Darius reflects on his career as a Help Desk Technician (VIP) for the Customer Experience and Service Delivery Team in the Office of the Chief Information Officer, his influences, and what Pride Month means to him.
What is your key responsibility?
My key responsibility is to serve as the primary point of contact for all VIP-related (Assistant Administrators, Deputy Assistant Administrators, Director of Scientific Programs; Program, Regional & Science Center Directors and Deputies) IT Help Desk incidents and requests. This includes but isn't limited to laptop issues, onsite and remote assistance, meeting support assistance, and mail/email administrator.
Where did you grow up?
I was born and raised in Takoma Park, Maryland.
Is there anything about your childhood or where you grew up that influenced your career path?
I was always the kid that was technical savvy and that could understand a computer even before I understood conversation with others at 3 years old. This even inspired my father to navigate into the IT field because of my innate skill. I always knew that somewhere along the line in my career that my technical prowess would play a role in my career and success.
What is your educational background?
I went to school at Takoma Academy, the University of Texas at San Antonio, and Washington Adventist University. I am currently attending the University of Maryland Global Campus where I am majoring in Management Information Systems.
Are you a member of a community group or other organizations?
I am a member of the New Emerging Leaders Impact Fund.
What do you like to do outside of work?
I thoroughly enjoy traveling, ATVs, playing video games, recording podcasts, and my passion is singing—whether it is with church choirs or community groups.
Is there a book, quote, or person that influenced you to be the person that you are today?
My mentor who best influenced me is Eve Hogan. She was the Senior Editor of Chicken Soup for the African American Soul and has written countless books. I met with her at a young entrepreneur program back in 2011 where she was the facilitator. Her amazing self-introspection of "peace starts here" and her teachings on being your truest transparent self, you can achieve anything, inspired me. This meeting started me on a path where I knew I was meant for greater things and that it was possible to obtain it by just being the real me that only I can be.
What does working at NOAA Fisheries mean to you?
Working at NOAA Fisheries gives me an opportunity to use my technical background to do what I love to do best and that is serving and helping. Being able to support our executive-level members gives them the ability to not worry about the technical issues but focus on the mission and our mandate to serve our country and stakeholders.
What does Pride Month mean to you?
As a gay black man, I've come to appreciate my diversity and how proud I am of where I come from and where I am going.
Source: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-story/meet-darius-thibodeaux-help-desk-technician
