Page 45 - profiles in civil service program 2018 version

honorable service and sacrifice for our nation. Before joining the V A, I served

for 16 years as a broadcast journalist with the United States Information
Agency/V oice of America (VOA. During this term, I served in the Afghan,
Urdu, Armenian, Ukrainian, and English language news services. In 2005 I

was awarded VOA ’s top honor for program excellence in recognition of a
report I produced on the “Israeli Security Barrier,” shot on location in Israel

and the W est Bank T erritories.

I am Dr . Shakuntla Mahajan and I served in the V eterans Administration
Hospital in W ashington, D.C. as an Attending Anesthesiologist. During my

tenure in V A, I supervised Nurse Anesthetists and mentored Resident
Physicians from George W ashington and Georgetown Universities. I worked
as the Anesthesiologist on a variety of V eterans’ cases including orthopedic
operations, neurosurgeries and open heart surgeries. My most valued

involvement was the conversations I had with my V eterans who, as my
patients, were anxious and nervous about their forthcoming operations. I was
able to make them laugh and feel comfortable. Additionally , my colleagues

and I were compassionate and dedicated, which created a positive
environment for our V eterans facing surgery . I am proud to have served our
United States V eterans, and my Anesthesiologist husband, Ophthalmologist
son and Pediatrician daughter were similarly inspired to provide service to the

American people. I serve as the National Active and Retired Federal
Employees Association (NARFE) Vice-Chair of the Maryland Federation’s

Legislative Committee.

I am Dr . Gary Roundtree Sr ., a United States Marine Corps V eteran, an
Army Reserves V eteran, and I continue to serve the United States Department
of V eterans Affairs. I have served in the U.S. Department of Defense and also

worked in the U.S. Postal Service. I am the current President of the Maryland

Federation of National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association
(NARFE. In the Department of Defense, I served as a Defense Message
Systems’ Specialist, working in the vital message communications centers in
the Fleet Marine Force and at base posts and stations. I assisted in the
operating of teletypewriters, optical character readers, and tape transport and

terminal consoles. I managed the correcting, retrieving and logging of
messages vital to the safety and security of our nation. I also served in the
U.S. Postal Service, taking pride in upholding the public trust by ensuring the

safe passage of all the postal mail under my management. I am an ordained

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