Picatinny employees receive career guidance at speed mentoring event | Article

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

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

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

“The reason we celebrate Women’s Equality Day is to remind us not just where we were in the past, but there is still work to do,” she said.

The speed mentoring event provided opportunities for mentees to engage with a diverse pool of mentors with a wide breadth of experience. Participating organizations were the DEVCOM Armaments Center, the Joint Program Executive Office for Armaments and Ammunition, Program Executive Office Soldier, Naval Sea Warfare Center, and U.S. Army Garrison Picatinny Arsenal.

“Mentoring can benefit people at all stages of their careers and in various 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, experience, and guidance.”

Mentors provided various nuggets of advice, ranging from what had the most impact on their careers, to how they manage work-life balance.

“The DEI Speed Mentoring event was a wonderful opportunity for senior leadership to connect with the Picatinny community and share professional advice and tips on career management,” said Gregory Roehrich, Acting Deputy Director for the Armament Center’s Enterprise and System Integration Center, Programs and Systems Integration.

Roehrich was one of 11 mentors who volunteered to assist in providing career enrichment to Picatinny’s future Army leaders.

“I spoke with the cohort about the importance of saying ‘yes’ to opportunities and assignments, even when daunting in nature or outside of one’s typical comfort zone,” Roehrich said. “We also discussed best practices to be prepared when opportunity strikes. As the adage goes, ‘luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.’”

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

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

The Armaments Center’s DEI Council functions on a pledge to further its efforts and commitment to address diversity, inclusion, and equity in institutional policies, procedures, and practices.

Council members serve in an advisory capacity 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 the necessary initiatives, based on best practices and expertise in diversity, inclusion, and equity, as well as feedback from the Armaments Center and larger Army community, to strengthen its ability to learn, adapt, improve, and continue to lead change to ensure that all members of the community feel valued and welcome.

The Armaments Center DEI Council meets monthly and is currently made up of approximately 20 members. Perazzo also serves as the chairperson. The organization supports Special Emphasis Programs throughout the year as well as sponsors its own events.