Our employee spotlight shines a light on one employee at a time. We value diversity and inclusion and welcome diverse thinking. It takes a village — through collaboration, living safely and driving innovation we realize our goals and help our clients achieve mission success. Our mantra is people first, mission always. In September, we’ll focus on Hispanic Heritage Month. Today’s Q&A is with Paolo De La Paz, Human Resources Manager.
How did you come to join Amentum?
I first learned about Amentum through a former colleague who worked in my current role. I felt it would be the perfect place to combine my military experience with my civilian career aspirations.
How did your military service prepare you for a successful career at Amentum?
My military service prepared me for a successful career at Amentum by instilling core values such as integrity, hard work and dedication which have been critical in my short time with the company.
What is your professional and personal background?
My background is in Human Resources Management. I have worked in almost all facets of HR including employee relations, recruiting, consulting, benefits and payroll.
Describe the work you do and how you think it makes a positive impact.
Working as an HR Generalist at Amentum is a challenging and rewarding career. No two days are the same and I find myself juggling multiple HR functions. I believe successfully handling complex employee relations issues makes the most positive impact. Poor performance in this area leaves the company vulnerable to risk and affects the wellbeing and morale of our workforce.
What are some of your accomplishments and/or what has been your proudest career moment?
Completing my Master of Science Degree in Human Resources Management and obtaining my Professional in Human Resources Certification are two of my biggest professional accomplishments.
What do you enjoy about working for Amentum?
I enjoy having the opportunity to support a mission I am passionate about. I will have over 10 years of total military service next month. Being able to support the warfighting function in my civilian career, albeit from a distance, is very important to me.
What are you passionate about?
I am passionate about taking care of my wife and 2-year-old daughter, physical fitness and my military career.
What’s your career advice?
My career advice is to let your reputation speak for itself. From day one on the job, you are being evaluated by your peers and you never know how someone you meet early on could impact your career years down the line. Always do the right thing, even when nobody is watching, and it will pay dividends for you down the line.
What does safety mean to you or do you have a favorite safety tip?
My favorite safety tip is that maintaining a healthy lifestyle reduces your risk of injury and other health issues. Just like a car needs frequent oil changes and maintenance to perform reliably, your body needs physical activity and healthy fuel to perform at a high level.
What’s the best invention in the world and why?
This is a tough one, but I think the best invention in the world is probably high-speed internet. It allows for global connectivity like no other period in history and has advanced extremely fast in the last few decades.
What does Hispanic Heritage Month mean to you?
What Hispanic Heritage Month means to me is taking the time to recognize the accomplishments and contributions that Hispanic people have had in our nation for centuries. Some of the most influential American Icons in politics, sports, entertainment, science, and literature (just to name a few) are Hispanic and nearly 20% of American Citizens claim Hispanic ancestry. I am proud to be a part of that group and I am happy that Amentum places such a big emphasis on Diversity & Inclusion by recognizing not just Hispanic Americans but all ethnic groups as well.
