Arkansas Army National Guard; Pilgrim’s Pride
WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER TO BE THE DEFINING MOMENT OF YOUR CAREER SO FAR?
In my military career: becoming the first female infantry officer for the state of Arkansas. In my civilian career: being named K-12 senior commodity director at Pilgrim’s Pride.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT WHAT YOU DO?
Serving people, whether it is serving the people of Arkansas and the United States in the National Guard or helping feed and provide quality school meals for kiddos across the United States.
IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WOULD CHANGE ABOUT YOUR INDUSTRY?
The stigma around females in leadership roles.
WHAT PRECAREER MOMENT HAS HAD THE BIGGEST IMPACT ON THE WAY YOU APPROACH YOUR WORK?
I had a very good mentor take me aside in one of the hardest moments of my life and tell me it is OK to struggle in what we want to achieve or accomplish. That means you are doing something right. It is how you respond and react to that struggle and adversity that makes you who you are. I have never forgotten those words and apply them in my life daily.
WHAT GOALS OR MILESTONES DO YOU WANT TO REACH BEFORE YOU RETIRE?
For the military, I would like to make the rank of colonel and command an engineer brigade — the dream — and attend Airborne School and Mountain Warfare School. For my civilian career, I would like to become the director or head of USDA/K-12 sales and strategy and continue working in the K-12 realm.
WHAT ARE YOU READING, WATCHING OR LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?
I’m reading Pete Hegseth’s book, The War on Warriors, watching The Shawn Ryan Show and Real Housewives of Orange County — no judgement — and I am always listening to Christian, county and ‘90s music while running.
WHAT IS A QUOTE OR SAYING THAT MOTIVATES YOU?
There are two quotes that truly motivate me. The first is, “Success isn’t how far you got but the distance you traveled from where you started. To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift,” by Steve Prefontaine. The second is, “Let me be perfectly clear and emphatic with the following: I have full confidence in the abilities, skills, attributes and potential of 1st Lt. Newton to be a successful infantry officer. After 28 years of service, command in combat and commanding infantry formations at every echelon through brigade, I can assure you she will be successful and serve our Army with distinction as an infantry officer,” from Lt. Gen. Jonathan M. Stubbs.
