Special Emphasis Observances
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The Department of Energy observes special days, weeks, and months as reflected in the list below of special observances programs. Observances are held annually in compliance with Executive Order 11478, 29 CFR Part 1614.102(b)(4), joint Congressional Resolutions, Presidential Proclamations, and the Department’s diversity and inclusion goals as articulated in the Department of Energy’s Diversity and Inclusion Strategic Plan for 2012-2015.
Special Observances Programs
Special observances are designed for the purpose of providing cultural awareness to the Department. Commemorative activities conducted for these observances are educational and employment-related.
The following are Special Emphasis Observances implemented by presidential proclamation, executive orders and public law:
*denotes mandated programs
Blog Posts: Special Observances
Photo Gallery: Selected Photos from Recent Special Observance Events
1/39African American History Month Celebration on Feb. 20, 2020Director of the Office of Economic Impact and Diversity James E. Campos moderated a fireside chat between Secretary of Energy Dan Brouillette and former Congressman Julius “J.C.” Watts, discussing workforce development in the African-American community.
2/39African American History Month Celebration on Feb. 20, 2020Under Secretary of Energy, the Honorable Mark W. Menezes, highlighted how interwoven the accomplishments of African Americans are into our daily life. For instance, just up the street from DOE on L’Enfant Plaza is a park dedicated to Benjamin Banneker -– a free black man who surveyed the original boundaries of Washington, D.C., in 1791.
3/39Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Jan. 22, 2020Participants in the celebration include, left to right: Lettie Wormley from Blacks In Government (BIG), Deputy Director for the Office of Civil Rights and Diversity Patricia Zarate, Director of the Office of Economic Impact and Diversity (ED) the Honorable James E. Campos, Chairman of the Douglas Leadership Foundation Dean Nelson, Patrice Carthern from ED, and Daniel Hill from the Office of the Chief Financial Officer.
4/39Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Jan. 22, 2020Secretary of Energy Dan Brouillette emphasized the importance of Dr. King’s legacy and explained, “we seek to honor Dr. King’s life and legacy with a call to every American to serve those in need.”
5/39National Native American Heritage Month on Nov. 14, 2019Director of the Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs Kevin Frost provided the keynote.
6/39National Native American Heritage Month on Nov. 14, 2019Jody TallBear, chief of the Civil Rights Division within ED, served as host.
7/39National Disability Employment Awareness Month on Oct. 31, 2019CEO of Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind Anthony Cancelosi delivered the keynote.
8/39National Disability Employment Awareness Month on Oct. 31, 2019Director James E. Campos welcomed attendees.
9/39National Hispanic Heritage Month on Oct. 8, 2019Current Director Campos and former directors the Honorable Theresa Alvillar-Speake and José “Joe” Garcia shared their experiences in the leadership role.
10/39LGBTQ Pride Month Celebration on June 19, 2019Panelists Neil Schuldenfrei, Russell Ames, Jocelyn Richards, Colette Broussard and moderator Michael Kopalek.
11/39Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month on May 7, 2019Marilyn Madarang, an attorney in the Litigation and Enforcement Division at the Department of Energy’s Office of General Counsel, served as host.
12/39Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month on May 7, 2019Special Secretary of Small, Minority and Women Business Affairs for the State of Maryland Jimmy H. Rhee gives a powerful speech on the challenges and achievements in the Asian American and Pacific Islander community.
13/39Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month on May 7, 2019(Panelists left to right) DOE’s Krystal Laymon as moderator, Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History's Noriko Sanefuji, Baltimore Pasifika Arts Collective's Cori Dioquino, and Asian American Film Festival's David Yao.
14/39National Women's History Day celebration on March 20, 2019In her keynote address, Under Secretary for Nuclear Security and National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) Administrator Lisa E. Gordon-Hagerty highlighted remarkable women from DOE’s history.
15/39National Women's History Day celebration on March 20, 2019Special guest Secretary Rick Perry highlighted the role that women play at the Department.
16/39National Women's History Day celebration on March 20, 2019Deputy U.S. Marshal Tomeko Bryant, Associate Chief Scientist at NASA Tara Ruttley, Ph.D., moderator Cecily Johnson, Deputy Director Michele Smith, and Supervisory Special Agent at the FBI Mecole Spencer shared their pathways to success and advice based on their experiences.
17/39National African American History Celebration on Feb. 27, 2019A fireside chat with Secretary of Energy Rick Perry, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Ben Carson and Director of the Office of Economic Impact and Diversity James E. Campos.
18/39National African American History Celebration on Feb. 27, 2019Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Ben Carson receives an award from Secretary of Energy Rick Perry.
Photo courtesy of U.S. Department of Energy
19/39National African American History Celebration on Feb. 27, 2019Director of the Office of Economic Impact and Diversity James E. Campos with Johnathan Holifield, executive director of the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities; Dr. J’Tia Hart, executive briefer at the Office of Intelligence and Counterintelligence at the DOE; and Dr. Njema Frazier, director of the Office of Experimental Science at the DOE’s National Nuclear Security Administration.
20/39Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Jan. 23, 2019Keynote speaker Commissioner Rodney Ellis, Harris Country, Texas.
Photo courtesy of U.S. Department of Energy
21/39Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Jan. 23, 2019Dan Brouillette, Deputy Secretary of Energy.
Photo courtesy of U.S. Department of Energy
22/39Native American Heritage Month celebration on Nov. 29, 2018Jody TallBear, attorney advisor, Office of Civil Rights, introduces the keynote speaker.
Photo courtesy of U.S. Department of Energy
23/39Native American Heritage Month celebration on Nov. 29, 2018Carrie L. Billy, president and CEO, American Indian Higher Education Consortium (AIHEC), delivers the keynote address.
Photo courtesy of U.S. Department of Energy
24/39Native American Heritage Month celebration on Nov. 29, 2018Jody TallBear, Carrie L. Billy and Rhesia Pittman.
Photo courtesy of U.S. Department of Energy
25/39Hispanic Heritage Month Special Observance program on Oct. 4, 2018Carmelo Melendez, U.S. Department of Energy; Pamela Arias-Ortega, National Nuclear Security Administration; Catherine Jereza, DOE; and Edward Rios, DOE.
Photo courtesy of U.S. Department of Energy
26/39Hispanic Heritage Month Special Observance program on Oct. 4, 2018Keynote speaker Jeffrey Vargas, U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission.
Photo courtesy of U.S. Department of Energy
27/39Hispanic Heritage Month Special Observance program on Oct. 4, 2018Allison Wise, U.S. Office of Personnel Management; Aimee Viana, U.S. Department of Education; Hector V. Barreto, The Latino Coalition; Dr. Beatriz Cuartas, National Nuclear Security Administration; and Joe Cortez, ESPN.
Photo courtesy of U.S. Department of Energy
28/39Hispanic Heritage Month Special Observance program on Oct. 4, 2018Photo courtesy of U.S. Department of Energy
29/39Black History Month Special Observance program on Feb. 20, 2018Keynote speaker John W. Franklin, National Museum of African American History and Culture.
Photo courtesy of U.S. Department of Energy
30/39Black History Month Special Observance program on Feb. 20, 2018John W. Franklin and Secretary of the U.S. Department of Energy Rick Perry.
Photo courtesy of U.S. Department of Energy
31/39Black History Month Special Observance program on Feb. 20, 2018Photo courtesy of U.S. Department of Energy
32/39Black History Month Special Observance program on Feb. 20, 2018Photo courtesy of U.S. Department of Energy
33/39Black History Month Special Observance program on Feb. 20, 2018Photo courtesy of U.S. Department of Energy
34/39Women's History Month Special Observance program on March 8, 2018Sharon Wong, U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Veronica Villalobos, Office of Personnel Management.
Photo courtesy of U.S. Department of Energy
35/39Women's History Month Special Observance program on March 8, 2018Keynote speaker Melody C. Bell, associate deputy assistant secretary for resource management, Office of Environmental Management.
Photo courtesy of U.S. Department of Energy
36/39Women's History Month Special Observance program on March 8, 2018Photo courtesy of U.S. Department of Energy
37/39Veterans Day Special Observance program on Nov. 13, 2018Rizwan Shah, organizational culture advisor, the Office of Health, Safety and Security.
Photo courtesy of U.S. Department of Energy
38/39Veterans Day Special Observance program on Nov. 13, 2018Photo courtesy of U.S. Department of Energy
39/39Disability Employment Awareness Month in 2018Keynote speaker Jennifer Sheehy, U.S. Department of Labor, and John Walsh, director of Talent Management, U.S. Department of Energy.
Photo courtesy of U.S. Department of Energy
Observing Special Emphasis Events
Managers and supervisors are encouraged to engage in planning and implementing initiatives that promote employment, training, and career advancement opportunities in order to sustain a productive, diverse, and inclusive Departmental workforce to best serve our Nation. Showing our support as senior leaders and making a concerted effort to attend and participate in these observances is crucial in communicating the value each employee brings to the Department.
Suggested activities include, but are not restricted to the following:
- Announcement by the Head of Departmental Elements requesting participation and support of all managers, supervisors, and employees for the special program observance/event.
- Seek ways to provide training and career development opportunities for your employees of all ethnic backgrounds.
- Lectures by guest speakers such as community leaders, representatives from local government, and academia on diversity.
- Share “best practices” from field facilities, who promote diversity in the workplace.
- Special programs and award ceremonies to honor outstanding employees, who have contributed to diversity and resolved conflicts in the workplace.
- Develop a mentoring program for managers, supervisors, employees, and interns.
- Create awareness by developing and newsletters, handouts, and sharing literature in your facility or office.
Recent Videos from Special Observance Events