For decades, Pragmatics has valued our veterans. Here, they have an exceptional place to work and bring value to our business partners and clients, supporting our clients’ missions of national importance.
In honor of 2021 Veterans Day, let’s meet Cheryl Brummell, our Capture Manager, who has been with Pragmatics for three years. In her role, Cheryl’s focus is on positioning Pragmatics in the federal IT marketplace.
Cheryl, would you tell us about your military service?
I served in the US Air Force in the Intelligence field, with tours of duty in Okinawa, Japan, and Ft. Meade, Maryland.
It was important work with responsibilities that first required extensive training. I was responsible for producing strategic and tactical reports based on my analysis. These reports were used to notify the appropriate people in the command and our government of unusual activity or critical situations. Getting this right was important so that our government could respond quickly and appropriately.
As a veteran, what was the journey to Pragmatics? When and why did you join Pragmatics?
Of particular interest was the commitment the company had made - and sustained over many years, to industry best practices and certifications (CMMi and ISO).
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My journey started two days after I separated from the Air Force as an Operations Analyst with E-Systems (later acquired by Raytheon), supporting the development of ground deployable intel systems. My career progression has included numerous roles in IT systems development, from hands-on systems design, analysis, and testing to the overall management and P&L responsibility for a portfolio of programs at a large company (ManTech) and later as the VP of Programs for a woman-owned small business.
I joined Pragmatics in October 2018 and initially became interested in the company from a recommendation of a good friend who was already working at Pragmatics. After researching the company, I felt Pragmatics was focused on the type of IT work and federal customers that would be a good fit for me. Of particular interest was the commitment the company had made - and sustained over many years, to industry best practices and certifications (CMMi and ISO).
What is your current role at Pragmatics? Tell us more about how your military expertise brings value to your role.
My current role is Capture Management in the Business Development group; a strategic role focused on supporting Pragmatics positioning in the federal IT marketplace by winning new contracts and growing our business with current customers. The skills I bring to this role from my military experience are many, including effective communication skills, an analytical approach to problem-solving, and how to be an effective member of a team. I need to know how to ask good questions, actively listen to customers and our teaming partners, and use a structured approach to problem-solving, to be a successful capture manager.
What makes Pragmatics an excellent workplace for veterans?
The company owners demonstrate a heartfelt sense of civic responsibility with the priority they place on giving back to the community, [...]
Pragmatics is a great place for veterans to work. The company offers excellent benefits, flexibility in personal work arrangements, and the opportunity to work on military-related and civilian contracts that support our nation’s mission-critical systems.
The company owners demonstrate a heartfelt sense of civic responsibility with the priority they place on giving back to the community, shown in the numerous financial awards and help they provide in the form of hardship grants for families in the DMV area, grants to local universities, and colleges, and academic scholarship programs. All of this – more than anything else, demonstrates the character of Pragmatics and makes me proud to be an employee.
What suggestions would you offer to veterans seeking opportunities?
Don’t minimize what you gained from your military experience in addition to the technical knowledge and leadership training you received and the responsibilities you had in the military. Your ability to work well in a team, demonstrated self-discipline and organization, ability to follow through on assignments, and strong work ethic are all attributes needed in the civilian workforce.
Outside of work, how do you describe yourself?
I LOVE READING when I’m not working; my reading interests are pretty varied and include non-fiction and fiction, ranging from Doris Kearns Goodwin biographies, American writers’ classics, to Carl Hiaasen’s twisted crazy novels. I’m currently reading “A Gentleman in Moscow” and “Jane Austen and Shelley in the Garden.” I enjoy watching international crime mysteries and flower gardening, as well.
We have two grown children and now an amazing 1 yr old granddaughter, and I always look for any opportunity to spend time with them!
Besides reading, watching mysteries, spending time with my family, I’d describe myself as a travel lover!
