Congratulations to Women Veterans ROCK!’s Washington, DC Metro / Capital Region State President Barbara Ann Pittman, USAF (Ret), on being appointed Chair of the Veterans Committee for the National Congress of Black Women (NCBW), Metropolitan Washington, DC Chapter.
Pittman says that she attends the Congressional Black Caucus in Washington, DC every year and observed that African American women and women veterans were underrepresented on The Hill. As the the newly appointed Chair, Pittman will work with Dr. E. Faye Williams, Esq., President and CEO of the National Congress of Black Women, Inc. to collectively seek avenues to increase women veterans’ leadership and career opportunities; since veterans are discharged back into the community, educate the community in leveraging existing resources; and to increase coordination of activities in an effort to help women Veterans develop public service and community engagement skill sets in order to prepare for leadership in public and community service opportunities.
On September 16-20, Pittman will be attending the 45th Annual Legislative Conference hosted by the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation in Washington, DC. Pittman will be available to speak to women veterans, military spouses, and women in military families who are interested in discussing Women Veterans ROCK! or registering in advance for the Women Veterans ROCK! Veterans Day Rally & Celebration on Wednesday, November 11.
About Barbara Pittman
Barbara A. Pittman currently serves as the DC Representative to the Joint Operations Center, located in the DC National Guard Armory. She was reassigned to this position after 13 years as the Acting Director and Veterans Benefits Special Assistant, Executive Office of the Mayor, Government of the District of Columbia, Office of Veterans Affairs (OVA). A native Washingtonian, she attended Colonel Charles Young Elementary School, Charles Hart Junior High School, and Frank W. Ballou Senior High. After the completion of high school, Ms. Pittman attended Federal City College, Washington, DC; and Malcolm X College, Chicago, Illinois; earning a certificate in Paralegal Studies.
Ms. Pittman was one the Veterans who helped to reopen the DC Office of Veterans Affairs on Veterans Day 2002. Ms. Pittman has held other positions as a civilian, such as FOIA Manager for Air Force Legal Services Agency (AFLSA), Paralegal for the Marine Spill Response Corporation (MSRC) and as a Paralegal/Non-Attorney Practitioner at the Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of the General Counsel, Professional Group 7 (027B). As an employee of the Department of Veterans Affairs, she drafted and presented written legal assessments, having precedential effect in adjudications and appeals involving veterans’ benefits and services under the laws administered by VA.
Ms. Pittman served in the United States Air Force from 11 September 1974 and retired honorably on 1 October 1995. Her assignments include Moody AFB, Georgia, Pope Air Force Base, North Carolina, Rhein-Main AB, Germany, Zweibrucken Air Base, Germany, Barksdale AFB, Louisiana; Clark Air Base, Philippines; Osan AB Korea and USAF Pentagon. She responded to disasters as a part of the Air Force recovery team to Clark AB, Phillipines (evacuation), Ramstein AB, Germany (aircraft accidents), and Homestead AFB, Florida (Hurricane Andrew).
Awards and Decorations that she is authorized to wear include the Air Force Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Force Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters, the Air Force Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters, the Joint Meritorious Unit Award, the Outstanding Unit Award with one oak leaf cluster, the Good Conduct Medal with one silver oak leaf cluster, the National Defense Service Medal, the Joint Service Humanitarian Service Medal, the Air Force Overseas Short Tour Ribbon, the Air Force Overseas Long Tour Ribbon with two oak leaf clusters, the Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon with one silver oak leaf cluster, the USAF NCO Professional Military Graduate Ribbon with two oak leaf clusters and the Air Force Training Ribbon. She was nominated as the United States Air Force Legal Services Agency Paralegal of the Year in 1994.
Ms. Pittman is a life member of the Air Force Sergeants Association (AFSA), Disabled American Veterans (DAV), Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2979 (VFW), American Veterans Johnny Collins Post 8 (AMVETS), American Legion Post 8, National Association of Black Veterans (NABVETS), Women in Military Service for America Memorial (WIMSA), National Association of Black Military Women (NABMW), Vietnam Veterans of American Post 958 (VVA), the Combined Military Retirees Association (CMRA), and the current Senior Vice Commander, for DC Department, AMVETS.
About the National Congress of Black Women
The National Congress of Black Woman, Inc. (NCBW) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to the educational, political, economic and cultural development of African American women and their families. NCBW also serves as a non-partisan voice and instrument on issues pertaining to the appointment of African American women at all levels of government, and to increase African American women’s participation in the educational, political, economic and social arenas. Currently, NCBW provides opportunities for women for leadership and decision-making positions in government, non-profit organizations and the private sector.
