Every August, General Dynamics Mission Systems celebrates diversity awareness to pay tribute to the unique perspectives our employees bring to work every day that help us stay at the forefront of innovation. 

Throughout the month and beyond, our Diversity and Inclusion Council coordinates events across the country that foster community and educate employees on new ways to grow and thrive with a diverse workforce. Most recently, our diversity and inclusion group held events at sites across the country to give employees the scoop on ways they can get involved. General Dynamics Mission Systems President, Chris Brady, spoke to employees about importance of championing diversity efforts.

Building a Diverse Workforce

"Hiring diverse candidates is essential to our success in the future," says Raul Monreal, senior program manager working in Space and Intelligence Systems. Monreal, who has been with the company for more than 28 years, serving in both program and engineering management roles, is a great example of why having a strong presence at diversity-related recruiting events is so important to General Dynamics – especially since he's the product of one. 

"When I was a freshman engineering student at Arizona State University, I attended a career fair hosted by the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE), and that's really where my career with General Dynamics, which at the time was Motorola Government Electronics Group, began," Raul says. "At that event I was hired as a summer intern, and at the conclusion of my internship the company offered me part-time work during the school year, which eventually led to a full-time position when I graduated in 2005 with my degree in computer science."

"I believe that companies that make an effort to hire the best and brightest within a diverse population will have the most innovative and desirable solutions for the future," Raul adds. That's why Raul continues to pay it forward and play an active role in helping recruit diverse candidates through a number of organizations such as SHPE, National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), Society of Women in Engineering and HENAAC/Great Minds in STEM."

"The tough problems we face today and in the future will require new ideas, and only a diverse workforce can really bring the different perspectives needed to drive the innovation our customers will expect down the road," Raul adds.

General Dynamics BEYA Winner Champions Diversity

Carla Carter, an advanced systems engineer and Black Engineer of the Year Awards (BEYA) award winner, is taking an active role in helping to reach diverse candidates, by championing her belief "that a more diverse culture fosters a successful and more productive work environment." "For me personally, the stories of female and people of color trailblazers within the fields of STEM have always inspired me," Carla says. "They made great sacrifices to "open the door" for underrepresented people within this field, and I want to ensure that I continue to support this very important work, and that it's not lost for future generations in the STEM field."

Carla encourages colleagues to get more involved and play a role in building a more diverse and inclusive culture at General Dynamics. "If nothing else, it's an opportunity to learn something new, and you never know who you will meet at an event or what you'll learn that could positively influence your team," Carla adds. We is always looking for ways to improve and grow, and Diversity & Inclusion events are an easy way to get involved. "Whether it's a Lunch and Learn event that details ways to build better teams or an event to show our appreciation to our veteran workforce, Diversity & Inclusion offers a multitude of opportunities for everyone to learn and grow."

To learn more about the General Dynamics Mission Systems Diversity & Inclusion Program, visit our webpage. Please direct any other questions to: diversity.inclusion@gd-ms.com.