What do Dizzy Gillespie and Guns N’ Roses have to do with the life of Senior Program Analyst Gina B.? You’ll never guess so read Gina’s responses to this week’s Five Questions interview.
What are your current responsibilities at MELE and what did you do prior to joining the company?
I currently support the Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration’s (DOE/NNSA) Office of Nonproliferation and Arms Control (NPAC) by coordinating the freedom of information act and records management programs and by providing budget support to one of the NPAC teams. Prior to returning to NPAC with MELE 15 years ago, I worked local jobs near home enabling me to be near my young children.
Before that I was a federal employee with what is now known as NPAC working as a budget analyst, and prior to that I worked with DOE’s Office of Counterintelligence as part of the investigations team, which is now known as the Office of Intelligence and Counterintelligence.
What do you like about your current role the most and why?
I like that I am able to work with folks in NPAC, DNN (Office of Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation), NNSA, and across the DOE complex. The folks I work with really care about our mission. It’s a joy to work with wonderful people toward a common goal.
What is your favorite thing to do to relax and why?
I enjoy spending time with my kids, friends, and family. I enjoy listening to live music, listening to all kinds of music when I clean or cook, practicing with my band, and watching a good show or movie with my son.
What was the best concert or show you’ve ever seen and why was it great?
The best time I had at a concert was when my younger sister and I saw Metallica and Guns N’ Roses in Pittsburgh the week before I moved to the DC area many years ago. It was pouring during Metallica’s performance, and it didn’t affect the crowd one bit. The energy was amazing!
Tell us something about yourself that would surprise most people that know you?
I performed on that same stage as Dizzy Gillespie. Too bad it was one week later. My first time singing on stage was in the Battle of the Bands in college. We were in front of 600+ people. I performed with an acoustic band and an electric band. The electric band took second place. Dizzy Gillespie performed on the same stage a week before me. What a treat to see a living legend. He died within the following year.
