Readers respond to Mabus’ gender-neutral title mandate

We asked, and you told us — what job titles the Navy should use as it replaces those with “man” as a descriptor. Words like fireman, midshipman and seaman.

In my column last week, I suggested some alternatives. We put out an online poll to ask FederalNewsRadio.com readers what you thought would be good words. Some 250 of you responded. After discarding a few unprintable replies, Web editor Michael O’Connell — who thought of the survey — sorted them out.

No surprise when it comes to a replace for “fireman.” More than 200 said they preferred “firefighter,” and 21 of the more bureaucratically-minded said they preferred “fire control specialist.” The same number insisted on keeping fireman. A handful put in for “fireperson.” Imagine the quizzical looks if a manager said, “We’re going to hire three firepeople.”

Also suggested: Fire Controller, Fire Specialist, Anti-Fireist.

When it came to a replacement for midshipman you were more evenly divided. Some preferred midshipwoman, about the same number (40) said they would keep midshipman. Unfortunately, that’s contrary to Secretary Ray Mabus’s policy. More people liked midshipperson. In my opinion, it would take a generation for that to even sound like a word. The greatest number or respondents liked midshippie. That does have a hip sort of ring, can be spoken or sung and it would sound perfect if shouted out by a drill instructor at a cadet (cadette?).

Some of the other words proposed for midshipman: Midship, Middie, Cadet Officer, Navy Cadet, Mishipster (would require pegged pants to replace bellbottoms), Squirt and Midshipress.

Now we come to the main word of history and tradition: seaman. The bulk of respondents went with “sailor,” which was also my choice. Seafarer and, stubbornly, seaman each received a couple of dozen entries.

Also suggested (I’m not making these up): Seabee, Seaer, Tar, Seadog, Squid-ette, Sea Unit, Swabbie, and Squibb.

In that earlier column, I also speculated about what people would call a female U.S. President. Here again, the bulk of respondents  (183) suggested Madame President. Equal and small numbers would use Ms. President or Mrs. President.

The political leanings come in from the onesie suggestions: Presidenta, La Presidenta and Dear Leadress. One person would go with Mr. President, adding, regardless of gender. Another said it should be her choice. This reader is on to something in that the first woman President would be setting precedent.

Anne Altman bids adieu to IBM

Tuesday evening I attended a reception for the retirement of Anne Altman, the general manager of IBM’s U.S. Federal Business and Government Industries. In 34 years with Big Blue, Altman has been a prominent, accessible and well-liked part of the community. And a successful one. Lots of high level feds, IBMers and fellow industry people were there, despite the snow, at the Metropolitan Club. Including former Rep. Jim Moran (D-Va.).

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Anne Altman celebrates 34 years at IBM

Anne Altman celebrates 34 years at IBM with Jan. 26 retirement party at the Metropolitan Club.

I remember when IBM — hard to believe in retrospect — pulled out of the federal market with the sale of the old IBM Federal Systems to Loral in 1994. Two years later, Altman helped convince then-chairman Lou Gerstner Jr. to get the company back into federal. She went on to head up the effort, rebuilding it back into a major contractor.

Altman will remain involved in the federal market somehow, if only because she is leading the search committee seeking a new CEO for the Professional Services Council. In fact, the outgoing head, Stan Soloway, also was at the reception. Altman said, “I don’t know what the next chapter is, but I’m not going away.”

Courtney Bromley, the vice president for Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Treasury, Finance and State at IBM Federal, presented Altman with an Eagle Award, an honor Altman herself established to reward outstanding people in her organization.

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