Her Story
About Danita
Danita Darby is an intelligence officer in military intelligence with the U.S. Army. Growing up as a military brat with a father who retired after 38 years of service, a mother who also served, and additional family members including her grandfather, aunt, and sister who have served, she developed an early and strong desire to serve in the Army herself. While in college at Longwood University, she participated in the ROTC program as a French major, drawn to learning about different cultures, which aligned with her interest in research and understanding people. Her original goal of becoming a pilot was set aside due to her small stature, leading her to choose military intelligence as her first preference. She attributes her success to being an integral person who reflects often and practices deliberate humility, recognizing that her achievements come from the support of others. Darby advises young women entering military intelligence or the Army to serve others, view hard days as growth opportunities, and look for the good in people rather than potential barriers related to gender, race, or background.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Danita
01What do you attribute your success to?
I think what's led to the success that I've experienced so far is that I reflect often. Deliberate humility, too, has helped me. I think before I had any hard things happen to me, I really did think I was a humble person. I didn’t do much to demonstrate that. But after something horrible happens, nearly ruining your life, you start to recalibrate a little bit. No, I got here today because people helped me, and I need to make sure that I'm doing the same for other people.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
For Intel, and for any young ladies that are looking to join, all jobs are hard. Some jobs are hard for women because of the leaders we have. But if you're there to serve others, no matter how hard it is, it's worth it. And you'll get through those challenges. There are going to be hard days. And that's okay. It's an opportunity to grow. Be the good, and look for the good in people. Don't look for people to beat you down or stand in your way because you're a woman, because you're a woman of color, or you don't come from a military background. Those people exist, but keep your focus on why you are there.
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