CECOM Spotlight: Human resources specialist reviews and interprets policies

ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. — Laura O'Neill is a human resources specialist with the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command G1-Human Resources, Human Capital Division. O’Neill, who joined the CECOM workforce last year, said she enjoys the challenge of working in a fast-paced environment and helping her teammates.

O'Neill said she reviews HR policies and ensures they are up-to-date and compliant. For example, when the U.S. Office of Personnel Management provides new guidance, she reviews and interprets the information and, with the approval of her director, emails the information to the CECOM HR points of contact at the subordinate commands or CECOM headquarters.

O’Neill is also responsible for monitoring the division’s Enterprise Task Management Software Solution, or ETMS2, to ensure taskers are completed by the deadline.

What she likes most about her job, O’Neill said, is that it is challenging and constantly changing.

“I like that every day is different; it is a new policy, a new guidance, so it is just interpreting it, so people understand what is being asked of them and what they have to do,” she said.

O’Neill said her motivation is serving others.

“I like helping people, and making sure they feel heard and seen,” O’Neill said.

Proud to serve others

Prior to coming to CECOM in 2024, O’Neill worked in the private sector. She was in HR for a manufacturing company and a workforce development, training, and consultant company, where her focus was on recruiting.

“So, this is another facet of HR for me [at CECOM] focusing on policies rather than recruiting,” O’Neill said.

O’Neill is originally from Central New Jersey and holds a Bachelor of Science in communications studies and a minor in print media from Millersville University, located in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

“I realized that my favorite class was business writing, which I think was also helpful for HR,” she said.

After college, she worked as a community living manager for a non-profit organization that helped adults with disabilities. In this role, she had various responsibilities, due to a small staff. O’Neill said she discovered she enjoyed scheduling and other HR functions of the job.

O’Neill said her fiancé, who also works on the installation, encouraged her to apply for a government job because of the benefits. She also desired to serve the country as an Army Civilian. She said whenever she can help someone at work, she feels a sense of accomplishment.

“I am proud to say I work for the Department of Defense; I work for CECOM,” she said.

O’Neill recommends asking questions and being open to learning new things for people who are new to government work.

“I think that if you are lucky enough to be on a supportive team, you will be successful, just give yourself grace while you are learning about the government,” she said.

In the past year, O’Neill said working for CECOM has helped her grow professionally.

“I have been able to take on more challenges and juggle more responsibilities,” she said.

Outside of work, O’Neill enjoys spending time at home, hiking, and volunteering at Luna’s House, an animal rescue in Edgewood.

“It is very rewarding,” she said.