On the heels of some important celebrations such as the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Months, along with Cinco de Mayo, and Public Service Recognition Week, we are reminded about the importance of our cultural recognitions and how they help to unite and educate us. Recognizing and honoring the diversity across our workforce is a wonderful part of the collective Culture that we have at the MMAC. Culture is also a critical focus area for the Center as one of our 4-C's – Culture, Communication, Collaboration, and Cost Effectiveness.

This past month we hosted the second cohort through the Tinker Air Force Base Leadership Exchange Program. This program provides a one-week opportunity for both MMAC and Tinker leaders to benchmark and exchange ideas with peers from across the metro. The time is spent with immersive benchmarking experiences where members can gain exposure to better understand each other's mission, facilitate the exchange of ideas, expand one's peer network and foster innovation. It's exciting to have employees from two of the largest employers in the State of Oklahoma joining forces to help drive improvements.

We were also honored to host OK Senator John Haste, Senator Jerry Alvord, and Grayson Ardies, State Director of Aeronautics on May 12th as they were able to tour parts of our Aeronautical Center. Both Senators serve on the Senate Aeronautics and Transportation Committee and the Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission has been actively involved with supporting our Aviation Career Education (ACE) camps and aviation outreach efforts. We also had the pleasure of hosting members from the Records and Information Management Team, Richard Mattison, Shhonn Taylor, and Richard Allen. Besides touring different organizations at the Center, they collaborated on new record processes and held discussions about the development of records management training.

This month, we congratulate Jim Doskow as he accepts a new career in the Air Traffic Safety Oversight Service (AOV) division and welcome Valdrie Buford as the Acting Director for the FAA Academy. Valdrie has a long career with FAA and was just recognized for 35 years of federal service!

Additionally, the second Aeronautical Center Employee Development (AsCEnD) cohort just graduated its 30 participants. During their seven month AsCEnD program, they completed seven, eight-hour development sessions. These participants were able to experience many of the different missions that occur across the Aeronautical Center, and have become strong ambassadors for the Center, reinforcing the incredible mission accomplished here. The program was comprised of tours, networking, and some academic exercises. Be on the lookout, as applications for the third cohort will soon be announced!

There's still time to take the Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey (FEVS) in which the deadline has been extended to July 7th. It is your insight that helps determine those areas in the workplace that need improvement. Please take the time to give your input as it does make a difference.

Thanks for all the work you do, day in and day out, to make the Aeronautical Center a Top Place to Work!

Kindly,

Michelle Coppedge
Director, Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center