The Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) takes a multidisciplinary approach to diversity. "That's the key to changing what the agency looks like," says Noemi Pizarro-Hyman, senior diversity management specialist.
The agency's special emphasis program, she explains, is "the proactive side of EEO." It's designed to ensure that diversity issues are addressed at the level where they occur, and as quickly as possible.
DIA provides military intelligence to the armed forces, defense planners and defense and national security policymakers. "Our chief information officer is responsible for DIA's secure networks and communications that serve the intelligence community," explains Scott Raye, chief of recruitment and staffing for the DIA.
The agency wants to bring in people with strong technical backgrounds, "everything from biomedical folks to EEs with degrees from BS to PhD," Raye says. He's interested in people who have prior experience in IT and intelligence work at other government agencies or in the military.
The DIA is staffing aggressively. Raye is happy to take new college grads and "grow them through the system," but he's equally interested in techies with as much as twenty-five years' experience.
He also attends major career fairs and is hosting hiring conferences nationwide. "We're going out on the road," he says, to cities like San Francisco, CA; Augusta, GA; Seattle, WA and Colorado Springs, CO.
DIA's commitment to diversity and equality within the workforce starts at the grassroots level. The agency has five employment program managers, one each for Hispanics, African Americans, Native Americans, Asian American/Pacific Islanders and people with disabilities. There are also several managers for women's programs.
"If the managers find a lack of representation, they develop a plan to address it," says Pizarro-Hyman. They check that all groups are represented "in the pipeline to promotion."
The agency also has a diversity council. Government-wide affinity groups like Blacks in Government and Federally Employed Women work with the council and with appropriate program managers.
The DIA participates in conferences held by the League of United Latin American Citizens and the NAACP. It attends conferences put on by the Department of Veterans Affairs that address the needs of vets, especially those just returning from service.
Mentoring and training are generously provided. "The agency stresses leadership training," Pizarro-Hyman notes. "We have our own university, and our director really encourages education and training."
Awareness training has been in place for about five years. There's a three-day program called "diversity equals opportunity in the twenty-first century," and a "diversity in action" leadership program that's open to everyone.
"It doesn't matter what you do in the agency, the program is an integral part of our mission," Pizarro-Hyman explains. "The expectation is that you'll move up the ladder and need to know these things."
One segment of the program is an exploration of the special challenges women face because of time and family issues. "We want to identify any potential problems that may create an imbalance in the workforce and in the agency," Pizarro-Hyman declares.
DIA is already addressing some of those issues, with opportunities for flex time and alternative work schedules. "We're working on the childcare issue," she adds.
The agency makes a long-standing and determined outreach effort at two inner-city schools, the Malcolm X School (Washington, DC) and Hoffman-Boston Elementary School (Arlington, VA). "We work with them through the whole year," Pizarro-Hyman notes. "We want those kids to think about careers with the government."
Diversity efforts are moving the DIA toward a bright future, Pizarro-Hyman believes. "I hope one day I'll be out of a job," she says.
D/C
Defense Intelligence Agency
www.dia.mil
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Headquarters: |
Pentagon, Arlington, VA |
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Employees: |
7,500 worldwide, military and civilian |
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Mission: |
A principal member of the U.S. intelligence community; produces and manages foreign military intelligence for the Department of Defense |
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