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Top Navy Officer Speaks at Black Data Processors Association Conference
PHILADELPHIA (NNS) -- Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Gary Roughead was the keynote speaker at the 32nd Annual Black Data Processors Association (BDPA) Conference July 31.
At the awards gala, the Navy was awarded the Epsilon award for best company with growing diversity.
The National BDPA President, Yvette Graham praised the efforts of companies around the nation for their contributions towards developing and sustaining a successful work environment in the information technology field and the involvement with young people for the future.
"We are very pleased to recognize the outstanding contributions that these companies have made for Blacks in Technology," said Graham. "It is important to recognize those exceptional companies that have provided African Americans with challenging and fulfilling career opportunities in Information Technology."
Roughead reiterated the importance for building the future leaders of our nation and the extraordinary efforts by BDPA supporting the young men and women in high schools and colleges around the country.
"We are really here to celebrate the achievements of young people of more than 20 teams that have come together to travel and compete in the competition an the IT showcase continuing and BDPA's long tradition of science, technology, engineering and mathematics education," said Roughead.
He emphasized the importance of a strong mathematical and scientific education and how it helps develop the skills the Navy needs to accomplish its mission.
"From our perspective in the Navy, early, sustained, and high-quality instruction and study in the 'hard sciences' will only grow in importance to our Navy and the nation more broadly," said Roughead.
CNO also discussed the role of diversity in the Navy and how it creates a stronger organization.
"Over the course of my career, I've learned firsthand the value there is in having people of different backgrounds, different experiences, working towards a common goal," said Roughead. "I see it as an absolute requirement if we are to take the Navy where it needs to go into the future."
Roughead concluded by highlighting the opportunities available in the Navy to those with a strong information technology background.
"We are interested in sustained recruitment of the nation's young innovators in science, technology, engineering, and math to add to the corps of experts in the cyber domain already receiving extensive training and education today," said Roughead.
BDPA, a national organization, is the premier organization for African Americans in Information Technology. Founded in 1975, BDPA is celebrating a 30-year commitment to closing the digital divide.
For more news from Chief of Naval Operations, visit www.navy.mil/local/cno/.
if the object is to unite and show equality, drop the racial prefix in all organizations.
NBDPA is in fact helping to bridge the cyber divide but is not helping at all in bridging the racial divide. Reaching out to ALL Data Processors to form a single organization would be more useful. While these affinity groups do well in attracting its own kind, how effective can they be in bringing us all together? How offensive would a national white data processors association? What are we doing for the Asian Pacific Islander Data Processors? The Navy needs to assimilate them as a group.
The correct name of subject organization is National BDPA or NBDPA. Similar to many organizations, NBDPA (formerly "Black Data Processing Associates") re-branded several years ago as did AT and T Corp. (formerly known as the "American Telephone and Telegraph" Corporation.) Although its history may have strong afro-centric overtones, NBDPA's mission remains unchanged--bridging CYBER and CS-STEM gaps between industry, ALL underserved or unserved communities, and affinity markets.
The article notes the BDPA is a national organization, not a Navy organization. There are, however, many Navy associations that emphasize diversity, so your point is noted. CNO was on hand to accept an award. I also feel we should emphasize individual achievement as compared to others in the same career field rather than maintain an outdated quota (official or unofficial) system that rewards diversity over quality.
Shipmate, I could not agree with you more. Why is it everytime a minority member or group is mentioned, it is preceeded by a descriptive adjective such as "Black, African-American, Hispanic, Asian, etc" The moto of this country is "E Pluribus Unum" (From many,one). All the use of these descriptive adjectives does is further divide rather than unite. I celebrate the efforts of all Americans to overcome adversity and to succeed in their efforts to better themselves, our navy and our nation.
Replying to the above: You're quite correct, that in this day age we should not need to read about or see things like this. However, to a younger generation that's not the case. Ask a little kid to describe a doctor, or a nurse or a pilot. Kids have these images and these images grow and grow. Articles like this, can help change those ideas. (I'm 37, an when traveling by plane I'm still surpised when the captain speaks and the voice is female. Shouldn't be that way.But this all starts early.)
I wonder why it is in today's Navy that with the Equal Opportunity Standards, that we try to maintain, that we are still segregating ourselves? Why do we not just have a Data Processors Association? It is this type of organization that is turning our Navy and our Country against itself. Let us stop dividing ourselves and unite ourselves to strengthen our Country and our Navy Combat Team. Recite the Sailor's Creed then ask yourself... Am I a Sailor or an Individual?
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BDPA was organized in 1977,the purpose was to expand IT knowledge in the black community.BDPA is not racist in any way,there are all races represented in it.This organization is independent and in no way associated with the navy. Please stop making assumptions about the organization if you have no knowledge about it