DAHLGREN, Va. – 
I can. I will. I will have to. Observe me! These impressive phrases are what generate Desiree’ Whitener to keep striving for excellence and good results in her own lifestyle and qualified occupation. A continual reminder in the sort of an engraved bracelet gifted by her mother to always do her ideal, proceed understanding and explore all choices, Whitener applies that mantra to her perform. By means of her skills and competencies as an electrical engineer at Naval Surface area Warfare Centre Dahlgren Division (NSWCDD), Whitener demonstrates her dedication to supporting the fleet and warfighter each and every working day.
Recognizing her desire and purely natural capabilities in arithmetic and science at an early age, Whitener’s mom encouraged her to go after engineering as a discipline of study. “I was in an engineering software in large university in which we explored lots of various sorts of engineering ideas and techniques,” reported Whitener. “The one course that truly stuck out for me was referred to as Electronic Electronics where we designed circuit boards and very similar products. It was quite fascinating for me so I realized my emphasis would be geared to electrical engineering.”
Whitener’s vocation journey at Dahlgren started shortly immediately after graduating from Tennessee Condition College (TSU) with a bachelor’s in electrical engineering, minoring in computer science in Might 2019. A Washington, D.C. native, Whitener had the chance to show up at the Black Engineer of the 12 months Awards conference in the course of her final year at TSU where by she networked with Naval Sea Devices Command and Dahlgren workers, getting an invitation for an job interview at NSWCDD.
In August 2019, Whitener joined the Dahlgren workforce supporting the Sensor Integrated Item Workforce inside of the Electromagnetic and Sensor Units Department, where by she used her abilities and method engineering expertise to identifying and resolving intricate technical issues linked to radar devices and other sensors.
Considering the fact that then, division management acknowledged and recommended Whitener’s technological knowledge, leadership abilities and various contributions to radar and sensor systems, an space she immediately utilized herself to mastering.
In accordance to her colleagues, Whitener “not only expanded her programming competencies but also saved an open intellect and acquired an entirely distinct talent established, which was impression processing and lab characterization of prototype electro-optical infrared (EOIR) sensor devices.”
She would go on to utilize her experience and instruments to help several other EOIR applications through her career.
In her current job supporting the Marine Corps with the Floor/Air Endeavor-Oriented Radar Application Management Business office (G/ATOR PMO), Whitener serves as guide engineer for Naval Integrated Fire Handle (NIFC) and Built-in Air and Missile Defense (IAMD), partaking with a number of communities and taking point on speaking facts as a result of briefings to move forward in reaching the program’s conclude ambitions.
“As an engineer supporting foreseeable future radar techniques with the G/ATOR PMO, establishing the NIFC functionality working with the G/ATOR method, I lead operating teams and other conversations to tell the bigger NIFC crew on the existing experiments, analysis and paths forward. There are many plan workplaces and other aid communities included and so I converse with them normally, guaranteeing the staff is on the similar web page by being familiar with the goals and producing confident we’re on schedule to attain our end plans for the system,” Whitener mentioned. “We’re bringing unique communities alongside one another to integrate and aid future radar capabilities.”
Hunting ahead, Whitener sees herself continuing to develop in her vocation and aims to serve in a management role at Dahlgren. She also acts as a peer mentor to her fellow group customers, being familiar with the benefit of obtaining possibilities obtainable to expand awareness and abilities. “I goal to be properly-rounded in my vocation, to be an efficient leader for my staff and to grow to be a lot more proficient in various complex places,” claimed Whitener.
As with her qualified everyday living, Whitener can make the most of each individual chance to nurture her hunger for awareness and strengthen her thoughts, enjoying the outside with her pet dog, tutoring youngsters, mastering to cook distinct cuisines from other nations and examining inspirational publications.
“The part of my career that I appreciate the most is interfacing with a wide variety of individuals,” reported Whitener. “I like conversing to people today and studying about them, building these connections and receiving mentorship from men and women of numerous communities.”