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Building Strong Teams in Today’s World
A t Amentum, culture isn’t a buzzword—it’s a commitment. Few exemplify that more than Gwen Clavon, a powerhouse leader with over 35 years of cleared service who radiates purpose, passion, and people-first leadership. Clearance Jobs recently sat down with Gwen and she shared her story and some advice around how important people are these days. A Heart for Technology, a Mind for Service Gwen’s journey began at UMBC, took a detour through the finance world, and quickly landed her in the heart of innovation: supporting communications and systems engineering for the Air Force, and later, network development at the National Science Foundation. There, she worked on what would become known as the “internet”—an experience she still calls one of the “coolest” of her life. But Gwen’s real fuel? People. “I’ve been fortunate to always land in places where people liked my work ethic, appreciated my passion, and gave me the chance to rise—even when I didn’t think I could,” she says. “Every step I took was because someone saw something in me. That’s what leadership is: seeing potential and helping others believe in it.” The Power of the Team Gwen’s leadership philosophy is clear: the mission doesn’t happen without the team. “There’s no ‘me,’ it’s all of us. If one of us fails, we all do. If one wins, we all celebrate.” Whether it’s setting up travel, coordinating logistics, or leading a mission-critical system integration, Gwen believes everyone at Amentum plays a vital role—and deserves to be recognized for it. She rejects the notion of being “just” anything.
Culture of Care in Action In today’s fast-paced cleared world, Gwen emphasizes the importance of showing up fully—and encouraging others to do the same. “You can’t leave a part of yourself behind and expect to love what you do. We do critical work supporting national security. You’ve got to bring your whole self—mind, heart, energy.” That authenticity shows in the way she manages her teams. “Even when we’ve had to deliver tough news—whether we lost a contract or a team member—I always remind people that endings are just new chapters. Our mission continues, and so does our commitment to each other.” You’re never just an analyst or just a coordinator. You’re a key part of something bigger. Own that.
18 MAY 2025 | NATSEC@WORK Powererd by ClearanceJobs
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