DVIDS – News – NSWC Dahlgren Division Employee Charts Career Path with an Engineer’s Heart and Mind

&#13
I can. I will. I have to. Check out me! These powerful words and phrases are what drive Desiree’ Whitener to keep striving for excellence and achievements in her personal lifestyle and expert career. A consistent reminder in the type of an engraved bracelet gifted by her mother to always do her greatest, go on learning and explore all alternatives, Whitener applies that mantra to her work. By her skills and competencies as an electrical engineer at Naval Surface Warfare Heart Dahlgren Division (NSWCDD), Whitener demonstrates her dedication to supporting the fleet and warfighter just about every working day.

Recognizing her interest and normal talents in mathematics and science at an early age, Whitener’s mother encouraged her to go after engineering as a subject of examine. “I was in an engineering method in superior university exactly where we explored lots of diverse varieties of engineering ideas and methods,” explained Whitener. “The a single course that truly stuck out for me was known as Digital Electronics in which we made circuit boards and similar things. It was quite interesting for me so I understood my target would be geared toward electrical engineering.”

Whitener’s vocation journey at Dahlgren began soon immediately after graduating from Tennessee State University (TSU) with a bachelor’s in electrical engineering, minoring in personal computer science in Could 2019. A Washington, D.C. indigenous, Whitener experienced the prospect to show up at the Black Engineer of the Calendar year Awards meeting throughout her remaining 12 months at TSU where by she networked with Naval Sea Devices Command and Dahlgren workforce, acquiring an invitation for an interview at NSWCDD.

In August 2019, Whitener joined the Dahlgren workforce supporting the Sensor Built-in Merchandise Team inside of the Electromagnetic and Sensor Methods Office, in which she applied her competencies and technique engineering skills to pinpointing and resolving sophisticated complex challenges linked to radar devices and other sensors.

Because then, department management regarded and recommended Whitener’s technical understanding, management capabilities and several contributions to radar and sensor devices, an location she speedily utilized herself to mastering.

According to her colleagues, Whitener “not only expanded her programming expertise but also saved an open up brain and realized an fully various talent established, which was picture processing and lab characterization of prototype electro-optical infrared (EOIR) sensor devices.”

She would go on to make use of her abilities and applications to assist quite a few other EOIR programs through her profession.

In her existing part supporting the Maritime Corps with the Ground/Air Job-Oriented Radar Method Management Business (G/ATOR PMO), Whitener serves as lead engineer for Naval Integrated Fire Manage (NIFC) and Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD), participating with many communities and getting point on communicating info by way of briefings to shift forward in attaining the program’s end aims.

“As an engineer supporting long run radar systems with the G/ATOR PMO, producing the NIFC capability making use of the G/ATOR procedure, I guide working teams and other discussions to advise the greater NIFC crew on the current scientific tests, assessment and paths ahead. There are numerous software workplaces and other assistance communities involved and so I converse with them typically, making certain the crew is on the exact web site by being familiar with the goals and generating sure we’re on schedule to achieve our conclusion objectives for the application,” Whitener said. “We’re bringing unique communities together to combine and assist future radar abilities.”

Hunting forward, Whitener sees herself continuing to expand in her profession and aims to provide in a leadership part at Dahlgren. She also acts as a peer mentor to her fellow workforce members, knowledge the value of obtaining possibilities obtainable to grow understanding and techniques. “I goal to be very well-rounded in my job, to be an productive leader for my staff and to turn into extra proficient in distinctive technical locations,” mentioned Whitener.

As with her qualified daily life, Whitener helps make the most of each individual chance to nurture her hunger for knowledge and strengthen her thoughts, experiencing the outside with her puppy, tutoring kids, finding out to cook dinner distinct cuisines from other countries and examining inspirational textbooks.

“The aspect of my position that I get pleasure from the most is interfacing with a wide range of individuals,” claimed Whitener. “I love chatting to people and mastering about them, building those connections and getting mentorship from men and women of various communities.”