Bernadette Wackerle

When Bernadette Wackerle graduated from Western Michigan University with her degree in mechanical engineering, she debated on a few careers before deciding to join the Department of the Navy (DON). Just as thousands of other college students began to think about their careers post graduation, Wackerle was focusing on positions that were not necessarily targeted on civilian careers.

Matt Sullivan

Purple Heart recipient Sgt. Matt Sullivan served in the United States Army as an infantryman with the 82nd Airborne Division; he planned on a long career with the Army.

Wesley Thomas

Dr. Wesley Thomas found a way to both support America's service members while also pursuing his passion – he became a civilian employee with the Department of the Navy (DON). Serving your country does not necessarily mean you have to find the closest recruiting station and enlist in the armed forces, says Dr.

Johann Soto

On any given day, Johann Soto volunteers to help students improve their math skills or mentor young engineers. But when Soto is not teaching students about STEM, he is serving his country as a civilian with the Department of the Navy (DON).

Andres Padilla

When I took the position, I had no idea what a tremendous opportunity, or how satisfying it would be, says Andres Padilla, the Regional Director for International Programs and Foreign Military Sales at Naval Sea Systems Command's Program Executive Office for Integrated Warfare Systems.

Heidi Buck

Heidi Buck is a branch head and a project manager (PM) for the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Pacific in San Diego. There, she leads the development of technology that extracts intelligence data from satellite and UAV imagery.

Greg Toms and Richard Leung

When I first came to NAVSEA, I didn’t expect to be researching alternative fuels, but it’s been an interesting and challenging project, says Richard Leung, the Fuels Engineering Manager at Naval Sea Systems Command in Washington, DC.

Michael Ellis

Michael Ellis is a Facilities Assistant at Naval Sea Systems Command, where he has been a team member since 2010. Prior to working at NAVSEA Headquarters, he served for almost 20 years at the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Indian Head Division, writing naval messages.