Sharon Wu Nitsche
Sharon Wu Nitsche’s military lineage dates back to the 1940s, when her grandfather served as a general during the Chinese Revolution and fought against the communists. Decades later, Nitsche followed in her grandfather’s boot steps and embarked on a 32-year career of service in the Army Reserves and National Guard.
Although she’s now retired from the military and working as Baker Hughes Co.’s senior internal audit staff manager, Nitsche continues to help veterans.
“Externally, Sharon is an active community leader supporting Combined Arms (formerly Lone Star Veterans Associations),” said friend and Schlumberger Ltd.’s head of global veteran affairs and programs Nick Tran. “In her capacity as volunteer, she (has helped) veterans transition into energy sector jobs.
“Sharon goes above & beyond with her efforts to help veterans land careers and reintegrate back into society.”
Nitsche was born in Taiwan and immigrated to the U.S. in 1975. She joined The Reserve Officers’ Training Corps. in 1986 as a way of giving back to the country. Her military career highlights include roles as a National Security Agency strategic de-briefer in Mandarin to various positions as a California National Army Guard (CAARNG) platoon leader, country desk commander, all source intelligence team chief, and more.
AT CAARNG, Nitsche mobilized with the 223rd Military Intelligence Battalion in recovery efforts for the devastating 1994 Northridge Earthquake in Southern California, which killed an estimated 57 people. She helped lead Asian linguists to support area FEMA stations to help with translations and interpreting for displaced Los Angeles-area residents. She later received a Humanitarian Service Medal.
Before retiring from the military in 2018, she engaged in her final assignment at the U.S. Indo-Pacific command headquarters in Hawaii.
Meanwhile, as a civilian, Nitsche has held numerous leadership positions with various corporate industries. Before joining Baker Hughes, she was senior commercial excellence specialist at GE Oil and Gas. She previously worked for Halliburton.
Outside of her official title at Baker Hughes, Nitsche is also its veterans’ network leader, with a focus on the hiring, support, and community segments.
She has a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of California at Davis, and a MBA from the University of Phoenix’ Colorado Springs campus.
Outside the office, Nitsche is an active community leader who helps veterans transition into energy sector jobs.
“In energy or any business sector, veterans will bring value,” she said. “We bring an array of experience that can be plugged into any fuction, at any company. We trive on learning and fixing problems, big or small. We go into any situation with the mindset to drive positive change to the organization. We are great problem solvers; we are effective in building strong teams.”
Nitsche has received numerous awards throughout her career, including the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, and the Army Commendation Medal. Other decorations include the Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, and Global War on Terror Service Medal.
But for her, the most rewarding part of her military career was the opportunity to serve.
“There is not one thing that was the most rewarding in my 30 years of service. Every assignment brought personal rewards to me,” Nitsche says, adding that most of her assignments were classified, meaning she can’t discuss them. “What is most rewarding, on a personal level, are the lifelong friends I’ve made along the way, who I call family. This I take with me in my retirement.”
Although Nitsche has now retired from the army, her family’s participation in it isn’t over. Her daughter is planning to pursue the U.S. Coast Guard Academy or the Reserve Officers' Training Corps. at a Texas University.
“My proudest achievement will be what she becomes in the future, which I hope, is a successful military (professional),” Nitsche said.