State of Readiness; Dr. Cynthia J. Young, Leidos
Cindy is as self-made a person as anyone I have ever met. After graduating high school and not having any particular skills that were as yet discovered nor the grades or money to get into University, she joined the United States Navy as an enlisted person. Perhaps she knew, and it’s just as likely she did not, that this single decision to join the Navy set her on a professional trajectory that is nothing short of amazing.
Once in the Navy, her MOS was that of a cryptologic technician maintenance servicing communication equipment. As her initial planned time in the Navy was nearing the end, instead of leaving, she decided to remain and earn her Bachelor’s Degree (soon-after becoming an officer) and then her Master’s Degrees – eventually retiring from the Navy. She earned her Doctorate degree after leaving the Navy when she was 46. Her doctoral study, Knowledge Management and Innovation on Firm Performance of United States Ship Repair, provided her the opportunity to gain additional professional and academic expertise to facilitate improvements in organizational knowledge management.
She had a daughter while stationed in Georgia which added yet another level of complexity; working hard to balance her professional career in the Navy with her studies and the new responsibilities of being a mother. Her driving force – wanting to never fail at any of it and making sure her daughter was provided for and brought-up in a stable environment.
