DEVELOP A CAREER ROAD MAP
From time to time, we all encounter problems, setbacks or challenges but, according to Tinesha Nicholas, the outcome will just depend on your approach. For her, it’s about weighing decisions to achieve results at all times.
“Tere is always more than one way to solve a problem,” she said. “It takes creative think- ing, evaluating multiple courses of action and assessing risk,” because, she said, “there will be times where you will need to assume some level of risk.” Like in proceeding with a 90 percent solution with the understanding that you will need flexibility and differ- ent courses of action to address the 10 percent deficit.
TINESHA NICHOLAS
COMMAND/ORGANIZATION: Project Manager Close Combat Systems (PM CCS), Joint Program Executive Office for Armaments and Ammunition (JPEO A&A)
TITLE: Branch chief, Grenades and Protection Systems
YEARS OF SERVICE IN WORKFORCE: 21
DAWIA CERTIFICATIONS: Advanced in program management; Practitioner in engineering and technical management
EDUCATION: M.S. and B.S. in electrical engineering from New Jersey Institute of Technology; enrolled in Defense Acquisition University (DAU) Senior Service College Fellowship (SSCF) Program (2023-2024)
AWARDS: Army Achievement Medal for Civilian Service (2002 and 2020)
As branch chief for Product Director Combat Armaments and Protection Systems (PD CAPS), Nicholas supervises acquisition professionals who manage various grenades (lethal, non-lethal, training and specialty) and intermediate force capability programs. “Te items we provide help protect and keep the joint warfighters safe,” she said. “Te greatest satisfaction I have being part of the Army Acquisition Workforce is witnessing the warfighter using the items we produce.”
In addition to planning, directing and controlling resources to achieve the Army’s over- all vision, mentoring has also been an important part of her career. Nicholas is actively involved in the JPEO A&A mentoring program as both a mentor and mentee, moti- vating her team to achieve mission success and mentoring individuals for personal or professional growth. “It is very rewarding to see junior engineers or project officers who come to me for career or professional guidance, receive promotions or [be] recognized by the Army for professional accomplishments,” she said. “I’ve had many leaders take the time to provide advice on my career and help me as I navigated through different positions. So it feels second nature for me to do the same.”
“There is always more than one way to solve a problem.”
Nicholas said since her academic and career paths are both in fields typically dominated by men, inclusion has always been important to her. With a focus on fairness, she estab- lished and led the diversity, equity and inclusion integrated product team for PM CCS, in direct support of Secretary of Defense priorities in 2020. “My mission is to ensure everyone feels like they are part of the team, regardless of their background,” she said. “It felt great to conduct a sensing survey and listening sessions for over 130 personnel, ensuring everyone’s voice was heard and identifying changes to improve the organiza- tion that were actually implemented.”
According to Nicholas, the PM CCS survey and sensing sessions created a safe forum to discuss the return to the office, job satisfaction, diversity, equity and inclusion and career
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Army AL&T Magazine Winter 2024
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