBO-PROP ENGINES AND H- 60F/H HELICOPTERS AS AVIATION MACHINIST MATE IN THE U.S. NAVY HELP MANNY SANTANA, QUALITY ASSURANCE SPECIALIST WITH THE DEFENSE CONTRACT MANAGEMENT AGENCY, UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF THE PARTS HE MONITORS AND SENDS OUT TO MILITARY FORCES. “THE WARFIGHTER DOES NOT CARE WHAT THE PART COSTS OR WHAT WAS INVOLVED WITH GETTING IT; THEY DO, HOWEVER, DEPEND ON THE ITEM TO DO WHAT IT’S SUPPOSED TO DO EVERY TIME,” HE SAYS.
 
Santana makes sure it does by managing and monitoring the private contractors who provide parts; reviewing contracts, performing quality assurance risk management and assessments, and completing supplier evaluations and pre-award surveys and reports. DCMA’s goal is to ensure that contractors supply quality products and satisfy the high standards of the Department of Defense. “I liked that concept and wanted to once again be a part of an organization whose mission was driven by a purpose not ultimately influenced by the financial gains of the few,” Santana says in explanation of why he sought the job.
 
His previous position was with a private company based on Long Island, where he worked as aircraft hydraulic and fuel system component test technician while pursuing a bachelor’s of science degree in mechanical engineering technology (aeronautical) at Vaughn College of Aeronautics & Technology.
 
Santana’s military background provided great experience for his job at DCMA. In the Navy, he traveled to 18 countries, where he encountered many different cultures. Now he visits contractors. “My favorite part about my job is visiting the contractors and walking into an industrial building to see a group of people working together to meet the demands of their customers,” Santana says.
 
While his experience helped him land the job at DCMA, Santana acknowledges he benefited from the Veterans Opportunity to Work to Hire Heroes Act of 2011, which provides tax credits to employers who hire veterans and veterans with disabilities – even if he didn’t realize it at the time.
 
Since getting hired, he has helped others by working the booth at several career fairs on behalf of DCMA’s Human Resources Department. “These fairs and recruiting efforts allow for government agencies like DCMA to get some exposure and also an opportunity to help guide interested personal,” he explains. All government and federal jobs are also listed on USAJOBS.
 
“The government is an equal opportunity employer,” Santana observes. “Everyone is treated the same and there is room for advancement for everyone. The Schedule A program (see page 9) is a good tool for people with disabilities; if [you are] considering working for the government, this program should be utilized. The private sector has a different method of hiring people with disabilities; every company is different.”
 
Santana appreciates the government’s strict standards and consistency.
 
Having faced negativity about his major life decisions, from joining the Navy during a time of war to leaving the military in order to take his chances at finding work during tough economic times, to pursuing his college degree and then accepting a job with the DoD, Santana ignores the “roar of the crowd” and doesn’t “let that roar influence what I wanted for my life.”
 
Instead, he follows his father’s advice by not letting the opinion of others influence what he wants. “My father told once told me that happiness is always moving and in order for you to find joy, you must always dig deep,” recalls Santana. “So, in order for me to experience a good life, I shall embrace change and always be ready to create it. You must move to keep a balance. I feel confident that I have what it takes to make it in this world.”
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