Picatinny employees receive career guidance at speed mentoring event | Article

PICATINNY ARSENAL, NJ – A Women’s Equality Day event at Picatinny Arsenal featured a fast-paced, two-hour networking experience where seasoned professionals offered advice and answered questions from employees seeking career insight and perspective.

The event at the installation’s Armament University on Aug. 22 was sponsored by the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) Armament Center’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Council, the largest organization at Picatinny.

“Today we are reminded that we have the opportunity and responsibility to create a workplace that gives men and women an equal voice,” said Cynthia Perazzo, executive director of the Weapons and Software Engineering Center (WSEC), part of DEVCOM’s Armaments Center, in opening remarks at the event.

“The reason we celebrate Women’s Equality Day is to remind ourselves not only where we were in the past, but that there is still work to be done,” she said.

The speed mentoring event provided mentees with the opportunity to interact with a diverse group of mentors with a wide range of experience. Participating organizations included DEVCOM Armaments Center, Joint Program Executive Office for Armaments and Munitions, Program Executive Office for Soldiers, Naval Surface Warfare Center, and U.S. Army Garrison Picatinny Arsenal.

“Mentoring can benefit individuals at all stages of their careers and in many aspects of their professional lives,” said Ed McBroon, director of Picatinny’s Equal Employment Opportunity Office. “It provides opportunities for learning, growth and development through the sharing of knowledge, experiences and guidance.”

Mentors offered a range of advice, from what had the biggest impact on their careers to how they manage work-life balance.

“The DEI Speed ​​Mentoring event was a wonderful opportunity for senior leaders to connect with the Picatinny community and share career management tips and advice,” said Gregory Roehrich, acting deputy director of the Armament, Program and Systems Integration Center’s Enterprise and Systems Integration Center.

Roehrich was one of 11 mentors who volunteered to help enrich the careers of future Army leaders at Picatinny.

“I spoke with participants about the importance of saying ‘yes’ to opportunities and tasks, even when they are overwhelming in nature or outside one’s usual comfort zone,” Roehrich said. “We also discussed best practices for being prepared when opportunity arises. As the saying goes, ‘luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.’”

Twenty-three young Picatinny professionals benefited from the diverse perspectives, advice and guidance of mentors. It was the first mentoring event for more than 50 percent of attendees.

“The speed mentoring event was very interesting because the design of the event made it possible to meet 11 senior leaders quickly and network with them quickly, while also knowing that they are all open to follow-up conversations and mentoring after the event,” said Anthony Callo, a general engineer who currently serves as an executive fellow for Armaments Center Director Chris Grassano. “It’s important to diversify your career experience through new rotations and assignments, and having a couple of mentors in different organizations is key to success,” he said.

The Armaments Center DEI Council operates with a commitment to advance its efforts and engagement to address diversity, inclusion, and equity in institutional policies, procedures, and practices.

Council members serve in advisory roles and promote initiatives aligned with the vision and mission of the DEVCOM Campaign Plan and Talent Management Strategy. The intent of this council is to continue to develop necessary initiatives, based on best practices and expertise in diversity, inclusion, and equity, as well as feedback from the Armaments Center and the broader Army community, to strengthen its ability to learn, adapt, improve, and continue to lead change to ensure all members of the community feel valued and welcomed.

The Armaments Center’s DEI Council meets monthly and is currently comprised of approximately 20 members. Perazzo also serves as chair. The organization supports special emphasis programs throughout the year and also sponsors its own events.