Dorothy Hartsfield

I decided to specialize in computers after six years as an administrative staff member in the Army. I switched specialty areas because I saw a great deal of opportunity both in the military and the civilian world for people with computer expertise. I received frequent training to keep my skills up-to-date in the latest technologies. In addition, I have also taken the time to pursue a degree in business administration, one of my personal goals.

After my initial training at Fort Benjamin Harrison in Indianapolis, I went to Germany where I performed systems analysis and troubleshooting duties for a financial system at the Army’s Information Systems Command. I was then posted to Fort Lee, Virginia where I installed a complex contracting system that would be used at bases all over the world.

After three years, I had the opportunity to go to Hawaii. I worked on a team installing and maintaining a global command and control system. It was an exciting and hectic time because our mission was to do whatever it took to get the system on-line. On this assignment, I gained a lot of experience and developed great teamwork skills as the project enabled me to work with personnel from all branches of the armed forces.

I recently moved to Virginia. At the Army’s Information Systems Command at Fort Belvoir, near Washington, DC, I am the Non-Commissioned Officer-In-Charge of the Army’s Computer Emergency Response Team, which responds to computer failures due to everything from natural disasters to intrusions by hackers. I had to maintain team readiness and ensure that the staff was well-trained on the latest technologies.