2015 – 2017 WID SAN DIEGO CHAPTER BOARD AND
VOTING COMMITTEE CHAIR NOMINATIONS
PRESIDENT
Lisa Hunter, Strategic Communications Specialist, Booz Allen Hamilton
Lisa Hunter first joined WID in 2009 and is currently a member of the San Diego Chapter. She provided
marketing and press relations support to the first WID San Diego Chapter Symposium in 2009 and was
Symposium Marketing Chair in 2010. She served on the board of directors (accreditation chair) for the
International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) from 2011-2014. Since July 2014, she has
served on the board of the San Diego Diplomacy Council (SDDC) as PR Chair and began a one year team
as secretary in July 2015. She is currently enrolled in a USD four-week seminar called, “Developing
Effective Non Profit Boards” and plans to continue her studies in non-profit board leadership.
She is excited for the opportunity to connect amazing women together through WID, to learn and support
each other. Over the next two-year term she will work with the board to increase the membership by 50
percent; develop engaging, educational programs and events; refresh the WID San Diego brand; and
formalize board governance, processes and procedures.
VICE PRESIDENT
Rebecca Unetic, Director of Strategy, Fuse Integration
Rebecca has seven years of experience support SPAWAR HQ and PEO C4I, including the stand-up of
SPAWAR 6.0, PMW/A 170 Naval Senior Leadership Communications – Aircraft project and Navy
Multiband Terminal. Rebecca is passionate about the advancement of both women and now small
business in the Defense Industry and has been involved with WID San Diego since 2008.
Rebecca has been a part of the WID San Diego Chapter Board of Directors as the Marketing &
Communications Chair for the past four years. While in this position, she standardized internal chapter
communications with the development of @WIDSanDiego.org email addresses, standardized chapter
communications to membership including e-mail and social media, re-designed the chapter website to
make it easier to find information as well as improve accessibility on mobile devices, standardized
registration for events researching the most cost effective 3rd party website, and supported the marketing
of over 25 events.
As Vice President, Rebecca would strive to increase visibility of San Diego WID Scholarship to chapter
membership, increase participation in STEM events throughout San Diego, and bring in speakers from
across the DoD to discuss topics that interest both industry and government/military personnel.
SECRETARY
Laura Elwood, Foreign Military Sales Case Analyst, INDUS Technology, Inc.
Laura is responsible for planning, development, execution, management, and close-out of FMS
cases in support of the U.S. Navy International Command, Control, Communications,
Computers and Intelligence (C4I) Integration Program Office. She provides program and
acquisition management, foreign military sales expertise, and assist with FMS lifecycle
development to include pre-Letter of Request, requirements definition, case development and
2015 – 2017 WID SAN DIEGO CHAPTER BOARD AND
VOTING COMMITTEE CHAIR NOMINATIONS
implementation, financial and logistics management, case execution and case closure, for
assigned FMS cases in support of the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM).
Laura has held similar positions such as 1) Model UN Club Representative, 2000-2003, St.
Michael’s High School, Santa Fe, NM, 2) International Affairs Scholar/Representative, 20032007, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH, 3) Asian Pacific American Heritage Club
Representative, 2010-2013, Hanscom Air Force Base, Concord, MA, 4) AFCEA Member, 20082013, Hanscom Air Force Base, Concord, MA
Laura’s goals during her tenure would be to review and revise WID San Diego Bylaws, as
necessary, standardize meeting and minute protocol, and raise community awareness of WID and
involvement in WID with current and potential members.
TREASURER
Candace Gallihugh, Principal Installation Manager for Surface Ships, SPAWAR Fleet Readiness
Directorate.
Candace is the Subject Matter Expert in Availability Planning and Modernization for Surface Ships. She
manages cost, schedule and quality of SPAWAR installations. She leads a team of eight personnel, who
execute planning and ensure installation readiness of all C4I alterations in over 160 surface ships.
Candace works across organizations with executive-level internal and external stakeholders, to include
Fleet Commanders, shipyards, Regional Maintenance Centers, and Ship Program Managers.
She has prior experience with associations such as the Junior League of San Diego (2006-2008) where
she chaired the Girl Scout Community Partnership Committee. As Electronics Technician Chief, Active
Duty Navy, she held positions as Treasurer and Fundraising Coordinator for the USS JOHN C STENNIS
(CVN 74) Chiefs' Mess, with over 100 members (2002-2004). She was Treasurer of the SSC PAC Chief
Petty Officer Association, with over 20 members (2004 – 2006). Her objective in this position is threefold. 1) Community: To support our community by fostering an organization with a unique combination
of volunteer, social, and training opportunities, 2) Service: To serve and improve the defense community
in the areas of collaboration, networking, and knowledge sharing. To maintain an excellent standard of
service to our stakeholders. 3) Training: To develop the potential of women and foster women as leaders.
Provide mentorship, advice, and offer an environment that promotes recognition of successes and
achievements so others may leverage best practices. Share how to navigate the communication,
cooperation, and relationship issues that are particularly challenging for women in a male-dominated
workforce.
EVENTS PLANNING CHAIR
Ebony Mullins, Senior Systems Engineer, Highbury Defense Group
Ebony supports the Technical Director, Divisions PAPMS, APM S&T as well as the APM-Es for PMW
150 Technical Directorate. She has a wide variety of skills and talents that allow her to reach most of the
organizations throughout PEO C4I. She has a strong network through the SPAWAR and San Diego
community. In addition to contracting with the DOD, Ebony also has sat on two Boards of Directors in
San Diego in which one she co-chaired and helped to start a non-profit organization. Through her ability
2015 – 2017 WID SAN DIEGO CHAPTER BOARD AND
VOTING COMMITTEE CHAIR NOMINATIONS
to host VIP event areas which services over 40,000 patrons, Ebony hopes to bring her tenacity and
experience to the position. Ebony hopes to create events that are exciting and meaningful to the mission
and vision of Women in Defense and to incorporate the women leaders in the community. With the help
of the board and other committee chair, Ebony is eager to bring back the spotlight of an organization that
enhances and encourages women in the defense community to continue to mentor and strive.
MEMBERSHIP CHAIR
Agnieszka Schwarz, Federal Account Executive for the West Coast Navy and Marine Corps, Datalink
Agnieszka (Nish) has been on the WID Board for over a year now and wants to continue her support and
participation in the WID San Diego Chapter. The list of positions the nominee has held within WID or
other similar associations include the following with dates of service: WID Sponsorship Chair from
March 2014 until the present. She has also supported a number of the WID events such as the Annual
Around the World Wine Tasting which helps raise funds for the WID Scholarship program as well as the
San Diego Humane Society. Her goals in this position would be to expand the membership of the San
Diego WID Chapter to increase numbers and participation from the community.
EVENTS SPONSORSHIP CHAIR
Emilie Vicchio, Senior Marketing Specialist, Client Solution Architects.
Emilee has supported WID on its 2014 Wine and Puppies Event with branding and event planning. In
2010 to 2011 she supported Philanthro Productions, a local 501(c)(3). During her tenure, she supported
marketing, event sponsorship and event planning. As the Events Sponsorship Chair, she plans to bring
awareness and increase WID’s exposure. WID has a lot of potential to be a driving force in the defense
industry. She would like to bring in sponsorship from companies that are external to the defense industry.
In such a heavy defense city, the entire community benefits from the defense industry—San Diego
organizations get a lot of business from women who work in the defense industry (bring in more B2C
sponsors in addition to the traditional B2B). In addition, she plans to develop more creative ways to get
sponsors involved and recognized. Emilie says “Together, with people that are passionate, we can create a
solid and impactful organization.”