NSWC Crane employees focus on developing new leadership skills through NAVSEA wide program

NSWC Crane employees focus on developing new leadership skills through NAVSEA wide program

By Emily Gray (ctr), NSWC Crane Corporate Communications

Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division (NSWC Crane) employees are developing their leadership skills through the Next Generation (NEXTGEN) Program. Developed in 2017, NEXTGEN is part of the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) Leadership Continuum and is designed for NAVSEA employees wanting to take on more leadership opportunities within NAVSEA.

Katie Parkes recently participated in the NEXTGEN Program along with five other employees from NSWC Crane. Parkes currently works as UxS Systems Development Section Manager at NSWC Crane.

"I saw an email from the Career Development Center at NSWC Crane to apply for the NAVSEA program. I decided to apply to this program because I wanted to be able to learn and grow my leadership skills," said Parkes.

Members of the cohort shadow NSWC Crane leaders, receive online leadership training, network across NAVSEA, and complete a capstone project.

"The best part of the NEXTGEN Program, in my opinion, is the opportunity to shadow at NSWC Crane," said Parkes. "We have a requirement to shadow an individual or group of individuals for 20 hours. I was able to shadow my department leadership to include our Department Head, Deputy Department Head, Chief Scientist, Chief Strategist, Technical Program Manager, and Electronic Warfare SSTM. I spent one day with each individual, allowing me to fully understand the scope of what our department does and each of their unique roles."

Parkes shadowed Dr. James Stewart during her time in NEXTGEN. Dr. Stewart works in Spectrum Warfare Systems as its Department Chief Scientist. He said that the NEXTGEN provides a unique opportunity to NAVSEA employees.

"I believe NEXTGEN should be considered essential opportunities for our future leaders to gain experience with decision makers, affording NEXTGEN employees' access to meetings, projects, seminars etc. of which they wouldn't normally have access while providing the tools necessary to become effective communicators and critical thinkers," said Dr. Stewart. "NEXTGEN also provides visibility and awareness of up-and-comers (and their efforts) to leadership. Furthermore, we often-times forget that mentoring is two-way traffic. I generally learn from my mentees and walk away more energized (and informed) as was the case with my NEXTGEN shadow."

Mac McKinzie works as a Contract Specialist at NSWC Crane and participated in the NEXTGEN Program. He said he was excited to gain the experience to bring back to his colleagues.

"I joined the program because I wanted the extra experience and hoped to bring back lessons learned for my organization," said McKinzie. "This program has given me opportunities to network with people I never would have met if I wasn't part of this cohort and, given me knowledge that was immediately applicable in my day-to-day. I highly recommend it."

Another member of Parkes and McKinzie's cohort was Kayla Fiveash. Fiveash works as an Occupational Health and Safety Specialist at NSWC Crane. She believes her cohort can bring new ideas to a shifting workforce.

"Our cohort has been focused on multi-generational workspaces and how to effectively lead these groups as well as to improve upon positive dynamics in very diverse groups," said Fiveash. "My team in particular has all the generations represented: Baby Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z. We come from different worlds in how we grew up and what we have experienced in our professional careers. While our differences seem to be the driving wedge in conversations these days, there are so many ways that we all contribute to the team. In the coming years, we will see the workforce shift in significant ways and good leaders must be prepared to tackle these challenges and motivate their team to work together to be successful."

Parkes has been able to take what she has learned through this program and apply it to her everyday routine.

"This program has allowed me to gain invaluable insight into different careers within Crane and outside of Crane," said Parkes. "The capstone project has required me to think deeply about the multigenerational workplace and how we can be more inclusive across generations. Overall, this program has exposed me to new people, leadership styles, career options, and has required critical thinking and consideration on multiple leadership challenges and topics throughout the course. This program will help me grow as a leader as I have new tools that I can utilize in my leadership toolkit."

About NSWC Crane | NSWC Crane is a naval laboratory and a field activity of Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) with mission areas in Expeditionary Warfare, Strategic Missions and Electromagnetic Warfare. The warfare center is responsible for multi-domain, multi- spectral, full life cycle support of technologies and systems enhancing capability to today's Warfighter.

Join Our Team! NAVSEA employs a diverse, highly trained, educated, and skilled workforce - from students and entry level employees to experienced professionals and individuals with disabilities. We support today's sophisticated Navy and Marine Corps ships, aircraft, weapon systems and computer systems. We are continuously looking for engineers, scientists, IT and cyber specialists, as well as trade and other support professionals to ensure the U.S. Navy can protect and defend America. Please contact NSWC Crane Human Resources at [email protected].