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PENSACOLA, Fla. (NNS) -- The 2008 Department of the Navy (DoN) Outstanding Employee with a Disability award was presented on March 19 at the National Museum of Naval Aviation aboard Naval Air Station Pensacola.

Dierdre Ann McVoy, a 22-year civil service employee who is a quadriplegic and bilateral amputee serving at the Naval Education and Training Professional Development and Technology Center (NETPDTC) as the lead analyst for the Catalog of Navy Training Courses (CANTRAC), was honored for exhibiting courage and determination toward overcoming her disability.

McVoy oversees 5,000 Navy courses listed in the Catalog of Navy Courses (CANTRAC), which are used on a daily basis by service members worldwide to locate training.

"Frankly, I am flattered beyond words," said McVoy. "Somebody actually thought about the human factors that I have to deal with in my job, because I depend on others for my survival. This is certainly the pinnacle of my career."

Presenting the award to McVoy was Patricia Adams, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Civilian Human Resources. Adams is the Navy's principal senior advisor on policies and programs impacting the DoN civilian workforce.

"Diversity adds to the richness of our workforce, and Dierdre is a perfect example," said Adams. "She provides a role model to the other NETPDTC employees in customer service, forbearance, courage, and commitment."

Adams added that the Navy is looking at doing more outreach to all of America for people with disabilities; being more welcoming and accommodating to disabled employees. "We actually have a number of pilots we are doing to try and improve our ability to hire and accommodate additional employees with disabilities."

Capt. Kathy Reed, commanding officer of NETPDTC mentioned during the ceremony that McVoy is her hero.

"Her dedication and focus on work is outstanding," said Reed. "She is an inspiration to me as a leader. Dierdre makes everyone around her a better person."

William Reynolds, McVoy's supervisor added that her peers at work don't see McVoy as a worker with a disability, they see her as a worker getting things done, with a smile on her face.

"I call what Dierdre brings to all of us inspirational leadership, delivered by example," said Reynolds. "Any time that I feel overwhelmed by the challenges I face, I just recall the challenges she faces each day in delivering the services that she provides for us."

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During the ceremony, McVoy thanked her mother as her number one enabler, for not institutionalizing her and allowing her to live a life with normal expectations.

"She never led me to assume I could not have a career, therefore I never knew what that was," said McVoy. "You raised a taxpayer and I am on my knees in gratitude."

McVoy is a native of Pensacola, and holds an associate's degree in broadcasting from Pensacola Junior College and a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of West Florida.

NETPDTC is located at Saufley Field in Pensacola, and provides the Navy with products and services to support and enhance education, training, career development and personnel advancement.

For more information about NETPDTC visit https://www.netc.navy.mil/netc/commands/netpdtc.html .

For more news from Naval Education and Training Command, visit www.navy.mil/local/cnet /.

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