Women In Defense’s Greater Tampa Bay Chapters Mission
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Who We Are
Women in Defense (WID) strengthens the Defense Industrial Base and workforce by promoting programming that creates and enhances opportunities for women, increasing diversity within the defense community. WID’s twofold mission focuses on empowering women currently working in defense and encouraging talented young women to pursue careers in National Security. Membership is open to women and men whose primary professional activities impact the national security of the United States and its partners and allies. WID’s 22 chapters include members from defense companies; all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces; government; academia; think tanks; associations; and professional services. Active military and government employees receive complimentary membership. www.womenindefense.net
The Greater Tampa Bay Chapter of Women In Defense (WID GTB), chartered on April 29, 2013, has already attracted more than 175 members and the attention of many businesses in the region. Our monthly informational and networking events have been tremendously successful and great opportunities for networking and professional development.
Women in Defense Organization and Chapter History
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Women In Defense National History
Women In Defense (WID) engages, cultivates and supports the advancement of professionals in all aspects of national security. Incorporated in 1985, this empowerment organization provides women a business environment for professional growth through strategic networking, education, and career development.
In 2004, Women In Defense became a proud affiliate of the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA). Women In Defense is one of four affiliates of NDIA, representing all facets of the defense and technology industrial base and military services. This affiliation gives members a credible source for defense industry information, increased engagement opportunities and professional contacts, as well as an expanded scope of informative programs.
Women In Defense provides a dynamic, forward-thinking community for developing leadership skills, cultivating relationships, as well as mentoring, and education through a variety of national and regional events addressing some of the most pressing national defense issues. Through the HORIZONS program, individuas seeking post-bachelor’s degree scholarships are given the opportunity to further their educational objectives and career pursuits in the defense workforce through a demonstrated commitment to creating a more diverse national security marketplace.
Represented by 20 chapters, Women In Defense is in a period of accelerated growth and expansion. Membership is open to women and men whose primary professional activities relate to the national security of the United States and its’ allies. Women In Defense represents members from defense organizations of every size; all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces; government agencies; academia; think tanks, associations and professional services. Active military and government employees receive complimentary membership.
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Grater Tampa Bay Chapter History
The Greater Tampa Bay Chapter of Women In Defense started as a conversation at the February 2012 NDIA breakfast. Janel Brown noticed two new faces at breakfast and introduced herself to Charity Lane, a recent transplant from Washington, DC, and Meg Merritt, new to Tampa from Charleston, SC. One of the first questions Charity and Meg had for Janel was “When is our next Women In Defense event in Tampa?” Although Janel had been wearing a Navy uniform since 1993, in either an Active or Reserve role, she had never heard of a group called “Women In Defense.” Charity and Meg quickly explained the benefits of WID and the ladies decided then and there to start a chapter in Tampa.
Over the Spring and Summer of 2012, the ladies worked together to form an organizing board and attract new members to join the prospective chapter of WID GTB. During the Special Operations Forces Industry Conference (SOFIC) in May 2012, Trudy Daniels heard about the idea and got involved. Things moved quickly from there as the ladies recruited Crystal Culbertson, Edward Spencely, Pauline McPhail, Nadya DePontbriand, Denise Ennis, Asa Thomas, Lisa Monnet, and Karen Krymski to official roles on the organizing board.
By November 2012, the prospective board had recruited about half of the members necessary to form a chapter of WID. They held an official meeting with WID National just before Thanksgiving and began taking the steps necessary to become an established chapter. Their first event, a Wine and Cheese Social, was held in February 2013 at the DRS offices in Tampa. This social was a tremendous success and helped the organizing board reach a wider audience and recruit members to their fledgling committees. New members proposed speakers, venues and potential sponsors. The Tampa Bay Chapter of NDIA took their role as an affiliate of WID seriously and provided banking, marketing, and guidance as the chapter formed.
In March 2013, the prospective chapter of WID GTB welcomed their first speaker, Deb Alderson, who at the time was the newly selected CEO of SRA. This event promptly sold out the restaurant room reserved for the event, the even bigger room to which the restaurant moved the group, and then bar area. Finally, the restaurant conceded the entire first floor of the restaurant sans one table for their regular guests to the WID event. With this successful event under their belt, WID GTB reached the official member numbers required for a chapter and WID GTB was chartered on April 29, 2013.
The founding board consisted of: President: Trudy Daniels; Vice President: Charity Lane; Secretary: Janel Brown; Treasurer: Pauline McPhail; Communications: Nadya DePontbriand; Sponsorship: Edward Spenceley; Programs: Karen Krymski; Special Projects: Asa Thomas; Community Relations: Denise Ennis; Membership: Lisa Monnet
WID GTB initiatives
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STEM education
The Women in Defense Greater Tampa Bay Chapter stands out as a forward-thinking nonprofit leader, championing STEM education as a vital pillar in its mission to ignite innovation in national security and cultivate inquisitive minds throughout the Greater Tampa Bay area. STEM education stands as one of the chapter's four major initiatives, alongside volunteering, professional development, and community outreach, each designed to foster growth, inclusion, and impact in the defense sector. This commitment to STEM education involves providing scholarships to support aspiring students in pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Additionally, the chapter supports the WID Lending Library as a resource for enhancing STEM learning opportunities in local schools. The initiative also includes backing the Top Gun Academy to cultivate advanced skills among participants. Ultimately, by prioritizing STEM education through these and other projects, the chapter not only advances its goals but also nurtures a pipeline of talented individuals who bolster the vibrancy and security of the Tampa Bay defense community.
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WID Lending library
The STEM Everywhere WID Lending Library, spearheaded by Women in Defense Greater Tampa Bay Chapter in collaboration with Scoutlier and the Department of Naval Research, serves as a revolutionary no-cost resource hub designed to empower K-12 students by providing accessible STEM education tools and curricula. Imagine a bustling network of high school-based libraries where innovative STEM kits, each valued at around $5,000, are loaned out to middle schools, enabling hands-on after-school programs that spark curiosity and build skills in young minds like Sarah, a fictional middle schooler discovering her passion for engineering through interactive projects. At its core, the library operates by housing five initial kits at strategically selected high schools—such as Middleton, Chamberlain, Tampa Bay Tech, and King—allowing feeder middle schools to check them out, implement a 16-week girls-preferred curriculum, and return them mid-cycle for rotation, ensuring broad accessibility without prohibitive costs. This scalable model not only validates and extends proven elementary and middle school STEM programs piloted at schools like Lewis Elementary and Stewart Middle but also integrates high school students as mentors, turning them into real-life role models who earn volunteer hours or even college credits while guiding the next generation. By focusing on community-driven updates and annual maintenance funding, the library ensures the kits evolve with technology, preventing obsolescence and maximizing long-term impact across all 124 middle schools over a seven-year rollout. Ultimately, through stories of transformation—like a shy elementary student evolving into a confident high school leader—the WID Lending Library fosters a county-wide STEM ecosystem that builds resilience, social capital, and a pipeline of diverse talent ready to tackle national security challenges.on goes here
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professional development
The Women in Defense Greater Tampa Bay Chapter thrives as a vibrant nonprofit powerhouse, championing professional development at the heart of its quest to uplift national security experts and ignite transformative career journeys throughout the Greater Tampa Bay area. Professional development stands as one of the chapter's four major initiatives, alongside volunteering, STEM education programs, and community outreach, each designed to foster growth, inclusion, and impact in the defense sector. This emphasis on professional development includes mentorship programs that pair experienced members with emerging professionals to provide guidance, skill-building, and career advice in a supportive environment. Additionally, the chapter organizes job fairs that connect members with opportunities in government, industry, and academia, facilitating networking and exposure to diverse roles within national security. The initiative also focuses on assisting transitioning military members by linking them with businesses and resources to ease their shift to civilian life, ensuring they leverage their skills effectively in new careers. Ultimately, by prioritizing professional development, the chapter not only advances its goals but also cultivates a network of empowered leaders who contribute to a stronger, more resilient defense community in Tampa Bay.
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Community Outreach
The Women in Defense Greater Tampa Bay Chapter, as a dedicated nonprofit, places a high priority on volunteering as a cornerstone of its mission to empower professionals in national security while giving back to the Greater Tampa Bay community through hands-on service that builds lasting connections. Volunteering stands as one of the chapter's four major initiatives, alongside professional development, STEM education programs, and community outreach, each designed to foster growth, inclusion, and impact in the defense sector. This emphasis on volunteering allows members to engage in collaborative efforts by partnering and volunteering with organizations such as Habitat for Humanity. Additionally, the chapter partners and volunteers with local food banks to support community needs. Partnerships with groups like the Girl Scouts enable volunteers to contribute to youth development initiatives. Ultimately, by prioritizing volunteering, the chapter not only advances its goals but also cultivates a culture of service that strengthens community ties and supports the broader defense ecosystem in Tampa Bay.