[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 43 (Tuesday, April 19, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: April 19, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                      TRIBUTE TO WANDA MARIE HEARD

                                 ______


                          HON. JULIAN C. DIXON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 19, 1994

  Mr. DIXON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay special tribute to Ms. 
Wanda Marie Heard, who on May 3, 1994, will retire from the Long Beach 
Naval Shipyard's personnel operations division. On Friday, April 22, 
1994, family and friends will gather at a retirement luncheon honoring 
Ms. Heard for her three decades of outstanding Government service. I am 
pleased to provide my colleagues with just a few highlights of her 
stellar career.
  Ms. Heard began her career with the Navy in 1965 as a commissary 
store salesclerk. Her performance as a dedicated, enthusiastic, and 
astute employee resulted in frequent promotions. As the wife of a Navy 
serviceman, she often moved and was faced with the task of locating new 
employment opportunities. Because of her outstanding employment record, 
however, she found little difficulty in landing new and more 
challenging positions with the Navy.
  Wanda's unique ability to counsel individuals in personnel matters, 
combined with her commitment to equal rights and fairness, led her to 
specialize in equal employment opportunity EEO matters. Her expertise 
in this area would prove instrumental to enhancing the Navy's work 
environment, including strengthening the morale of naval enlistees.
  As an EEO specialist, Wanda Heard prepared the Navy Command's 
affirmative employment program plan and the Federal equal employment 
opportunity recruitment plan and accomplishment reports. Her work 
received the support of management and enabled her to play an integral 
role in the development of affirmative employment plans in other 
departments as well.
  During her tenure as an EEO specialist, Wanda facilitated workshops 
on sexual harassment, worked to increase public awareness about the 
necessity for removing barriers to the physically challenged, and 
administered comprehensive sensitivity training for her colleagues. 
Wanda worked diligently and effectively to mediate discrimination 
complaints, and has been credited with bolstering the command's 
recruitment program.
  In recognition of her outstanding and distinguished Government 
service, Ms. Heard has received numerous awards, including the Federal 
Executive Board [FEB] Award, and the FEB Federal Women's Program 
Heroine Award. She also is the recipient of the Blacks in Government 
Presidential Award, and in 1987 received the Equal Employment 
Opportunity Employee of the Year Award. In addition, she has received 
numerous cash awards, certificates of appreciation, and special 
achievement awards.
  Wanda is a motivating force in her community as well. She is a member 
of the Greater Los Angeles Area Federal Women's Council, and served as 
the organization's chairperson in 1989 and 1990. She also has been an 
active member of the Federally Employed Women, Blacks in Government, 
Federal Managers Association, the Seal Beach Adopt-A-School Program, 
and the Employees' Association. Ms. Heard has volunteered annually for 
the American Cancer Society's special events committee and was a 
participant in the Winnie Mandela Ministries.
  Mr. Speaker, Wanda Marie Heard is an exceptional woman who throughout 
her career has championed fairness and equality for minorities in the 
Federal Government workplace. I am pleased to join her family, friends, 
and colleagues in commending her on her three decades of distinguished 
service to the U.S. Government. I urge my colleagues to join me in 
wishing her a long, prosperous, and healthy retirement.

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