Amy Burgess works at Oceaneering’s Marine Services Division Virginia office as the Deputy SUBSAFE/DSS-SOC Program Director and the interim PMO Manager. In her positions, Amy finds it most rewarding when she is faced with new and uniquely challenging problems to solve.
“Although a lot of what we do is rooted in tried and true fundamentals, we are constantly working to identify process improvements, plan and execute work more efficiently, and remove roadblocks to success.”
“When we are able to do those things, and see our efforts manifest in the hands of the workers or the finished products, I can go home with an added sense of accomplishment,” she said. “I love working with the many talented individuals around me to make that happen.”
Amy came to Oceaneering after years of service in the US Navy and submarine force.
“Transitioning from military service into the civilian sector can be difficult, especially while trying to align the skillsets you’ve acquired in a particular military field or program. After researching multiple employment opportunities, Oceaneering’s Marine Services Division seemed like a great fit for my background in the submarine force and Navy.
“I wanted to work for a company that gave me the ability to step-in and immediately add value, in addition to providing professional growth opportunities while leveraging the extensive training and experience I already had.”
The biggest challenge for Amy was accepting that, no matter a person’s gender, operating a submarine or navigating a technical problem is entirely dependent on what you’ve got on the inside, not the outside.
“The hurdle in reconciling differences between men and women was having everyone come to the realization that there really was no functional difference – once the Band-Aid was ripped off that the status quo was changing, we found out that we’ve got twice as big of a body pool of talented individuals to choose from.”
Amy said that the next generation of women in technology should cultivate a great work ethic and positively set themselves apart from their peers.
“As a woman in an engineering heavy industry, a woman in an engineering degree field, and as one of the first women on U.S. Navy submarines, I have consistently been outnumbered by my male counterparts. If you have the knowledge and show those around that you that you are hard-working, you will inevitably gain their respect.”
She added that success in the engineering field is skill and results driven.
“The engineering world recognizes the importance of diversity and varied perspectives but is ultimately driven by effective results – so the only thing truly standing in your way is you.”
Interested in a new career path? Visit our Careers page to search our available job opportunities.