Deputy Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) officer, Carolyn Jenkins, EEO and Diversity Office, has a servant’s heart and listener’s ear.

As a deputy EEO officer for Navy Region Northwest working in the Total Work Force Division (Code N1), Jenkins has a big responsibility over the EEO Program.

Jenkins, a native of Muskogee, Okla., serves as the liaison between region and the Department of the Navy’s EEO and Diversity Office and oversees other civilian EEO programs in the Northwest.

The deputy EEO officer bridges both the military and civilian community to ensure each workplace fosters an atmosphere of dignity and respect while working to achieve the mission of the Navy.

According to Denise Thomson, Navy Region Northwest Workforce Development director (Code N16), Jenkins ensures that each activity maintains an affirmative employment program that promotes equal opportunity for all and which identifies and eliminates discriminatory practices.

“Carolyn puts people first and has an open-door policy to all persons regardless of rank, gender, national origin, religion, color or disability,” said Thomson. “She really listens to people to resolve problems; she also understands the changing demographics of the workplace and the need for everyone to achieve their highest potential.”

For 26 years Jenkins has been working in this job field, and held the deputy EEO officer position for nearly 12 years.

She began her career in the Federal Government as a high school summer hire with the Veteran’s Administration in 1970. Then upon graduation from the University of Oklahoma with a master’s degree in public administration, she began to work as a human resource office (HRO) intern at the Department of Energy in Albuquerque, N.M. where she did a rotation in each personnel discipline, including EEO.

In October 1978, she transferred to Puget Sound Naval Shipyard HRO as a human resource specialist, became the deputy EEO officer in 1998 and was later promoted to deputy EEO officer for the region in 2003.

According to Jenkins, the Navy has benefited through her assistance in setting up EEO programs, recruitment, increasing representation of diverse groups, resolving issues, streamlining the complaint and resolution processes.

When asked about what qualities made a person successfully fit for the job, Jenkins said listening.

“Being a good listener is an asset for resolving problems, assisting the organization in eliminating employment barriers and creating opportunities,” said Jenkins. “My desire after this is to help the organizations take advantage of our shifting demographics, which is critical to future success.”