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PM PNT leader named Outstanding Woman of the Year

By Megan Paice, PEO IEW&S Public Affairs and Andrea Wilson, PM PNT Operations AnalystSeptember 1, 2023

PM PNT leader named Outstanding Woman of the Year
On August 24th, 2023, Chair of the Aberdeen Proving Ground’s Federal Women’s Program, Nicole Karashin, presented Deputy Product Manager PM PNT, Julie Issac with a certificate of recognition and trophy for receiving the title, Outstanding Woman of the Year Award 2023. (Photo Credit: Megan Paice, PEO IEW&S Public Affairs ) VIEW ORIGINAL

Deputy Project Manager for Positioning, Navigation & Timing (PNT) Julie Isaac was named Outstanding Woman of the Year for 2023 by the Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG) Federal Women’s Program (FWP) during an awards ceremony at APG, Md.

Isaac was one of five nominees, including two women from PEO IEW&S: Ariel Antunes, Assistant Product Manager for the Guardrail Common Sensor under the Product Manager Medium Altitude Reconnaissance and Surveillance System; and Lt. Col. Courtney Gary, former Product Manager Data & Analytics.

The Outstanding Woman of the Year award recognizes women who participate in or organize developmental or educational programs that support other women in the community, highlight contributions of other women in the workforce, provide career development guidance, and represent women in mid- and senior-level positions.

Isaac was nominated by PM PNT Operations Director Rachel Manley.

“As my supervisor and mentor at PM PNT, Julie unconditionally supports my growth,” said Manley. “In two Project Management Offices and in two different professional roles, Julie has provided me with numerous opportunities to expand my knowledge about Army Acquisition, encouraged me to tackle new challenges, and supported me through difficult decisions. I regularly witness her lifting up other women and creating opportunity in the Federal Government where opportunity did not previously exist.”

During the ceremony, Isaac was honored by both FWP Chair, Nicole Karashin, who provided Isaac with a certificate of recognition and trophy, and Mary Jane Jernigan, regional Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army (CASA), who attended as an honored guest and gave Isaac a CASA coin and letter for her accomplishments.

Karashin, who has worked with APG’s FWP since 2017, said reading this year’s nominations was an honor.

“Each individual nominated is selfless and embraces the spirit of FWP. It was inspirational to see how each person demonstrated leadership and became an inspiration to those nominating them,” she said.

The award ceremony was part of the FWP’s annual celebration of Women’s Equality Day – a national observance that recognizes the adoption of the 19th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote in 1920.

“Our guest speaker, Dr. Felder, delivered a wonderful message [during the ceremony] that fit the theme of the day perfectly. You can only hope you are reaching people in [your] role, like the Chair of the FWP, and the APG community showed me loud and clear that we are meeting our mission to motivate, educate and inspire."