Influential Woman · Navy Data Analytics

Kathleen Powell

Force Data & AI Officer, U.S. Navy Reserve

Franklin, TN

Her Story

About Kathleen

I retired as a Navy Captain after a 30-year career in the Navy Reserves, where I served as an intelligence officer specializing in data analytics. My journey into military service began in my late 20s when I wanted to give back to my country. I had grown up as a child of a Foreign Service officer, living around the world and getting to know the Marine Corps security guards at the embassies and consulates where my father worked. I initially wanted to become a pilot, but was told I was too old, so I pursued a different path. It took about 5 years, but I eventually got into the reserves as an officer. Throughout my reserve career, I maintained a parallel civilian career in technology, working across multiple industries including retail, defense (for a chemical warfare agent detection company), manufacturing where I ran a couple of plants, and the adult beverage category. I've done data work for most of my career, either directly or as a support element. I balanced all of this while raising 3 children with my husband, who is also a Navy Reservist. We both experienced significant deployments to the Middle East - he spent time in Iraq while I spent all my time in Bahrain where the Navy headquarters is located. We had about a 4-year stretch where either he was deployed or I was deployed. I work because I enjoy working and want to be contributory and make a difference. That's why I stuck it out in the Navy for 30 years - I could have retired 5 years ago with pay, but I like to give back and use what few talents I have to make a difference.

Her Interview

Ten minutes with Kathleen

01What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?

I look back on this a lot, and I did not have a lot of mentors, so it was quite a struggle. I would love to give you great words of wisdom there, but I don't have specific career advice that I received that stands out. However, the advice I always give is do what you love. Don't waste your time doing jobs that you don't enjoy. You don't always have that luxury, but you have to start with a goal and an objective.

02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?

I give a lot of advice to young women. I tell them to do what you enjoy doing - don't waste your time doing jobs that you don't enjoy. You don't always have that luxury, but you have to start with a goal and an objective. I try to get them not to be wallflowers, but to really think about what they want out of their career. And find a mentor. That's what I tell them - you've got to find a mentor, someone that will guide you and help you and give you the advice you need to be successful. It makes it a little bit easier, you don't make as many mistakes. Giving back to the people that come behind you is super important. I've had people email me or text me from 10, 15 years ago - I had this happen last Christmas - and they just wrote me and said, I was just thinking about you, and I just wanted to thank you again for everything you did for me. And, I wouldn't be where I am today without the advice and guidance and support that you provided. Sometimes you don't even realize how much impact you have on people when you engage with them.

03What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?

Giving back to the people that come behind you is super important to me. I work because I enjoy working, and I want to be contributory and make a difference. That's why I stuck it out in the Navy for 30 years - I could have retired 5 years ago with pay, but I like to give back and use what few talents I have to make a difference. I have a 360-degree way of operating when I work. I try to understand my job, my peers, the people above me, the people below me, and it provides much greater foresight into what needs to happen next, what might work or what might not work, what's not a good idea, or where some of the landmines are. I love knowledge and intellectual pursuits. I've always had a great passion for geopolitical topics and knowledge. I'm fascinated by the history that gets you to where you are - even today's conflict is steeped in historical conflict. There's an old Chinese philosopher who says, know yourself and know your enemy, and in a thousand battles you will win. That's kind of how life is - you need to know the environment that you're operating in, you need to know who your competition is in the business world to know what you're up against, to see how you can outperform them.

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