ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. -- Dr. Victoria Dixon received the Affirmative Action Award at the 2012 Women of Color STEM Conference in Dallas, Texas, Oct. 13. Dixon is the director of the U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Command Human Relations Equal Employment Opportunity/Equal Opportunity programs.
As the principle EEO director and eyes and hears for the ATEC Leaders, Dixon planned, formatted and implemented an Affirmative employment program for all employees. This aspect of the EEO program resulted in the commanding general's command-wide policy on affirmative employment and is used by supervisors for fair and equitable hiring, training, discipline and promotion across ATEC.
"Dr. Victoria Dixon is a catalyst for change in the United States Army," said Maj. Gen. Genaro Dellarocco, ATEC commanding general. "She's responsible for ensuring that the command provides and maintains an affirmative action program of equal employment opportunity for employees and applicants."
He continued saying that Dixon champions educational and workplace excellence for 10,000 employees from diverse backgrounds while promoting an inclusive environment that maximizes the potential of all employees.
Dixon has a long history as a change agent promoting diversity among the workforce and with community outreach. She fosters participation in ATEC's special emphasis programs and ethnic observances. With her help, ATEC is known for hosting exceptional speakers and educational programs given by Ambassador Andrew Young; Mary Wilson of the Supremes; Congressman Ken Hechler (WV-D; 1959-1977), who was the only congressman to march with Martin Luther King, Jr.; Rev. Samuel Billy Kyles, the only remaining person who shared the last hour of Dr. Martin Luther King's life; Astronaut Hosea Hernandez; Jackie Guerra, actress from the movie, Selena; and Chief Kathy Lanier, the first female chief of police for Washington, D.C., to name a few.
She was also the first female to coach a community men's basketball team and win a U.S. Army-European championship, and she is the first non-Hispanic to receive the prestigious Mexican American Engineering Society Corazon Award, which means "those whose hearts shine for all to see."
ATEC is aggressively involved in the Army's Minority College Relations Program with outstanding relationships with various Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic Servicing Institutions, Tribal Colleges and Universities, and other Minority Institutions recruitment. Dixon also ensured the command hired and sponsored the Army's first EEO intern from the Wounded Warrior Program. She wants everyone to be treated fairly and with respect, a lesson she learned growing up in Louisiana.
"I was taught a lot of positive things growing up, but three of them stand out," said Dixon. "I learned to always help others and that everyone is proud of who they are. I also learned to accept and love people from all walks of life."
And Dixon does just that, every day, making a difference in the lives of the ATEC workforce and promoting equality across the Army.
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