In December 2012, Corinne Combeau was selected as the Distinguished Young AFCEAN (DYA) for the AFCEA DC Chapter. The DYA Award recognizes and rewards exceptional performance in two areas – a record of going "above and beyond" at the local AFCEA Chapter level, and superior technical achievement in the professional arena.
 
On Tuesday, January 29, 2013, at the West 2013 Conference in San Diego, California, she was announced as the DYA for the National Capital Region (NCR) of AFCEA. The AFCEA Regional Vice Presidents have the honor to personally select an individual from their Region to receive the Regional DYA Award. These honorees represent an elite group of individuals that have gone above and beyond for their Chapters.
 
As Chair of the Young AFCEANs of the DC Chapter this year, Corinne quickly conceived and swiftly implemented a plan to reorganize the structure of the Young AFCEANs to align with the chapter’s board model. Each major event and initiative now has one or more Young AFCEAN liaisons dedicated to it. This approach had an immediate positive effect: it promotes more active participation by Young AFCEANs in all chapter activities; provides more effective support to committee chairs; helps plan and execute the chapter’s major events; foments networking and mentorship; and identifies and cultivates future leaders.
 
Corinne has re-energized a series of networking and professional development events designed to inform and educate Young AFCEANs throughout the National Capital Region. In addition, she helped conceptualize and launch the Lunch & Learn program. This first-of-its-kind technology education series confers Continuing Education Units (CEUs) to participants.
 
During the 2011-2012 AFCEA year, Corinne served as the Young AFCEAN Chair for Luncheon and Breakfast Programs. In addition, she was an enthusiastic volunteer in support of the chapter’s Mobile Technology Symposium and Emerging Technologies Symposium; black-tie Winter Gala; and elegant Spring Military IT Leadership Awards Dinner.
 
Corinne is an Account Manager at The Goal, Inc. (http://www.thegoalinc.com), a minority-owned business based in Virginia. She supports the defense market with a focus on software development, cyber security, and IT staffing services. She is a graduate of Sorbonne University, Paris, France, with a Bachelor of Science in economics and a Master of Science in international economics.
 
The president and Board of Directors of AFCEA DC commend Corinne for her outstanding contributions to the Chapter, and congratulate her on this well-deserved award.
 
For more information, visit www.afcea.org/awards.