Official U.S. Navy website - Commander Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet

Baltimore – The Society of Women Engineers (SWE) Conference was held November 6 - 8 in Baltimore with Naval Surface Forces sponsoring 11 Surface Warfare Officers to attend this annual conference, which was themed “Women Leading a Technical Revolution” and featured a career fair, collegiate competitions, workshops and awards banquets.

Lt. Julie Boettcher, Nuclear Power Training Unit Ballston Spa, and Lt. Allison Whatley, U.S. Navy Ceremonial Guard, participated in the “Speed Mentoring Session” where they had the opportunity to mentor young women.

Lt. Cmdr. Camille Flaherty was the recipient of the 2008 “SWE Emerging Leader Award” for her demonstrated leadership in systems engineering. Flaherty was honored at the 2008 SWE awards banquet along with 13 other professionals.

In addition to receiving the Emerging Leader Award, Flaherty also participated in “Managing Your Career Like a Business: Finding Your Networks” workshop where she shared her experience in managing a successful women’s network. Her efforts have included organizing trips for female Surface Warfare Officers Nuclear [SWO(N)] to mentoring junior officers – notable achievements. Female retention in the SWO(N) community has increased by 27 percent last year.

Cmdr. Mary Jackson of Navy Personnel Command was one of two panelists in the “Working After Children” workshop. As Jackson spoke, it was evident that her experience as a Commanding Officer and a mother of two children was invaluable to the young female engineers in the audience.

The SWE is dedicated to encouraging women engineers to attain high levels of educational and professional achievement, serving as a center of information on women in engineering. The Society of Women Engineers stimulates women to achieve full potential in careers as engineers and leaders, expands the image of the engineering profession as a positive force in improving the quality of life, and demonstrates the value of diversity.