OUTSTANDING INDIVIDUAL LEADERSHIP

Katherine Toth, Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (GS 1-12)

Ms. Toth has worked to spread awareness in under-represented communities, highlighting Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA) educational programs and opportunities in order to attract underrepresented students for internship and hiring opportunities. Her advocacy includes communicating with senior management to prevent prejudices and profiling of minorities at DCSA, promoting student program, lobbying for merit based equal opportunity for all employees, promoting and recognizing AAPI success, and celebrating the diversity of Asian and the Pacific Islands cultural heritages. Ms. Toth’s outstanding leadership has made significant contributions to the advancement of Asian Americans and Pacific Islander communities. Her efforts to promote diversity and inclusion among at DCSA community have made a notable impact in the overall organization.

Cindy N. Tran, Defense Contract Management Agency (GS 13-15)

Ms. Tran has assisted the Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) in recruiting, promoting, establishing, and maintaining an effective and equitable workplace for AAPI. She is passionate about mentoring college students and providing career guidance to job seekers interested in DCMA and other federal employment opportunities. Ms. Tran was invited to the Society Women Engineer (SWE), Society of Asian Scientist & Engineers (SASE), and local high school job fairs to recruit young talent to work for the federal government. She promoted the importance of diversity within the workplace and integrating AAPI competencies, cultures, contributions, work ethic, and behavior at these events. She has been participating in the Workforce Recruitment Program (WRP) to mentor and help individuals with disabilities find careers within the federal workforce. She encourages students to volunteer for AAPI community events for networking opportunities and supports and sponsors cultural youth groups, such as the Vietnamese Association Students.

Dr. Zina B. Sutch, Office of Personnel Management (SES)

As Deputy Associate Director of Outreach, Diversity and Inclusion at the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), Dr. Sutch leads OPM’s government-wide functions and responsibilities related to Recruitment, Policy and Outreach, Veterans Services, and Diversity and Inclusion. She led the OPM Center for Outreach, Diversity and Inclusion in reaching an audience of over 60,000 through diversity and inclusion related technical assistance consultations, presentations, workshops, webinars, training, conferences, fairs, and panels. Dr. Sutch served on the 2018 White House Initiative on Asian Americans & Pacific Islanders Interagency Working Group where their mission was to improve the quality of life for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders across the nation through increased access to, and participation in, federal programs in which they may be underserved.

EXCELLENCE IN INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT

John Wilson Howerton, U.S. Army (GS 1-12)

Mr. Howerton passionately assists the ROTC program in recruiting, promoting, establishing, and maintaining an effective and equitable workplace for AAPl. During his tenure at the University of Guam, he facilitated the enrollment of over 420 Cadets into the ROTC program, which provides leadership instruction and training at no-cost to the AAPI students. Many of those students have gone on to become leaders on Guam, regardless of whether they eventually completed all four years of the ROTC program. He further develops the ROTC Cadets' work ethic by training them in public speaking and presentation skills. He uses every encounter with the Cadets as a way to develop their leadership and social skills.

Doris S. Tung, US Navy (GS 13-15)

Ms. Tung is a member of the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) Inclusion and Engagement (I&E) Council where she integrates and improves awareness of Asian American Pacific Islanders (AAPI) competencies, cultures, and contributions. She leads the new Enterprise policy initiative to promote more fair and equitable hiring practices. She is also a member of the Naval Asian Society Employee Resource Group (NASERG) in which she promotes AAPI issues within the organization and encourages participation in NASERG events. Ms. Tung leads the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Philadelphia Division (NSWCPD) contracting department team in recruiting, engaging, and creating a diverse workforce. She made great strides in diversifying the workforce by changing the Contracts Department hiring paradigm, yielding a larger and diverse pool of candidates for promotional opportunities. Through her work, AAPI recruits increased from 2.61% to 5.5%. On the job, she operates one of the most diverse and inclusive units in her organization. Ms. Tung attends recruiting events to grant candidates equitable consideration or opportunity and ensures job offers and interview processes remove biases to allow for equitable consideration diverse talent.

Jeffrey Clark Flora, Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (SES)

As a senior executive with the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA), Mr. Flora has supported the Federal Asian Pacific American Council (FAPAC) and its training programs. He helped connect FAPAC to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Office of Recruitment Policy and Outreach to present hiring workshops for the FAPAC National Leadership Training Program and Student Career Fairs. Mr. Flora leads by example with a sense of integrity and fairness. He is an active supporter of the Combined Federal Campaign, Feds Feeds Families, veterans’ initiatives and FAPAC and encourages DCSA employees to follow his lead. Mr. Flora was the founding executive sponsor for the FAPAC OPM Chapter and now the establishment of FAPAC Department of Defense Chapter.

DIVERSITY EXCELLENCE

Van R. Nguyen, US Army Corps of Engineers (GS 1-12)

Mr. Nguyen made significant contributions toward diversity and inclusion of Asian American Pacific Islanders (AAPI) as a Vietnamese-English translator communicating critical flood risk information with the vast New Orleans Vietnamese community. He promoted the importance of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics by mentoring at local high schools and colleges. As a result of his efforts, he recruited and developed several AAPI engineers. Mr. Nguyen successfully led the Asian Employment Program (AEP) in New Orleans District since 2013 and has actively served on the AEP since 2006. He steadfastly led the AEP mission as an organizational liaison and provided support to address the needs of New Orleans District Asian Americans and initiated programs to enhance the career development of Asian American employees.

Loucious Hires, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (GS 13-15)

Mr. Hires is Director of the Office of Diversity and Equal Opportunity for NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) in Huntsville, Alabama. He collaborates with MSFC offices to implement a comprehensive Diversity and Inclusion Strategic Implementation Plan and MSFC Anti-Harassment Campaign Plan. He also provides leadership training on conflict resolution and diversity and inclusion topics, such as unconscious bias. Mr. Hires established a special emphasis advisory committee of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) champions to help lead NASA/MSFC efforts to promote, establish, and maintain an effective and equitable workplace. The MSFC AAPI Special Emphasis Advisory Group addresses a range of issues that are relevant to AAPIs in the MSFC and greater Huntsville communities. Through partnerships with Redstone Arsenal agencies, MSFC leadership, MSFC AAPI Special Emphasis Advisory Group members, academia, and others, Mr. Hires helped develop the foundation for the City of Huntsville's successful bid to host the 2019 FAPAC National Leadership Training Program.

Courtney Wilkerson, Federal Aviation Administration (SES)

Mr. Wilkerson supported Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) participation at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as an executive champion for employee resource groups. The FAA saw annual increases in the number of AAPI employees, including a 10% growth in the number of GS-13 and GS-14 equivalent employees, an 8% increase in GS-15 equivalent employees, and an all-time high of 150 AAPI employees. Mr. Wilkerson presented on AAPI career growth and employee demographics at the FAA for the FAPAC-FAA Training Day in May 2019. He shared critical advice with 30 participants about how to prepare for FAA leadership positions. He also described how being involved in an employee group like FAPAC will assist in employee development to become a more viable candidate for the next job. Mr. Wilkerson is an advocate for employee development and offers his time and advice to help AAPI employees thrive.