Debra served as the FWP Manager at the Defense Logistics Agency Columbus, OH and was very instrumental in assuring that the FY12 Director’s Guidance Land and Maritime Actions Workforce Development WD-1: Assess and improve hiring and selection policies and practices to ensure a diverse, high-performing workforce. Her work has established the DSCC Federal Women’s Program as the agency model, which has positively impacted the employment, professional development, and advancement of women within the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Columbus, Ohio.
Debra saw a desire and need to institute a Developing Leaders Academy. It was the first leadership coaching and training program for aspiring leaders, which was made available to all diverse groups. The Academy became an exciting new initiative to achieve balanced leadership in government. Because of this initiative, Debra became a key player in establishing the Installations’ Diversity Academy, with strong emphasis on Inclusion in the workplace and Leveraging Diversity based on local and National best practices. Ms. Hobbs was also responsible for the establishment of the Whitehall High School Mentoring Program. The program matches 20 – 30 local students with mentors and volunteers from around the DSCC installation.
Served as the FWP Special Assistant to the National President for the Federally Employed Women, in this role she served on the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) FWP council, where she met monthly with Senior Executive Leaders to discuss the focus on the Federal Women’s Programs. Attended the White House Women Leadership Summit under President Obama. In this role, she increasingly became passionate about Diversity in the Workplace and sought to ensure that her organization developed, implemented, and monitored programs and activities that promote diversity. She has developed programs that responded to the needs of the organization in promoting diverse populations.
Served as the President, and other positions of the Federally Employed local Equalitarian Chapter. Also served as the Diversity Chair for the Great Lakes Region. She currently serves as the VP of the 100 Black Women Columbus Chapter also serves as the Great Lakes Regional Representative for the Federally Employed Great Lakes Region. Member of Columbus Area Chapter of Blacks in Government oversee the Scholarship and Stem Programs. Debra is a very devoted member of her Smyrna M.B. Church, where she is the Minister of Music, Youth Sunday School Teacher, and spearheads the Back-to-School event at her Church, she helped plan Women Retreats and worked with Vacation Bible School. Director of Music for the Good News Holy Convocation. Debra is married to Gregory Hobbs and mother of six children and has 6 grandchildren.
-Attended Mississippi Valley State University
-Defense Acquisition University
-Grantham University
Awards:
-DLA Woman of the Year – March 2001
-DLA Quality of Life Innovation Award Winner (FWP) – Oct 2005
-Carter G. Woodson Award Runner-Up – February 2010
-Alice Mullins Scholarship Award 2013 & 2022
-Federally Employed Women Champion of Diversity Award Winner– July 2014
-NCBW100 Columbus Chapter Community Service Award 2015
-Outstanding Achievement Award Winner in EEO by an Organization – December 2015
-Federally Employed Women Barbara Boardman Tenant Award Winner– July 2017
-Federally Employed Women Foundation Training and Education Scholarship 2021
-International Anointed Ministries (IAM) Woman of Excellence Award 2023