Growing up, Becky Heaps didn't always know what she wanted to be, but she knew what she didn't. At a young age, she knew she wanted to make a difference in people's lives. Her parents' careers in education and medicine didn't appeal to her. Her father, John, who sadly passed away last summer, had a long career with the Cecil County Board of Education, serving as a teacher, vice principal, principal, and finally, head of curriculum and supervisor of social studies and foreign languages. Her mother, Janice, was a registered dietician with the Department of Veterans Affairs, or VA. She eventually became the food services and dietetics site manager at the VA Medical Center in Perry Point, Maryland. She retired in 2004 after 27 years of service.
Her parents' careers played a significant role in shaping her own career path. After earning her bachelor's degree in English Literature from Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in 2002, Heaps started her career in the defense industry the following year. She joined Cobro Corporation as a data collector. Cobro was a key defense contractor for the U.S. Army Aberdeen Test Center, or ATC, at Aberdeen Proving Ground in Harford County, Maryland. Heaps was deeply committed to ATC's mission of ensuring the safety of Soldiers who risked their lives for their country. She recognized the importance of the Army's goal to protect the safety of its warfighters. She was eager to contribute to this critical mission.
Today, Heaps serves as the team lead for the ATEC Scheduling and Resource Team within the Operations Division of the G-3/5/7 Safety Directorate. In this role, she leads a highly proficient team that schedules and oversees Army test events. Her leadership is pivotal in ensuring these critical tests, essential for evaluating Army equipment under diverse conditions, are executed flawlessly. Additionally, she diligently monitors the Army's task schedules, making timely adjustments to avert potential issues.
Heaps is a recognized expert on the ATEC Decision Support System, or ADSS, an indispensable tool for managing test data. Her proficiency in initiating new projects, providing expert guidance, resolving data discrepancies, and conducting training sessions for new employees on navigating ADSS has solidified her reputation. Her technical expertise and thorough comprehension of ADSS have made her an essential team member. Beyond her technical duties, she adeptly handles Army resource planning and coordinates high-level meetings with senior Army leaders.
Heaps' parents also influenced her philosophy on life and how she leads. Growing up, they taught her about empathy. They instilled in her an awareness and understanding of the differences in other people's circumstances. They raised her to practice tolerance and acceptance, but above all, to assist where and when she could while not losing sight of her own goals.
Her life philosophy centers on seeing the best in people and believing everyone deserves a second chance. Heaps says that finding a way to personally connect with others changes relationships and makes working together easier. This perspective is vital to her management style, where she promotes a tolerant and understanding environment, helping her navigate the often complex relationships in the workplace.
Heaps' leadership style is deeply participative, shaped by her conviction that empowering and involving others leads to better decisions and a more committed team. She believes in the power of listening and explaining the 'why' behind decisions, ensuring her team understands their tasks and feels invested in the outcomes. Her emphasis on listening makes her team members feel recognized and valued, promoting open communication and mutual respect.
Her commitment to community and family have been essential to her professional success. For the last 10 years, Heaps has made her home in the historic town of Port Deposit, Maryland. Located along the banks of the Susquehanna River, Port Deposit boasts a rich history dating back to its early days as a bustling port. She lives there with Earl, her husband of 12 years whom she met while both were working at the U.S. Army Developmental Test Command, or DTC, and their 9-year-old daughter Gabby. Earl's son and Heaps' stepson, Jordan, age 32, lives in Belcamp, Maryland. After DTC merged with ATEC in January 2011, both Heaps and Earl's jobs transitioned to ATEC. After working for ATEC for over 20 years, Earl retired in 2021.
Throughout her career, Heaps has been involved in many projects to improve how the Army tests and evaluates new equipment. She uses her expertise to ensure best practices are followed in using ADSS and the test scheduling and review process. Her goal is to ensure that the command's activities align with the Army's mission and that responses to the Department of the Army are timely and effective.
Looking ahead, Heaps is focused on the challenges and opportunities of the future. One such challenge is the successful implementation of the ATEC Integrated Mission Management System. This innovative program, set to replace ADSS as it phases out, will equip ATEC with a comprehensive system for managing projects, organizing content, handling workflows, integrating applications, and analyzing data.
Heaps says her reward has always been doing a job she loves and working alongside people who make the work worthwhile. She advises: "Find joy in what you're working on. If you don't find joy, value, and a sense of accomplishment in what you are doing, then it may not be the right fit for you. Keep looking until you do."
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