On a Thursday morning
in June, former Engineering Directorate Executive Officer (XO) Todd Nay, and
current Engineering Directorate XO Amy Maxwell discussed the rotational
position over breakfast. The Engineering Edge was present to capture their
perspectives on ECBC’s prestigious rotational program.
About the XO:
Todd Nay
Duration of XO Tenure: November
2012-May 2013
Previous position: ECBC
Safety Office, Safety Engineer
Little known fact: Todd
and his wife were featured on HGTV’s “Bang for Your Buck” television show.
While he and his wife won the television competition by creating the best
renovations at a cheap price, the show did not award prizes for winning at that
time, so they still went home empty handed.
Amy Maxwell (AM): How
do you think the XO position benefitted your career?
Todd Nay (TN): Since I came from Safety, I was already used
to interacting with a lot of people so I think the XO position helped me in two
ways. First off, it helped me develop better relationships with people within
the Engineering Directorate. While I’ve worked with engineers before, I feel
like I have a better relationship with the Engineering supervisors. Being back
in the Safety office, I feel like now I know who to reach out to if I have a
problem. In my current position, I’ve been able to reach out to supervisors who
I’ve met through the XO program for help. Building that awareness and those
relationships definitely made my job easier.
The second benefit is that it has enhanced my presentation
skills. As a safety engineer, I brief and send emails to senior leadership
about safety issues. Having the opportunity to work closely with senior
leadership for six months and attend their meetings, I have gotten a better
sense of the type of information they want and types of questions I should
anticipate. This allows me to tailor the presentation material to make sure it
covers exactly what they need.
AM: Would you say the
XO position has expanded your network and visibility with ECBC and non-ECBC
personnel?
TN: It did expand my network, though primarily with
supervisors. I also met several non-supervisors and had the opportunity to meet
other people who directly support the leadership. I expanded my network outside
of ECBC as well. I attended multiple Joint Project Executive Office (JPEO) and
Joint Program Manager (JPM) meetings, so I had the opportunity to meet people
at that level. The XO position helped me get my foot in the door with both the
PMs and the Engineering Directorate employees matrixed to them. As a result of
my interactions with the JPEO and JPMs, I’m hoping to work closely with them to
help them establish some safety programs.
AM: How did the XO Program
expand your knowledge of the Center and its capabilities?
TN: Coming from the Safety Office, I had a good command of
what the Center does. The biggest benefit from the XO position for me, was
gaining an understanding of ECBC’s external relationships and competition, as
well as understanding the kinds of things that management deals with every day.
AM: If you could go
back, is there anything that you would have changed about your time as XO?
TN: One project I tried to accomplish was to schedule
one-on-ones with the Division Chiefs. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to meet with
all of them but made it to some. If I could go back, I would start the process
of scheduling the one-on-ones with them sooner than I had, so that I could get
to everybody. I also wish I had gotten the chance to schedule the same
one-on-ones with branch chiefs. I met and talked to a few of them, but I wish I
had gotten a little more personal interaction with them as well.
AM: What advice would
you give to me as a new XO?
TN: Be deliberate with the
Directorate leadership about goals that you want to achieve. In the Engineering
Directorate, the leadership is intentional about helping you achieve the goals
you set for yourself as an XO. They are very conscious about placing you in the
right position to achieve whatever goals you may have. For me, I wanted to
expand my network, so they helped me be able to attend the right meetings with
them and interact with the best people. I really appreciate the opportunity
they gave me to make the position something that I could greatly benefit from.
ABOUT THE XO
AMY MAXWELL
Duration of XO
Tenure: May 2013-present
Previous position: Project
Management CBR Filtration Branch, Research and Technology Directorate
Little known fact: Amy
was a ballet dancer for 20 years, but then stopped when she had kids. Amy had
been dancing since she was five years old doing ballet, dance, tap and many
other forms of dance. While Amy has not danced in a while she would like to get
back into it.
Amy Maxwell (AM): I was a member of the CBR Filtration
Branch within the Research and Technology (R&T) Directorate. I was mainly
in a project manager role over there. I ran a project that came in from
research with the Defense Threat Reduction Agency. I also do a lot of test and
evaluation (T&E) work. Since I have a T&E background that is something
I continue to do in my role.
When I was initially brought onto the team, I worked on a
test methodology standardization project that lasted five to six years. I
occasionally worked in the lab, but that was not my primary function. I needed
to get Dugway, Eglin, Air Force Research Lab, Natick and ECBC to work together
to develop standard test methods. The six years this project took, accounted
for most of my time with the Branch. I’ve done smaller projects in-between as
well.
Prior to working on the CBR Filtration Branch, I was an
employee in the Engineering Directorate for three years. The transition between
the two directorates was a bit of a learning curve but was not a total shock to
me. While the management styles between the two directorates are pretty
different, the expectation to deliver quality work is the same. Coming back to
Engineering in the XO role is pretty different as well. I think the Directorate
has changed a lot since the eight years I have been working in R&T. When I
was in Engineering, there was no formalized strategic management process, there
was different management, the projects were different and the budget situation
was not what it was today. The changes keep things interesting though.
TN: What are your
personal goals as an XO?
AM: I would like to build my network back up again in the Joint
Project Manager areas. I had that when I worked in Engineering, but it’s been so
long I have not been able to maintain those relationships. I also wanted to
gain insights into the functions of the Center: the budgeting, the people perspective
and the Goal Teams. Through learning more about that, I can see where I might
be able to support at a Center level. I would like to find ways to make an
impact at the Center level. I think it might be rewarding for me and hopefully
the Center. I also want to see if I can get more Center exposure to T&E. I
found that many people don’t understand the critical methodology programs that
we create at the Center-level. I’m hoping to have the opportunity to educate
people on that.
TN: Did you know any
of the other XOs prior to your rotation?
AM: I knew Kari Wiesner from when she worked at the Protective
Factor chamber. I didn’t know Rich Wallace or Mike Mays at all. So, it was nice
to meet new people, and see new faces.
TN: Prior to ECBC
where have worked?
AM: I worked at Corning Incorporated for about two years, and
I really liked the company, but the plant shut down. When I started there as a
process engineer in 1999, the company was involved in the telecommunications
industry working with optical fiber and producing amplifiers. In early 2001,
investors in the telecommunications industry backed away, and the entire industry
plummeted. Over several rounds, everybody in the plant was laid off. While the
company asked several of us to return to other jobs, I decided to look for a
job elsewhere. I liked the company, but with no ties to the area, I was ready
for a change and ECBC has been a great fit.
