National Outreach Program for Diversity and Inclusion

Federal Women’s Program (FWP) 

The Federal Women’s Program (FWP) was established in 1967 when President Lyndon B. Johnson signed Executive Order 11375 and added sex as a prohibited form of discrimination. The FWP’s purpose and primary responsibility are to identify barriers to the hiring and advancement of women and to enhance employment opportunities for women in every area of federal service. Guidance for the FWP was originally provided by the Civil Service Commission (now OPM). In 1978 the program responsibility was transferred to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).

Program Goals

  • FWP ensures that women receive equal opportunity in recruitment, selection, training, and advancement in Federal employment at the Agency.
  • At the FAA, where both equality and inclusion of both employees and the public they serve are of utmost importance, there is still room for improvement. As of 2018, although women represent 46.88% percent of the national relevant civilian labor force, they are only 23.49% of the FAA workforce. FWP is committed to increasing this number.
  • Being a woman in a leadership role has its unique challenges and concerns. FWP is committed to supporting the career growth for women and increasing the number of women into FAA’s permanent leadership pipeline.
  • The FAA is in competition with industry for key science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) personnel. FWP is committed to increasing the number of women in these jobs and assisting the FAA in becoming a “top employer.”
  • Recommendation for FAA policy to include that in general, all references should be non-gender-specific (e.g., human, piloted, unpiloted, aircrew, flight personnel as opposed to manned or unmanned). Replacement of language from airman and airmen to neutral terms like pilot, aircrew or flight personnel. Another example would be Notice to Airmen substitute to Notice to Pilots or Notice to Aviators.

Program Objectives: 

  • Increase number of women in the FAA until it matches the National Civilian Labor workforce
  • Increase number of women in FAA executive leadership positions
  • Increase number of qualified applicants
  • Reputation as “premier Agency”
  • Lower turnover
  • Increase number of diverse candidates
  • Recommendation for FAA policy to include that in general, all references should be non-gender-specific (e.g., uncrewed as opposed to manned or unmanned). Replacement of language from airman and airmen to neutral terms like pilot, aircrew or flight personnel. For example, Notice to Airmen is now to Notice to Air Missions.

Contacts

Gioia Albi, Federal Woman’s Program Lead

Related Links

National Awareness Observances

Last updated: Wednesday, August 16, 2023