BREMERTON – Annually, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People recognizes Department of Defense personnel for their outstanding accomplishments in human relations, equal opportunity, and civil rights with the Roy Wilkins Renown Service Awards.

This year, PSNS and IMF’s Diversity Program Manager, Colleen Hamling, received the award on behalf of the U.S. Navy. Hamling serves as a model mentor and respected leader in fostering inclusion and diversity. Under her leadership, the PSNS and IMF diversity program is recognized as a corporate standard due to the educational opportunities promoting acceptance and the celebration of unique perspectives. Her unwavering passion, dedication, and desire for equal opportunity is visible in her work supporting the Diversity Leadership Council, recruitment of Wounded Warriors, employee mentoring, oversight of five diverse employee resource groups, support of science, technology, engineering and mathematics outreach and other related activities. Hamling’s devotion to fair treatment aligns with the belief that all people are created equal.

“My vision for our diversity program is to work within our culture to strategically work and push boundaries so we evolve into a welcoming, respectful and inclusive environment where we appreciate and value all forms of diversity, different points of view, ideas and unique abilities,” Hamling said.

The NAACP Roy Wilkins Renown Service Award honors military members and Department of Defense civilian employees who have supported the DoD mission, overseas contingency operations, or whose attributes best epitomized the qualities and core values of their respective agencies. Nationally, only eight awards may be presented each year. PSNS and IMF is a premier organization where all can contribute their unique abilities to the success of the mission and this is the first time the Command has received the award.