Admirals Mentor Other Female Sailors
(July 25, 2009) |
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Navy Rear Admirals Carol Pottenger, right, and Michelle Howard met with women surface warfare officers at U.S. Naval Forces Central Command headquarters in Manama, Bahrain, to encourage them in their careers and lives. |
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ANAMA, Bahrain, July 21, 2009
Navy Rear
Adm. Carol M. Pottenger and Navy Rear Adm. Michelle Howard
have plenty on their respective plates – Pottenger as
commander of Naval Expeditionary Combat Command and Howard
as commander of Expeditionary Strike Group 2. But that
doesn't stop the two flag officers from taking on the
additional role of mentoring female sailors.
Pottenger and Howard recently met with a group of fermale
surface warfare officers here to encourage them to continue
to progress in their careers.
While striving to improve every officer and sailor,
Pottenger and Howard said, they understand young women need
senior female mentors and leaders to guide them in their
career paths. |
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"In the Navy, a leader is a leader,"
Pottenger said. "The key is mentorship, caring for sailors,
motivating them to succeed and understanding that you can
truly be anyone you want to be.
“I've had some great role models in my life and career, both
men and women, each allowing me to shine by giving me room
to excel,” she continued. “I'm always looking forward, not
back, and it's my hope that I have been able to help those
that will follow me."
Both women have led from the front since the beginning of
their careers. Pottenger volunteered for sea duty in 1978, a
year after she earned her commission. Howard, a 1982 U.S.
Naval Academy graduate, reported aboard USS Hunley for her
initial sea-duty assignment. Both women have commanded ships
as well as amphibious expeditionary strike groups.
Though both admirals have taken on jobs where they were the
first women to hold those positions, neither views their
accomplishments as gender-specific.
"There is a terrific opportunity for women in the Navy
today," Howard said. "Life is about what you choose to make
of it, and a woman can do anything she sets her mind to. I'm
at a point in my life where I think it is important to reach
out to young women in the Navy and help them develop into
the leaders of tomorrow."
Some of surface warfare officers took the admirals' words to
heart and said they were motivated to follow in their
footsteps.
"Both admirals are great examples of what women can achieve
in the Navy," said Navy Lt. Lisa Masso, assigned to Task
Force Individual Augmentee. "I really get the sense from
talking to them that you can achieve whatever you want. I
admire both women because they care so much about people. I
hope that I can help those sailors under me grow."
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Article by Navy Lt. Nathan Christensen
U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Jennifer L. Stride
U.S. Naval Forces Central Command public affairs office
Special to American Forces Press Service
Copyright 2009 |
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