Houston native appointed to senior executive service member, assumes director position of CNIC Total Force Manpower
22 November 2021
From Chief Mass Communication Specialist Brian Morales, Commander, Navy Installations Command Public Affairs
“Being appointed to the senior executive service is no small feat and the leaders who have mentored me set me up for success,” said a Houston native assuming the director role for Commander, Navy Installations Command’s (CNIC) Total Force Manpower, at the Washington Navy Yard, Nov. 5.
Leslie R. Joseph was promoted to SES and took the oath of office administered by CNIC Executive Director Timothy Bridges during a promotion ceremony virtually broadcasted via Facebook Live and Microsoft Teams.
"As a civilian employee, I have enjoyed a 20 year career of federal service in the Department of Defense alongside my husband Ira I. Joseph, who was an active duty Army officer for 26 years,” said Joseph. “This was a job thing that turned into a career thing and wherever opportunity presented itself for my professional growth, I accepted the challenge. The overall role of DoD civilians is to support the warfighter and the family and so regardless of military department, I know the mission is the same.”
As the director of Total Force Manpower, Joseph is the principal advisor on all matters of human capital management across 10 regions and 70 installations. She is charged with shaping the strategic direction, policy and program support for the effective and efficient talent acquisition and management of a worldwide workforce of approximately 54,000 military, civilian and contractor personnel.
“I bring to Commander, Navy Installations [Command] a fresh perspective that allows me to bring to bear the experiences I have had at installations and at the departmental level to sustain the fleet, enable the warfighter, and support the family,” said Joseph.
Joseph entered federal service as an information & referral specialist at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, as part of the Air Force Family Matters Career Program in 2000 and served as one of the Air Force’s first sexual assault response coordinators, establishing local policy and operating procedures, training more than 3,500 military and civilian employees, supervising a 24/7 volunteer staff, and bridging support with community agencies that provided advocacy for victims.
“My father, Norris Rhines, is a retired coach and Principal of M.B. Smiley High School and so I watched him focus on education as a great elevator for students from all walks of life and lead in the classroom, football field, and our home with love,” said Joseph. “My mother, Lois Rhines is a retired nurse who kept me grounded in faith, made me fearless in public speaking, and instilled in me the importance of giving back to the community. Both parents have given me tools I use on a daily basis as a leader.”
Joseph earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Health and Psychology at Prairie View A&M University, and a Master of Education degree in Adult & Higher Education from the University of Oklahoma. She is decorated with the Navy Meritorious Civilian Service Award, Air Force Exemplary Civilian Service Award and the Notable Achievement Award. Ms. Joseph is a member of the Society for Human Resource Management and Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated.
“Each day I have a chance to do something to positively affect Sailors and Marines on the frontline or here on the home front,” said Joseph.