Nearly two years ago, the Aeronautical Center’s (MMAC) Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Accessibility (DEIA) Council was formed to promote a work environment in which all employees have equal access to information, development, and opportunities (in alignment with the Department of Transportation DEIA Strategic Plan). The purpose of the council is to:

• Provide advice and counsel to the MMAC Center Management Team
• Serve as an advocate to enhance the Center’s work environment to ensure effective recruitment and retention of a workforce that reflects diversity
• Implement DEIA initiatives to create an inclusive work environment that makes full use of the contributions of all employees
• Serve as a conduit of communication between management and employees

The council comprises equal numbers of management and non-management representatives across the MMAC. Several special emphasis groups are represented on the committee, including:

• FAA Pride
• Native American Alaskan Native Coalition for Federal Aviation Employees (NAAN)
• National Asian and Pacific American Association (NAPA)
• National Black Coalition of Federal Aviation Employees (NBCFAE)
• National Coalition of Federal Aviation Employees with Disabilities (NCFAED)
• National Hispanic Coalition of Federal Aviation Employees (NHCFAE)
• Technical Women’s Organization (TWO)
• Veterans Association

Council members are committed to building a culture of inclusion at the MMAC. When asked what DEIA means to them, there are many answers:

A management representative, Natalie Wilkowske (AVS), shares what DEIA means to her: "In a world where everyone belongs, anything is possible. It’s about us walking through this world together where we are all welcomed and encouraged to thrive."

David Guy (AVS), former council chair, shares his viewpoint: "We want to ensure MMAC has the best teammates, and that those teammates feel like they are a part of the team. I believe everyone wants to feel included in the team’s success. To accomplish this, we must treat everyone fairly and impartially. To treat everyone fairly and impartially, we must reach out to those with different life experiences and abilities. The FAA needs the best of the best to accomplish its mission. I am confident we can only do this if we focus on providing Equitable opportunities to a Diverse candidate pool. We must ensure that our team members feel included and provide reasonable accommodations to ensure our work environment is Accessible!"

Over the last year, our council has been hard at work looking at actions that we can take to ensure our FAA Family feels valued for the benefit of the team. To that end, the council has formed four action teams:

• The Employee Association Awareness Team promotes awareness of the special emphasis groups at the MMAC.
• The "Runway to Success" Team sponsors a series of informative talks on career-development-related topics of interest to all MMAC employees.
• The Communication Team focuses on publicizing DEIA Council and DEIA-related activities.
• The Outreach Team partners with the MMAC STEM outreach coordinator to build aviation-career awareness in the broader community.

Be on the lookout for events and activities sponsored by the DEIA Council. If you want to learn more about the council or share your ideas, please contact: Dallas Schrems, Council Chair or David Williams, Council Vice Chair.