Juanita Cordova of Design Engineering (ESA-DE), left, Donna Vigil of Accounting (BUS-1), center, and Lorraine Segura of Facility Risk Management (ESH-3), discuss their military and Lab experiences at Tuesday’s Women’s History Month panel discussion in the J. Robert Oppenheimer Study Center. The theme for the Lab’s Women’s History Month observance is “Women Sustaining the American Spirit.” Photo by LeRoy N. Sanchez, Public Affairs

Panel members talk about their military experiences

Three Laboratory staff members who served in the military discussed their military triumphs and trials Tuesday at the Laboratory. Panelists included Juanita Cordova of Design Engineering (ESA-DE), Donna Vigil of Accounting (BUS-1) and Lorraine Segura of Facility Risk Management (ESH-3).

The panel discussion, sponsored by the Women’s Diversity Working Group as part of the Lab’s Women’s History Month observance, focused on the women’s experiences while in the U.S. Navy and Army and how those experiences have enhanced their Lab employment.

Maria Rightley of Primary Design and Assessment (X-4), chairperson for the WDWG and moderator for the panel discussion, asked the Lab workers what was their most rewarding experience while in the military. Segura, who worked as a tactical multi-channel radio communications specialist from 1977-1980, said, “I got to see firsthand the good and the bad and I was able to keep a sense of right and wrong by maintaining my own values.” Segura has been with the Lab for 16 years and serves as an environmental safety specialist.

Vigil, who served in the Army from 1964-2001, said, “taking care of all the people in my unit while first sergeant was rewarding. I’ve always maintained that my God, my country, my family and my job are what’s most important.” Vigil has been with the Lab for 22 years and serves as a reservations team leader.

When asked, what would you change about your military experience, Cordova said, “I would have remained in active duty so that I would have been young enough to have a second career.”

Cordova, a graphics specialist for the Navy from 1981-1986, re-enlisted in the Army National Guard continuing in illustration from 1991-1997. Cordova has been with the Lab for 16 years and serves as a senior mechanical designer.

For a list of Women’s History Month events in March, go to the Women’s Diversity Working Group Web page at http://www.lanl.gov/WDWG online, or see the March 1 Daily Newsbulletin.

--Kathryn Ostic

Other headlines

Weapons Physics management team now complete with naming of Feiereisen as CCS director

Lab's Cobb speaks Wednesday to Senate Foreign Relations Committee

Panel members talk about their military experiences

ESA, PTLA receiving Quality New Mexico awards this week

Latest Los Alamos News Letter is being distributed