I began working with the DoD in 2014, and have had a variety of government roles and positions since then.
Below is a piece I wrote during my time with the Recruitment Office at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, as their Recruitment Communications Program Manager.
The article was first posted to my LinkedIn on March 25, 2020, and the original piece can be found on here: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/womens-history-month-mini-series-women-geoint-brittany-l-reid/
Women's History Month Mini-Series: Women in GEOINT
Written by: Brittany L. Reid, Recruitment Communications Program Manager
NGA Talent Acquisition Center
March is Women’s History month, and as the month comes to a close, I wanted to take the time to recognize astounding women who have made amazing strides in our nation’s history. This mini-series honors women in the fields of GEOINT—specifically those who have made unique contributions in the land, sea, and space domains.
These women span the gamut of a multitude of STEM skillsets that fuel the core of Geospatial Intelligence.
Today, we recognize Sacagawea, a Native American Woman who played a vital role in exploring and charting the westward expansion of America.
Tuesday, March 25, 2020
LAND – SACAGAWEA
(1788-1812)
Birth Location – Lemhi County, Idaho
Death Location – Fort Manuel in what is now Kenel, South Dakota
Education – Bilingual (Hidatsa and Shoshone languages)
Sacagawea, a member of the Lemhi band of the Native American Shoshone tribe, was the daughter of a Shoshone chief. She is renowned for having accompanied famed explorers Meriwether Lewis and his co-captain William Clark as they surveyed 828,000 square miles of newly acquired western lands that then president Thomas Jefferson purchased from France (i.e. The Louisiana Purchase).
Lewis, Clark, and their team, also known as the Corps of Discovery, travelled to the Hidatsa-Mandan tribes’ settlement in November of 1804, where they met and secured the assistance of fur-trader Toussaint Charbonneau and his wife Sacagawea. After months of preparation, the group began their westward expedition on April 7, 1805, just two months after Sacagawea had given birth to her son, Jean-Baptiste Charbonneau.
Contributions – Sacagawea was essential to the expedition in more ways than one. In being bilingual (speaking Hidasta and Shoshone), she was able to work with her husband (who spoke Hidasta and English) to negotiate on behalf of the group for the usage of horses, which was crucial for transporting key supplies. She could easily recollect Shoshone trails; she navigated the team through mountainous terrain; and she gave credence to the trustworthiness of the group as they interacted with other tribes along their journey. In addition, Sacagawea was also highly adept at gathering food and determining which plants were safe to eat, and which ones could be used to treat medical conditions.
(Picture Above from Adventure-Journal.com: https://www.adventure-journal.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Detail_Lewis__Clark_at_Three_Forks-e1434649764740.jpg)
In the end, despite the vital role she played, Sacagawea did not have the good fortune of receiving compensation for her work like her husband. However, over the years, she has received many statues and monuments commemorating her contributions to Lewis and Clark’s journey, including being featured on a dollar coin issued by the U.S. Mint in the year 2000.
My Take – Though she was the daughter of a tribal chief, Sacagawea, like most women, actually was not afforded much in the way of freedom during her time. Still, despite that, she persevered. Sacagawea used her skills, her wit, and her resilience to overcome hardships—not just for herself, but for her family and the Corps of Discovery. Sacagawea prevented Lewis and Clark’s research from being lost to the sands of time. She was critical to the success of their expedition, and she proved that women have the skillsets to help all of mankind truly thrive.
Fun Fact – Perhaps the most riveting story of Sacagawea is the tale of how she rescued an abundance of maps, documents, and other critical supplies after a boat she was sailing in capsized—all while keeping her young baby safe. In honor of her bravery, quick thinking, and prompt actions in preserving their work, Lewis and Clark named a Branch of the Missouri River after her.
(Picture Above from Biography.com: https://www.biography.com/.image/ar_1:1%2Cc_fill%2Ccs_srgb%2Cg_face%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_300/MTM0MjEzODgzMTk4OTc0NTk1/sacagawea-statue-idahojpg.jpg)
Website References:
https://www.history.com/topics/native-american-history/sacagawea
https://www.biography.com/explorer/sacagawea
https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/sacagawea
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