Monday, January 21, 2013

Leadership With A Passion: Meet Jessica Lynch

 
 
Jessica Lynch, SPHR, is a 2012 graduate of Leadership Southern Maryland.  Jessica is also a distance runner, and in 2012 combined her quest for marathon #12 with the desire to put her mileage to good use by partnering with the ING Run for Something Better Campaign at the New York City Marathon.  Jessica raised almost $3,000, surpassing her goal, but the dream to run NYC was put on hold temporarily due to Hurricane Sandy relief efforts in the five Burroughs.  


In 2012, Jessica ran 7 marathons - putting her lifetime marathons at 11.  Jessica also ran a 25K, 8 half marathons, 3 ten milers, a 10 mile relay, a 5K (first in her age group), and the Warrior Dash.  Because of the back to back (to back) racing events, Jessica holds membership in the Half Fanatics (http://www.halffanatics.com/) and the Marathon Maniacs (http://www.marathonmaniacs.com/).   

In August, Jessica was the race director for the Women in Defense 3rd Annual 5K/10K, which donates all proceeds to local scholarships and STEM related activities.  Registration for the 4th Annual event will start this summer! 

In 2013, Jessica has already competed in the Resolution Run on New Year's Day, where she took first in her age group, and Ragnar Relay - a 197 mile race from Miami to Key West.  Jessica is looking forward to her first ultra (50K) in February, and is planning back to back (that's it) marathons on Saint Patrick's Day weekend.  Hopefully, 2013 will see the realization of completing the NYC Marathon as well.   

Jessica is crossing into triathlons in 2013, hoping to complete her first half Ironman by the end of the year, making way towards a full Ironman in 2014/15. 

When Jessica is not running, she works as the Organization and Workforce Planning and Analysis Division Head for the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) in the Total Force Strategy and Management Department.   She specializes in data analytics and business intelligence for the Command.  In order to pay for her racing habit, Jessica concurrently teaches undergraduate courses in Human Resources for the University of Maryland, University College.  Jessica is also the Vice President for the Women in Defense (WID) - Chesapeake Bay Chapter, and is a member of Society for Women Engineers (SWE) and Federally Employed Women (FEW).   

Jessica earned a Bachelor of Science in Decision and Information Technology and a Master of Science in Human Resources Management from the University of Maryland.  Additionally, she earned a post graduate certificate from Cornell University in Human Resources, and holds Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) and "Green Belt" Lean Six Sigma certifications. 

Jessica is a mother of 3, including Siena who is an alum of LEAD 2012.  Jessica currently lives in Calvert County, and has previously lived in Virginia, Massachusetts, Alabama, Florida, California, Texas, Louisiana, Hawaii, and Japan.

 

1 comment:

Nancy Easterling said...

It was my honor to get to know Jessica while we were both in the 2012 LSM class. Never seeking the limelight for personal reasons, Jessica only steps into it when striving to work for a cause she believes in passionately, and then she does it unreservedly. There is a quiet strength to Jessica that impressed all of her class members, and we all knew that we were better for having known her. I had such an amazing group of classmates in FY2012, and I am so glad that the LSM blog was able to share one of my wonderful friends with everyone! Congratulations Jessica, and thank you for continuing to inspire us!