# Women's History Month Spotlight: Kathleen Webb

/ Published March 13, 2020
Battle Creek, Michigan, 

# Kathleen Webb

## Environmental Protection SpecialistHill Air Force Base

**Kathleen Webb                            Get to know Kathleen Webb, an environmental protection specialist at DLA Disposition Services at Hill Air Force Base.            SHARE IMAGE:Download ImageImage DetailsPhoto By: Courtesy PhotoVIRIN: 191015-D-D0441-600How long have you worked for the federal government including military service?**10 years - I spent 6 years in the Army, 2 years with the USDA, and June 2020 will mark 2 years with DLA.

**How long have you worked for DLA Disposition Services?** 2 years in June

**What is your favorite thing about your line of work?** Feeling like what we do matters. I care deeply about the environment and how future generations will manage the challenges we face as we go into 2050 with a predicted 10 billion people on the planet.

**What is the best piece of advice someone has given you?** When things get overwhelming, just remember that the way you eat an elephant is one bite at a time.

**What do you think about when you hear “Women’s History Month?**I think about all the work that has been done before me by strong women paving the way for all of us to strive and accept nothing less than excellence.

**Who are some women you admire?**
      - Rosalind Franklin, the English chemist whose work contributed to the discovery of the structure of DNA
      - Rachel Carson, the American marine biologist who has been credited with pioneering the environmental movement with her book  Silent Spring
      - Jane Goodall, the primatologist whose studies of chimpanzees in Tanzania showed the incredible commonalities of chimps and humans

**What challenge remain for women today? How can understanding history help us to overcome them?** I have personally encountered the disparities between male and female scientists in the workforce. We can overcome these challenges by respecting the work done before us and not settling for anything less than we deserve. Aptly, my favorite quote is from cultural anthropologist Margaret Mead, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”

**What did you want to be when you grew up?** I wanted to solve mysteries! That eventually translated to wanting to be a forensic chemist. I went back to school in my 30s and received degrees in chemistry and forensics, but the crime lab is very difficult to get into, even with 30 years of lab experience. So I got another degree in environmental science and that led me to my current job at DLA.

**Who is your hero?**My mother for single-handedly raising four children, one with special needs.

**If you could choose to do anything for a day, what would it be?** I would work with animals that need rehabilitation; my life would be complete if I could hug a tiger.

**What are your hobbies?** I love to kayak, but my number one hobby is competitive powerlifting. I took it up last June after losing 90 pounds and right now I hold the Utah state records in my class for deadlift and bench press. I have another competition in April and I’m going to crush those records and make new ones!

                Kathleen Webb competes at the ‘Nightmare on Deadlift Street’ powerlifting competition in October 2019. She set a state deadlift record for her class.                            Kathleen Webb competiting                            Kathleen Webb competes at the ‘Nightmare on Deadlift Street’ powerlifting competition in October 2019. She set a state deadlift record for her class.            SHARE IMAGE:Download ImageImage DetailsPhoto By: Courtesy PhotoVIRIN: 191015-D-D0441-500                Kathleen Webb with her coach, DLA Aviation employee Terry Baldwin, at the ‘Nightmare on Deadlift Street’ powerlifting competition in October 2019.                            Kathleen Webb at a competition                            Kathleen Webb with her coach, DLA Aviation employee Terry Baldwin, at the ‘Nightmare on Deadlift Street’ powerlifting competition in October 2019.            SHARE IMAGE:Download ImageImage DetailsPhoto By: Courtesy PhotoVIRIN: 191015-D-D0441-700

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*Employee spotlight regularly features outstanding personnel from throughout the Defense Logistics Agency Disposition Services and other DLA organizations located at the Hart-Dole-Inouye Federal Center in Battle Creek, Michigan. Organizational directors may submit feature request to DLA Disposition Services Public Affairs.*