Fort Belvoir, Va. –
My family is large; my mother is one of 12 children who could turn a few simple ingredients into something so amazing! Due to the massive number of people, our family gatherings are basically events. Although times have changed, I have made it my mission to embrace those things that I wish would never change. Growing up in a single parent home, there were many limitations presented to me during my childhood. That ultimately led me to be one of the first persons in my family to graduate with a bachelors AND masters, work as a government civilian, and be considered one of the most successful by some. After a summer co-op turned permanent in 2008, I started my federal career as a Management Analyst Trainee with the Food & Drug Administration, National Center for Toxicological Research, in Jefferson, Arkansas.
In November of 2008, while attending the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff I attended an informational session with DCAA hosted by the school's office of career services. The DCAA recruiter invited me to interview for an auditor position the next day. A month later the recruiter reached out to determine my locations of interest. My first choice was Texas because it wasn’t too far away from home and held tons of opportunities. Just as I prepared to graduate, I was offered a job with DCAA and I happily accepted - thus, my DCAA career began!
Today, my immediate family of 4.5 looks a little different – well a lot different than the 14 in my grandma’s family photo – but the values remain the same, just with a little hot sauce on top! Family is everything – the rock you lean on when everything else is blowing away. So while Covid hit like a hurricane, I found great joy in having the advantage of time to spend with my family, which I seemed to never have before. We created and published a children’s book together, and even got – a house dog! I challenge you to love on your family just a little bit harder today.