Journey to Empowerment:
Rear Admiral Evelyn Fields Recounts Her Journey

By Cecelia Lei

            The theme of UCSD’s Black History Month, From Slavery to Freedom, reflects the challenging journey that African-Americans have experienced in our nation’s history as well as the progress made thus far for the black community throughout the past and the present-day.  February is a month not just for celebrating the rich African-American history of this nation, but also a month in which we can honor our fellow community heroes and the many different stories and journeys that they have embarked upon to achieve social progress and success. 

            On the afternoon of February 17, 2006, as part of UCSD’s month-long celebration events, Rear Admiral Evelyn Fields of the Office of Marine and Aviation Operations at the Naval Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) gave a talk in the Price Center Ballroom.  Fields’ motivational lecture, Journey to Empowerment, recounted her own personal journey to achieve the remarkable position as being the first woman and African-American to serve as director of the Office of NOAA Corps Operations and the NOAA Commissioned Corps.  Her lecture recounted the struggles she had to face as an African-American woman in both a male and white-dominated organization, as well as the ways in which empowerment can be made through self-realization.

            Fields first started her career in 1971, a time in which there were not many opportunities for both women and racial minorities.  In 1973, Fields received her first commission in the NOAA Corps as the first African American woman to join.  It was not until the press media showed up at her swearing-in ceremony that Fields noticed the significance of her commission.  Since then, Fields has received seven promotions over the course of 30 years, and most notably the highest rank in the NOAA Corps.  Fields described the challenges she faced during her career since “women seemed to be quite a novelty” in the male-dominated world of NOAA.  As a result, Fields faced great expectations and high scrutiny for being a woman in her line of work. 

            In order to motivate herself and prove her critics wrong, Fields explained the ways in which she had to find her own self-empowerment.  When asked how she encouraged herself, Fields stated confidently “If you tell me I can’t do something, I’m going to prove to you I can do it.”  She attributes her successes to her self-determination and stubborness.  “It is not merely enough to recognize opportunity is knocking,” says Fields who emphasizes the importance of taking risks, having the courage to take a stand, and being able to make mistakes.  She encouraged not to dwell on past mistakes but rather to “think of each mistake as an opportunity in disguise.”  As part of her duties as admiral in making important day-to-day and safety decisions while managing a ship on command, Fields asserts that it was crucial that she trusted her own capabilities and that one must “give yourself authority.”  In this way, Fields was able to fulfill her leadership position by not only asserting her authority and abilities but also believing in them.

            When audience members asked Fields how she, as both an African-American and a woman, was able to rise above as a minority in American society, she described the importance of being aware of the organizational structure she was working within in NOAA and navigating through it carefully, closely paying attention to details and making adjustments to decisions as situations would shift.  Fields reflected upon the need to not only remain self-confident and determined, but also recognize the ways in which an organization or situation functioned in order to develop a sense in which one can take a firm stand.  It is this spirit of self-determination and consciousness that are key elements to finding the steps in completing the journey to empowerment. 

            The incredible journey that Fields has embarked upon reminds us to reflect upon the many journeys that African-Americans have taken in the past and are taking currently, striving to make a change and a mark that others can look to as inspiration.  When asked who were her own personal influences, Fields names her mother, who she credits her stubbornness to, and the other radical role models that have paved paths for her.  Fields, just as her own role models, has proved to have paved an incredible path to empowerment for many others taking their own personal journeys to self-realization and success.  Fields stands as a reminder to us, while we celebrate Black History Month, that the achievements of one individual stands as a testament to personal will – something that everyone can value, regardless of color or gender.