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:
| Month | Special Emphasis Program Observances |
|---|---|
| January | Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. |
| February | Black History Month |
| March | Women's History Month* |
| May | Asian American/Pacific Islander Heritage Month |
| June | Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) Pride Month |
| August 26 | Women’s Equality Day |
| September | National Hispanic Heritage Month* |
| October | National Disability Employment Awareness Month* |
| November | American Indian/Alaskan Native Heritage Month |
| November | Veterans Day |
*denotes mandated programs
Blog Posts: Special Observances
Photo Gallery: Selected Photos from Recent Special Observance Events
Director 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.
Under 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.
Participants 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.
Secretary 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.”
Director of the Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs Kevin Frost provided the keynote.
Jody TallBear, chief of the Civil Rights Division within ED, served as host.
CEO of Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind Anthony Cancelosi delivered the keynote.
Director James E. Campos welcomed attendees.
Current Director Campos and former directors the Honorable Theresa Alvillar-Speake and José “Joe” Garcia shared their experiences in the leadership role.
Panelists Neil Schuldenfrei, Russell Ames, Jocelyn Richards, Colette Broussard and moderator Michael Kopalek.
Marilyn Madarang, an attorney in the Litigation and Enforcement Division at the Department of Energy’s Office of General Counsel, served as host.
Special 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.
(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.
In 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.
Special guest Secretary Rick Perry highlighted the role that women play at the Department.
Deputy 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.
A 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.
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Ben Carson receives an award from Secretary of Energy Rick Perry.
Photo courtesy of U.S. Department of Energy
Director 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.
Keynote speaker Commissioner Rodney Ellis, Harris Country, Texas.
Photo courtesy of U.S. Department of Energy
Dan Brouillette, Deputy Secretary of Energy.
Photo courtesy of U.S. Department of Energy
Jody TallBear, attorney advisor, Office of Civil Rights, introduces the keynote speaker.
Photo courtesy of U.S. Department of Energy
Carrie L. Billy, president and CEO, American Indian Higher Education Consortium (AIHEC), delivers the keynote address.
Photo courtesy of U.S. Department of Energy
Jody TallBear, Carrie L. Billy and Rhesia Pittman.
Photo courtesy of U.S. Department of Energy
Carmelo 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
Keynote speaker Jeffrey Vargas, U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission.
Photo courtesy of U.S. Department of Energy
Allison 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
Photo courtesy of U.S. Department of Energy
Keynote speaker John W. Franklin, National Museum of African American History and Culture.
Photo courtesy of U.S. Department of Energy
John W. Franklin and Secretary of the U.S. Department of Energy Rick Perry.
Photo courtesy of U.S. Department of Energy
Photo courtesy of U.S. Department of Energy
Photo courtesy of U.S. Department of Energy
Photo courtesy of U.S. Department of Energy
Sharon Wong, U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Veronica Villalobos, Office of Personnel Management.
Photo courtesy of U.S. Department of Energy
Keynote speaker Melody C. Bell, associate deputy assistant secretary for resource management, Office of Environmental Management.
Photo courtesy of U.S. Department of Energy
Photo courtesy of U.S. Department of Energy
Rizwan Shah, organizational culture advisor, the Office of Health, Safety and Security.
Photo courtesy of U.S. Department of Energy
Photo courtesy of U.S. Department of Energy
Keynote 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.