NAVFAC Mid-Atlantic Employee Earns Asian Pacific American Leadership Award

NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) -- Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Mid-Atlantic's Public Works Business Line coordinator has been selected to receive the 2012 Federal Asian Pacific American Council Outstanding Individual Leadership Award at a ceremony May 3 in Atlanta, Ga.

Jean Dumlao was chosen for her leadership in promoting diversity and cultural transformation within the Navy and the federal government.

"I believe a diverse workforce is a stronger workforce, more capable of confronting the challenges of the future," said Dumlao. "Promoting diversity, EEO (Equal Employment Opportunity) program activities, training and advancement opportunities are investments in my organization's future."

Dumlao has broken professional barriers and excelled in a traditionally male dominated career field. As one of the first Asian Pacific American women to graduate from the United States Naval Academy, she later became one of the first women to serve as an officer in charge of a construction battalion unit in the Civil Engineer Corps. Before retiring, she was the first woman to serve as the Public Works officer of Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth, Va.

Throughout her 20 years in the Navy, Dumlao volunteered her time to community organizations which included several Filipino-American non-profit organizations which raised funds for disaster relief, scholarships, civic projects and medical missions for her parents' hometown of Botolan, Philippines.

"I am grateful for my cultural heritage and upbringing," she said. "My family background has given me a foundation to build on and values that helped me achieve goals and positively contribute."

Since retiring from the Navy in 2006, her contributions at NAVFAC Mid-Atlantic have included serving as the chairperson for the Diversity Committee where she led the planning of Diversity Day, the command's biannual event that celebrates the diversity of the workforce. Additionally, she implemented several policies that expanded promotion opportunities for wage grade employees, developed an Apprenticeship Program to hire student employees of diverse backgrounds, promoted an Emerging Leaders Program to shape future workforce leaders, and developed a Supervisory Training and Leadership Development Program which improves leadership skills within the organization.

"I am inspired by many people I have the privilege to work with every day," said Dumlao. "This motivated me to expand and promote training, job advancement and leadership development opportunities so that these employees who also have the ambition and dedication to grow professionally can set a path for themselves."


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