SILVERDALE, Wash. – In September 2016, the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), U.S. Navy Adm. John Richardson, issued a transformative document entitled "One Navy Team”. This document underscored the critical importance of naval leadership and called on Sailors to leverage diversity as a strength. Richardson urged the Navy to actively practice inclusivity and to remain open to diverse perspectives, emphasizing that leaders and teams who embrace diversity will achieve maximum performance and readiness for decisive operations and combat.

After years of what some Sailors jokingly referred to as "death by PowerPoint," the Navy responded to Richardson's call by creating a more intentional and interactive training program by updating the Enlisted Leadership Development (ELD) program, a program established in 1990 to facilitate the development of Sailors throughout their careers. This updated program aimed to shift away from traditional training methods and focus on three key lanes for leadership development: operational and warfighting competence, character, and intellectual and personal connections.

SILVERDALE, Wash.  – Traditionally, careers in trades and industrial environments such as manufacturing, construction, and engineering have been male-dominated. Women have been underrepresented in these sectors, both in blue-collar and white-collar roles. As women’s roles in the workforce continuously evolves, there are many initiatives and efforts to facilitate gender diversity in industrial fields. Programs like Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations (WANTO) and Washington Women in Trades help to expand and promote career paths that are less likely for women.

Bobbi Worden, a crane operator instructor at Trident Refit Facility, Bangor (TRFB), is not just an expert in her field, but can also be considered an inspiration for women in trades. This year, her dedication and excellence throughout her career have earned her the 2023 Washington Women in Trades: Instructor of the Year award.  The Washington Women in Trades "Dream Big Dinner" awards program recognizes, celebrates, and validates the successes and challenges of working women, as well as students, advocates, and workplace leaders. Worden was recognized at the dinner, along with other leaders, on Nov. 11, 2023, at Shoreline Community College, Shoreline, Washington.