NSWC Crane Employee Works to Ensure Equal Access for All

NSWC Crane Employee Works to Ensure Equal Access for All

By NSWC Crane Corporate Communications

CRANE, Ind. - America Morris, a civilian employee at Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Crane Division, blends her belief in ensuring equal access and representation for all employees into the work she does.

"I just knew that this was where I wanted to be when I first started working in the Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) office because it showed me a different perspective of the world and it taught me how important it is to be open minded and speak up for others," Morris said.

Morris is the current Reasonable Accommodation Program Coordinator within the EEO office, working with both managers and employees to ensure accommodations meet both the needs of employees and managers.

Her passion for service started with her taking the risk to leave her home in California and enlist in the United States Armed forces. She became a Human Resource specialist while serving, working in different bases and moving across the country. She felt like she found her place in the Army, with its vision and mission fitting the goals her family instilled in her when she was young.

"For me, it just felt like a perfect fit," she said. "I really wanted a career where I could help others and make a difference and the Army gave me that. I was able to help people in my own way."

That same ethos extends to her work at NSWC Crane in the EEO office, a job she has held for the last two years.

"I think a lot of times we forget how lucky we are to be in an organization that does want to help people and take care of them because they are valuable," she said. "Listening to people and trying to do what you can for them is really important. I really enjoy my time doing that."

She brought that experience from the Army into NSWC Crane when her family moved to Indiana. Morris's passion for helping others is influenced by both her time in the military and her position as a first generation Mexican-American.

"I'm really proud of who I am. I am proud to be Chicana. I'm proud of my parents and everything they went through to ensure my brother and I had the best opportunities, and I am proud to be here working for the military. I believe my background made me a great fit for first the Army, and now the Navy. I have gotten to meet so many diverse people while in the military and I am proud continue that example for my own daughter."

Her passion and lessons from her family and time in the military extend to her desires for her own family. Her daughter is a major source of motivation for her work in public service. She said her culture and experience give her a unique perspective in serving her country, one that she hopes she can help motivate others who might be interested in a career in public service to join.

"There are a lot of opportunities both the Army and the Department of the Navy. There are opportunities for immigrants, for people who speak multiple languages, for different specializations, or Engineering roles. They have a lot of options for everyone."

With her position as a first generation Mexican-American and her experience in both serving in the Army and in the Navy as a civilian, she believes other first generation Americans shouldn't be afraid to step outside their comfort zone.

"The best advice I could give is to step outside of your comfort zone and explore new areas," Morris said. "It's hard because our parents sacrificed so much to get us here and we want to stay with them in hopes to repay them for everything, but it's okay to step out of that comfort zone, because it's worth it and everything you accomplish is enough for them."