Women’s History Month: ‘leadership is not about gender’

Women’s History Month is recognized every March.

Throughout the long storied history of the U.S. Navy, there have been countless women who have stood out among their peers, despite challenges of integration during the early 20th century.

Today, female Sailors enjoy more opportunities than ever before, in thanks to the many who came before them proving that despite gender, every Sailor deserves to be afforded the same chance to contribute to the Navy’s mission and to succeed.

As of a 2016 demographics report by the DoD, women make up 18.9 percent of the entire Navy workforce making each senior female leader within the Fleet rare.

ACCS Kristen Poulin is one leader aboard NAS Corpus Christi who strives every day to make a difference for the air station and her Air Traffic Control Division, according to Lt. Cmdr. John Woods, air traffic control facility manager.

“Poulin is the quintessential Sailor. Her work ethic inspires those she comes into contact with. She delivers her very best effort which has immeasurably forged a strong and efficient work force responsible for the safe, orderly and expeditious control of over 200,000 annual flight operations spanning three airfields,” Woods said. “In the few months she has been stationed aboard NASCC, her devotion, exact military bearing, and her innate ability to motivate others to continually progress confidently towards divisional goals is a unique and inspiring quality that has greatly optimized the morale of the division, Air Operations Department, and NASCC.”

Poulin comes from a Navy lineage as both of her parents were active duty Sailors serving full careers. She said as a Navy brat, she does not really claim a hometown, but did graduate high school in Florida.

“My mom retired as a Lt. Cmdr. and my dad retired as a senior chief,” she said. “I grew up around the Navy aviation community, as my dad was also an aviation mechanic.”

She said being around Navy aircraft constantly and the experiences her parents shared with her daily greatly influenced her decision to first enlist in the Navy, and second, choose a the same field her father spent his career in.

“My mom was also the very first female leader I had in my life who wore a uniform. I had never put a lot of thought into that until recently, but I have found my day to day approach to leadership reflective of what my mother instilled in me while growing up.”

Poulin said that style of leadership she employs has definitely progressed over the years of being a leader in the Navy.

“I’m rather deliberate and methodical in how I approach each situation with my Sailors and my mission, trying to never to be too quick to judge,” she said. “I want to elevate every Sailor for the good work they do, also ensuring that he or she understands the difference between reward and punishment when necessary.”

Poulin references the fact that her mom was always very sure of herself and confident, and recognizes the need to be the same way.

“I believe as a female Sailor, particularly, I cannot let my gender be my identity or stereotype me in any way,” she said. “There are barriers that naturally exist for females in life and in the service, but I’ve never let those barriers speak for me or get in my way of having a successful Navy career.”

Poulin has supervised many Sailors throughout her career that has spanned nearly 18 years.

After graduating from Navy basic training, she attended her “A” School and “C” School at Naval Air Technical Training Center, Pensacola, Florida, and then reported to USS Stennis (CVN 74) in San Diego, California.

While there, she earned both Enlisted Air Warfare Specialist and Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist designations. She also was promoted to second class petty officer prior to her transfer in May 2004.

Poulin reported aboard NAS Corpus Christi for the first time in June 2004, assigned to Air Traffic Control as leading petty officer, facility watch supervisor, training chief and tower chief. She was promoted to 1st class petty officer while stationed there.

She reported next to USS Nimitz (CVN

68) in December 2008, serving as the Carrier Air Traffic Control Center supervisor, carrier controlled approach watch officer, CATCC Chief, and Sexual Assault and Response Program coordinator.

Poulin donned anchors in September 2010 and then moved to Fleet Area Control and Surveillance Facility, San Diego, serving as ATC Division leading chief petty officer, training chief, Command SAPR liaison, and Command Victim Witness and Assistance Coordinator.

“Crossing over and joining the (chief petty officer) mess is such an honor,” Poulin said. “There’s a dramatic change that takes place as a leader.”

During her assignment at Naval Base Coronado she was promoted to senior chief petty officer in May 2015.

Poulin said she remains modest about her achievements because she recognizes the strides female Sailors have made before her and is appreciative to that.

The Navy has come a long way since the inception of the Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service Act, signed in 1942 by President Franklin Roosevelt into law.

Poulin and her husband, Jeffery, who is a Navy master chief (serving at NAS Kingsville) returned to South Texas in 2017. They have two children, Aubree and Remy.