DACOWITS

Defense Department Advisory Committee on Women in the Services

Selects Chair and Welcomes Three New Members

March 2006--Secretary of Defense Donald R. Rumsfeld has announced the selection of the new chairperson and three 2006 appointees to the Defense Department Advisory Committee on Women in the Services (DACOWITS).

Dr. Mary Nelson, Lafayette, Colorado – Chairperson

Mary Nelson has taught mathematics at all levels over the past 35 years, and is currently an Applied Mathematics instructor at the University of Colorado, Boulder. Previous college teaching positions included George Mason University, the University of Maryland Overseas Division and Front Range Community College. Mrs. Nelson has a B.S. and M.S. in mathematics from Marquette and George Mason University, respectively, and has a Ph.D. in Research and Evaluation Methodology. She was an Army spouse for 26 years including ten years in Germany and two in Moscow, Russia.

In Moscow, she managed an AID program through the Commerce Department, which brought scientists and businessmen from all over the former Soviet Union to the United States for internships.

The Honorable Diana Destine Denman, San Antonio, Texas

Diana Denman of San Antonio, Texas is a past member of the Board of Overseers of the Hoover Institute, serves on the Board of Advisors of the Center for Security Policy, is a Hillsdale College Associate, and member of the Philadelphia Society. As a Presidential Appointee, she has served as Co-Chairman of the United States Peace Corps Advisory Council, and also member of the Institute for Museum Services Board. Denman has been honored as the Distinguished Alumna of the Year at Mount Vernon College, and is a graduate of George Washington University

Presidential appointee, National Museum Services Board; member, U.S. presidential delegation to the fifth anniversary of the U.S./Caribbean Grenada rescue mission, 1988; member, U.S. presidential delegation to observe the Honduras 1985 presidential elections; Women for Peace through Real Defense delegation, Geneva Summit, 1985; U.S. Peace Corps Advisory Council; former co-chairman, U.S. Peace Corps 1982-1983; former vice chairman, Republican Party of Texas, 1983-1988; former member, Texas State Republican executive committee; Texas Reagan/Bush 1984 steering committee; former chairman, Texas delegation to Southern Leadership Conference; former member, Blue Ribbon Committee, Screen Actor's Guild; A.A, Mt. Vernon College; distinguished award, Mt. Vernon College, 1986; B.A., journalism, George Washington University. Spouse – Leroy. San Antonio, Texas. Diana Denman

Denise W. Balzano, McLean, Virginia-Child Help USA Board of Directors

Margaret M. White, McLean, Virginia

The Committee provides the Department of Defense, through the Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense, (Personnel and Readiness), with advice and recommendations on matters and policies relating to the recruitment and retention, treatment, employment, integration, and well-being of highly qualified professional women in the Armed Forces. In addition, the Committee provides advice and recommendations on family issues related to the recruitment and retention of a highly qualified professional military. The Committee members, representing a distribution of demography, professional career fields, community service, and geography, and selected on the basis of their experience in the military, as a member of a military family, or with women's or family-related workforce issues perform a variety of duties including visiting at least two military installations each year, conducting a review and evaluation of current research on military women and family issues and developing an annual report with recommendations on these issues to Service leadership and the Secretary of Defense.

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