Women's Appreciation Award
This award recognizes and honors AFCEA members, regardless of gender, who have gone above and beyond to further the careers of women. AFCEA contributions will be more heavily weighted than professional performance in the decision process. Winners are selected by members of the Women's Award Committee. The award will be presented at the annual Women in AFCEA Appreciation Event held at WEST each year.
The Women's Appreciation Award nomination will be graded on the following:
- Supported the development of women business and/or government professionals by facilitating introductions with prospective experienced mentors
- Personally acted as a mentor to one or more female students or business/government professionals
- Actively supported and promoted STEM scholarships and careers (in business and/or government) to female students at any educational level
- Sponsored or advocated a highly-qualified woman candidate for a new or increased position in her company or government
- Actively developed, or contributed to developing, shared opportunities for women in business and government to network, learn new skills, share best practices, celebrate accomplishments, and develop professionally
Criteria:
- Must be a current AFCEA Member
- Must have been an active participant and leader in AFCEA at the chapter and/or HQ International level for at least two years before being nominated for this award
- Individuals cannot nominate themselves
Nominate a candidate
Women's Appreciation Award Winners 2022
Col Lourdes Barriga
Head of the Advisory Commission on Women's Issues
Peruvian Army, Ecuador Chapter
DeEtte Gray
President, Business and Information Technology Solutions
CACI International Inc., Northern Virginia Chapter
Michelle Larkin
Director of Programs
SOL Engineering Services, LLC, Northern Virginia Chapter
Allegra Scott
Program Manager
Northrop Grumman, Central Maryland Chapter
Tiffany Katarina Tong
Business Development/Capture Manager
Leidos, Central Maryland Chapter
Victoria Washington
CEO/President
Vision IT, Alamo Chapter
Women's Appreciation Award Winners 2021
Hillary Boyce
Vice President
IntellecTechs, Inc., Hampton Roads Chapter
Cindy Heflin
Vice President
C5T Corporation, Scott-St. Louis Area Chapter
Brandi Pickett
Cyber Risk Management Consultant
Ingalls Information Security, ArkLaTex Chapter
Laura R. Pope
Senior Systems Engineer
Stellar Solutions, Inc., Los Angeles Chapter
Karen Lopez Rolirad
Executive Director
Bexar County Military and Veterans Services Center, Alamo Chapter
Maria Dolores Santos
Systems Engineer
Isocmonitoreo CIA Ltda., Ecuador Chapter
Juliana Vida
Chief Technical Advisor - Public Sector
Splunk, Northern Virginia Chapter
Women's Appreciation Award Winners 2020
From left: Tina Jordan; VADM Nancy Norton, USN; BGen Lorna Mahlock, USMC; Award Winners Jacqui Chard, Stephanie Hutch, Jennifer Greenwell and Jane Brightwell; LtGen Lori Reynolds, USMC; LtGen Robert Shea, USMC (Ret)
Jane Brightwell
Vice President of Federal, International and RBOC
Walker and Associates
North Carolina Chapter
Jacqui Chard
Deputy Director for Defence and National Security
UK National Cyber Security Centre
London Chapter
Jennifer Greenwell
DHA Contract Program Manager
Sentek Global
South Carolina Low Country Chapter
Stephanie Hutch
Vice President of Strategic Planning
P3I, Incorporated
Lexington-Concord Chapter
Women's Appreciation Award Winners 2019
From left: VADM Nancy Norton, USN; DeEtte Gray; Award Winners Jenniffer Minks, Szu-Moy Toves and Kathy Swacina; LtGen Lori Reynolds, USMC
Donatella Dominici
Professor
Department of Civil, Construction-Architectural & Environmental Engineering, University of L'Aquila
Yolande Fong
AFCEA Hawaii Chapter
DISA-PAC GS-14 (Retired)
Jenniffer Minks
Coaition Interoperability Division Chief
Deputy Directorate for Cyber and C4 Integration, Joint Staff J6
COL Kathy Swacina, USA (Ret)
Senior Federal Program Executive
Unitech Consulting, LLC
MSgt Szu-Moy Toves, USAF (Ret)
Alamo AFCEA
Women's Appreciation Award Winners 2018
From left: Tamara Greenspan, Kathleen Berganski, Ashley Becker, Abigail Wilson, Sharon O'Malley Burg
All winners were recognized at the Fifth Anniversary Women's Appreciation Event at 4:00 pm on Wednesday, February 7, 2018 during AFCEA/USNI WEST in San Diego.
Ashley Becker
Manager, Union Square Innovation Center, Ernst & Young
Kathleen Berganski
Senior Manager, Cyber Operations Division, Lockheed Martin Corporation
Tamara Greenspan
Vice President, Oracle Corporation
Sharon O'Malley Burg
Senior Advisor, C.A.C.I. International Inc.
Abigail Wilson
Government Cyber Security Consultant, PricewaterhouseCoopers
Women's Appreciation Award Winners 2017
From left: Alvie Johnson, Dr. Marion Michaud, CMSgt Diane Slazinik, USAF, Col Kim Montfoort, USAF (Ret), Mary Allison Yourchisin
These winners include the first male recipient recognized for his support of women in the IT field. All winners were recognized at the Women's Appreciation Event from 4-6pm on Wednesday, February 22, 2017 during WEST in San Diego. Read here for more information on this annual event.
Mr. Alvie Johnson
Director, Business Development, Leidos
Marion Michaud, Ph.D.
Technical Director, Cyber Security Technical Center, The MITRE Corporation
Colonel Kim M. Montfoort, USAF (Ret)
Technical Support Lead, Telos Corporation
Chief Master Sergeant Diane Slazinik, USAF
Superintendent, 375th Communications Group, United States Air Force
Mrs. Mary Allison Yourchisin
Vice President, Special Operations and Joint Agencies, AC4S
Women's Appreciation Award Winners 2016
Denise Desien
President, Business Development Technologies
Teresa Duvall, CDR, USN (Ret)
Navy Authorizing Official Division Head, U.S. Fleet Cyber Command
Natalie Givans
Senior Vice President, Booz Allen Hamilton
Charisse Stokes
Vice President, Cybersecurity and Network Management, Telos Corporation
Tiffany Tremont
President and CEO, SiloTech Group
From left to right: Ashley Becker, co-chair Women in AFCEA; John Meincke, Vice Chair of the Board of AFCEA International; Denise Desien, award winner; Lt Gen Robert M Shea, President and CEO of AFCEA International; and Andi Fehl, co-chair Women in AFCEA
From left to right: Rebecca Cowen-Hirsch, master of ceremonies and past winner; Ashley Becker, co-chair Women in AFCEA; Natalie Givans, award winner; Teresa Duvall, award winner; Kathy Kleiman, keynote speaker; and Andi Fehl, co-chair Women in AFCEA
From left to right: Ashley Becker, co-chair Women in AFCEA; John Meincke, Vice Chair of the Board of AFCEA International; Charisse Stokes, award winner; Lt Gen Robert M Shea, President and CEO of AFCEA International; and Andi Fehl, co-chair Women in AFCEA
Women's Appreciation Award Winners 2015
Shirley Adams
Vice President, General Dynamics Information Technology
Norma Corrales
Former Senior Director of the Educational Foundation
Rebecca Cowen-Hirsch
Senior Vice President, Inmarsat
Doreen Jakubcak
Educational Foundation Board of Directors
Shirley Adams and Rebecca Cowen-Hirsch with their women's appreciation awards at WEST 2015
Women's Appreciation Award Winners 2014
CAPT Danelle Barrett, USN
Chief of Staff, COMNAVCYBERFOR
Sue Hoffman
Booz Allen Hamilton
Becky Nolan
Former Executive Director, AFCEA International
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