Experience Detail

Some Career Information

Rarely do we take stock of the years of a long and varied career that many of us in government have experienced. The following is an attempt for me to share some of my background in a number of positions regarding the management and operation of a number of staff and program offices during my 27 year federal career, 8 year state government career, several partisan political positions, a position in academia, a variety of positions in non-profit, public service organizations and an elected non-partisan county-wide Soil & Water Conservation District Commissioner for three 4-year terms (12 years).

I took advantage of opportunities to develop a base of knowledge that I used in my government career and my volunteer positions of the U.S. Code of Laws, U.S. Administrative Procedures Act, U.S. Code of Regulations, SC Code of Laws, SC Code of Regulations, and, of course, Robert's Rules of Order.

Initially, my federal career started in the Department of the Navy offices in the Pentagon during the exciting years of many new programs including the development of the POLARIS mission system. Mostly, I was assigned to administrative support positions becoming the continuity of our programs as the naval officers were rotating between sea and shore.
My career in NOAA started with an assignment in the Budget Division as one of three budget analysts reviewing the budget submissions of the Office of the National Marine Fisheries Service. Later, as a Program Manager in the National Marine Fisheries Service of NOAA, my staff and I were responsible for three financial aid programs for commercial fishermen. Two of the programs were brand new and involved writing the regulations for the Code of Federal Regulations and developing procedures for application, review, and determination of whether applicants would receive benefits and for what amount. Combined, the programs awarded several million dollars for losses by the fishermen because of weather, oil exploration and development on the Outer Continental Shelf, and confiscation of U. S. fishing vessels off the coasts of Canada and South America by countries that did not recognize U. S. fishing vessels working in what they claimed as territorial waters. Each claim had to be vetted for the application being completed correctly and working with our legal office to make sure the applicant met legal requirements of national and maritime law. In another fisheries management program in the 1970's, I was part of the team that wrote legislation and administrative procedures to create eight regional fishery management councils around the coast of the United States to manage an expanded U. S. fisheries management and conservation zone. During this period, I worked with members of Congress and their staffs, the U. S. Department of State, the U. S. Coast Guard, and state fisheries departments. I was the point person for the new councils on all administrative procedures and provided periodic training conferences as we implemented the activities of the councils through a two year period. I spent one year as Deputy Executive Director and Administrative Officer of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council where I oversaw the establishment of the office that was funded by a federal grant.
Later as the NOAA Grants Officer, my staff and I processed a significant number of applications for oceanic and atmospheric research that resulted in many state of the art discoveries and implementation of weather prediction systems, satellite capabilities, food safety, and protection of natural resources.
After retirement from NOAA, I provided support to a group of former senior level government officials who were principals in the Council for Excellence in Government. The program combined their experiences in unique government programs with major job fairs in key universities around the country to recruit graduates into non-traditional, hard to fill positions.
My next position was to establish a decentralized grants research program in women’s health where I created a multi-million dollar availability of funding for a major medical school. It didn’t take long for me to be back with a natural resources program where I managed a new half million dollar plus program to provide state cost sharing funding to local soil and water conservation districts in South Carolina.

Even when I was working full time, I found time to join and work in public service non profit organizations.

In the American Society for Public Administration, I have served on nearly every committee in the national organization including two 3 year terms on National Council (once as a regional rep and 10 years later as an At-Large rep). I served two 6-year terms on the national organization's Endowment Board and in 1993, chaired the Quadrennial Review of the national organization's bylaws and other legal documents. I was a founding member of the Section for Women in Public Administration to highlight and integrate women into leadership positions in our organization and the workforce.

I served as President of the Southeast Regional Conference of Public Administration and through the years, on many committees. Of particular note, I instituted the Bylaws, Policy and Procedures Committee which, after 14 years, is still a working committee seeking to ensure that our mission and the many facets of the organization are in compliance with legal requirements and are supported by the organization's membership.

As the voting representative on a nine county East Piedmont Resource Conservation and Development board funded by the US Department of Agriculture for about six years, I participated in or led the design, policy, and implementation of several regional conservation related projects.

Through the years, I have designed organizations, written bylaws and other directives including position descriptions and evaluation standards. In establishing new organizations, I designed and implemented insurance plans, position qualification standards, negotiated office space, and established budget and financial management systems. As the spokesperson for many organizations, I have written news releases, speeches, and other statements. I have appeared on local tv programs and in videos.

Because of the experience I have gained in a variety of management and administrative positions, I believe I am best qualified to provide the knowledge and work ethic to expand NARFE’s capability to continue to serve those who work in our national government. We have much work ahead of us. I ask for your support and vote in the upcoming NARFE election so that I can continue to work with our NARFE President in addressing organizational issues.that are underway.