NEW CUMBERLAND, Pennsylvania –
Employees of DLA Distribution Headquarters in New Cumberland, Pennsylvania, celebrated Women’s History Month on March 22 with a presentation featuring Dr. Betty Moseley Brown, associate director of the Center for Women Veterans with the Department of Veterans Affairs. This year’s theme was “Honoring Trailblazing Women in Labor and Relations.”
DLA Distribution’s deputy commander, Twila Gonzales provided opening remarks. She touched on the birth of Women’s History Month. “Women’s History Month in the United States grew out of a weeklong celebration of women’s contributions to culture, history and society organized by the school district of Sonoma, California, in 1978.”
Gonzales spoke about the benefits of being a woman working in the federal government. She explained that women comprise 43.3 percent of the federal workforce. Additionally, the federal government has a higher proportion of women senior leaders.
“To speak personally, I started out in federal service as a GS-1 and was given many opportunities to progress to a Senior Executive Service, deputy commander of the largest primary level field activity in the Defense Logistics Agency,” said Gonzales.
Gonzales wrapped up her remarks by introducing the guest speaker, Moseley Brown. “Dr. Moseley Brown began her career and her passion for veterans during her service as a United States Marine from 1978 to 1992. Her Department of Veterans Affairs career has spanned decades and allowed her to serve in various capacities.”
A native of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, Moseley Brown began in the Veterans Benefits Administration in San Diego, California. She served in several positions, to include a veteran’s benefits counselor, management analyst in compensation and pension service and later working in the Associate Deputy Under Secretary for Policy and Program Management Office in Washington, DC. She was VBA’s first outreach coordinator, coordinating outreach activities of five major programs and efficiently providing Veterans and dependents with information on benefits and services administered by VA.
Moseley Brown served as the facilitator for VA’s National Summit on Women Veterans’ Issues, a major training and outreach quadrennial event for women Veterans, women Veterans advocates and other federal agencies that provide services to women Veterans, promoting transparent, interagency communication on issues affecting women in the military and women Veterans. She has also been instrumental in promoting national awareness of the contributions made by women who served in the military through multiple department-wide efforts, such as VA’s “Her Story” campaign and the “Faces Behind the War” DVD.
Currently, Moseley Brown coordinates VA’s administration of health care, benefits, services and programs for women Veterans, and is the lead for the Women Veteran’s Campaign, recognizing women Veterans at five primary VA locations.
“The number of women Veteran’s is increasing due to the number of women who joined the military in the 1970’s,” explained Moseley Brown. “The median age for female vets is 49, compared to male vets, which is 64.”
Moseley Brown earned a Doctor of Education degree from the University of Sarasota. She is a devoted Toastmaster achieving the highest level in public speaking of Distinguished Toastmaster in January 2011. She is a 2004 Leadership VA alumnus and 2009 graduate of the Federal Executive Institute. She also serves as the National President of the Women Marines Association, a non-profit charitable organization comprised of women who have served or are serving honorably in the United States Marine Corps regular or reserve components.
The Women’s History Program also featured the Red Land High School’s Women’s Choir who performed the national anthem and “I am woman, hear me roar,” written by Helen Reddy.
The program concluded with Army Brig. Gen. John S. Laskodi, DLA Distribution commanding general making closing remarks, and presenting Moseley Brown with a star note in appreciation of her participation in the event.