January’s Outstanding Performer

Edward Vaughn, director of Equal Opportunity, is Space Base Delta 1’s Outstanding Performer for the month of January. 

As the director of Equal Opportunity, Vaughn educates military and civilian members on their role and responsibility to the EO program and its processes. He also oversees all civilian and military EO complaints of discrimination and harassment providing real-time analysis and feedback to commanders on their organization’s human relations climate.  

His efforts are essential to developing the Defense Equal Opportunity Climate Survey (DEOCS). The DEOCS is a congressionally mandated unit-level climate survey which provides commanders with unit-specific information on critical personnel topics so they can take immediate steps to improve their organization. 

Born and raised in Tucson, Arizona, Vaughn enlisted into the U.S. Air Force. He eventually landed at Schriever SFB in October 2007 where he retired from active duty only to return into the same office as a government civilian. 

When asked what is most important about his role, Vaughn said, “Because equity and inclusion matters. Because we are a nation of many colors and creeds, and no one should be made to feel less than or denied an opportunity based on the color of their skin or self-identified gender.” He went on to say, “... For me, this program serves as a check on those who may feel one demographic is greater than all others.” 

When Vaughn isn’t being a mentor, coach, mediator, honesty broker, or decision maker, he enjoys flying drones, singing ‘like a boss,’ and most importantly, supporting ‘America’s Team: The Dallas Cowboys!’ 

Vaughn wants his legacy to reflect his purpose: to help as many people as he can and get them to where he's at, then exceed anything that he’s ever done. In doing so he hopes to inspire those whom he works with and his own son.