THEN & NOW
and human performance modeling at DEVCOM’s Army Research Laboratory (ARL) before she joined the program management side of the organization. Samms also led ARL’s science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) outreach program and educational activities. Her technology background and experience working with budgets, research program development and management enabled her to gain a well-rounded understand- ing of the Army’s strategic vision. And her years of experience as chief of plans and programs at ARL prepared her for the opportunity to help move that effort to the next level of the command.
AN INFLUENTIAL CHAT
Valerie DiVito, Ph.D. speaks with Sen. Richard Durbin (D-IL) during an event held at USAMRDC in 2015. DiVito believes that women have come a long way in the Army, from not being allowed to serve as doctors at all, to now holding positions of influence and power. (Photo courtesy of DEVCOM)
Mendelson believed that “the military surgeon has a real opportunity to combine practical knowledge with research,” which she did through her experience in the field and study of wound treatments to protect burns from infection. She was the first female Army surgeon to work in the field during the Vietnam War, earned a bronze star for service to her country, and was presented with the Outstanding Achieve- ment Award at the 1962 Army Science Conference “for a commendable contri- bution to science and the furtherance of the U.S. Army Research and Development program.”
Walker, Mendelson and others have paved the way of progress in the last century, expanding the roles that women play in the Army, and reducing their exclusion from traditional military culture. Tey
would become the trailblazers of many firsts for women of all professions in the Army workforce.
LEVELING THE PLAYING FIELD “I think we have a tremendous amount of opportunities now,” said Charneta Samms, U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Devel- opment Command's (DEVCOM) first permanent chief technology officer (see related article, “Breaking Barriers”, Page 132). “Te playing field is now leveling. It’s not level, there’s still challenges asso- ciated with gender differences, of course, but I think it’s more open. Tere are more opportunities and it’s just a matter of taking advantage of them.”
Samms began her 26-year career with the Army as an engineer working on systems
“Being a woman in a male-dominated environment, it’s hard to always make sure your voice is heard, but my personal- ity kind of helps me overcome that,” she said. “I tend to be more assertive, but that’s something I’ve learned over the years. Because it’s easy to be quiet, it’s easier to sit back and not be the bigger boom in the room in order to have your voice heard. So it’s important to really think about the importance of what you have to provide, and it’s up to you to make sure that you’re giving a voice to the situation.”
Tough women have made a lot of prog- ress over the years, Samms said, the global pandemic has presented some challenges that have set them back a bit since women tend to have to balance family and work more than their male counterparts.
She said she believes that some women prefer having time with their families over pursuing leadership opportunities— a choice, she said, that influences women more than men. But whether it’s a conscious choice or a reflection of soci- etal norms and earning potential, she said “Tat’s a challenge we’ll have to face. But for women that want to keep moving
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