The Air Force Diversity and Inclusion Summit

Our mission for this conference is to mold a diverse group into highly influential leaders dedicated to unifying, educating, and empowering generations.  We are extremely focused on enabling a platform for minority civilian and military aerospace professionals to assemble, learn, grow and network while challenging one another to excel as professionals and community leaders. Community involvement and collaboration of thought is critical to this effort, so we must surround ourselves with the sharpest of individuals to fortify our skill sets. We look forward to further developing and influencing the next generation of leaders through peer and mentor relationships. These efforts can only be accomplished by a village of well-equipped leaders who are passionate about mentoring and passing the torch.

For this years event, we focus on the "Pursuit of Progress" reminding ourselves that we should be constantly at war with complacency and never settle for good enough as a culture or as a community.  Join us on this journey of self analysis, cultural reflection, and future planning as we build you into the influential leaders of the next generation. 

The purpose of this conference is to provide professional development opportunities to civilian and military minority professionals through educational seminars.  These sessions include, but are not limited to, panels featuring General Officers, lectures from presenters representing Fortune 500 companies, forums including project management and process improvement, as well as workshops designated towards developing participants leadership tool kits. During these various sessions we evaluate the effectiveness of current cultural practices in leadership to include mentoring, networking, and professional development while seeking avenues to enhance these cultural aspects.

Pursuit of Progress Seminar Sessions

Col Candice L. Pipes, USAF presents “Pursue Progress: The Importance of Being a Lifelong Learner”

Lifelong learners recognize the importance and joy of growth; thus they never settle for what they currently know and always seek improvement. Here, we will address the learner’s ongoing, voluntary, and self-motivated pursuit of knowledge for both personal and professional reasons. Such learners not only enhance their social inclusion, active citizenship, and personal development, but also their self-sustainability, competitiveness, and employability.

Col Jon Rhone (USAF Ret) presents "The Leadership-Followership Continuum"   

There are critical followership skills that are directly exportable and existential for effective leadership.  A myth exists that followership is essentially the function of a subordinate when in actuality we cycle through this spectrum in which there are times we lead and there are times we follow.  In each phase we learn valuable lessons, but the lessons learned in followership can be overlooked due to faulty misconceptions of the term.  Together we highlight some key concepts and skills that will help connect leaders and followers and bridge the generation and experience gap that often impacts our teams.

Andy Christansen (Co-Founder of Capacity7) presents "Radical Mentorship"

“Mentorship like a Boss!” You want to know the key to being efficient in attaining your goals and aspirations…? You guessed it, it’s mentorship!  First you have to start with you!  I’m sure you’ve heard it before, “knowledge of self is power of self.”  Knowing yourself is key in identifying in others what you want to see in yourself.  Once you master yourself, you’re on your way to the big leagues because next you’re ready to build your very own “Mentor Board of Directors.”  That’s right, you develop your very own group of mentors that specialize in different areas that will help mold you into a well-oiled, big dream achieving machine!   Live, Learn, Lead… Like a Boss (insert sunglasses emoji)! 

Additional Session Topics:

Lt Col Ruth N. Segres, USAF presents “Mentorship: The Sage and the Pupil”

There’s a better way to do “this.” If only you could learn from those who’ve walked this path before you. Learn the secrets of mentoring and how it can build relationships that break down the barriers of progress. Developing relationships with your subordinates and your superiors is extremely important. With this in mind, we will discuss various methods of mentorship to help individuals make more informed life decisions.

Lt Col (Ret) Tim Henderson "Setting the Stage for the Next 25 Years" - What does the next 25 years look like for military minority professionals? Let's take a deep dive to evluate the future of diversity and inclusion for minorities!  In order to make progress we must first do a self analysis of where we currently stand as a community and recognize our shortcomings.  Now what?  Let's explore the mindsets, action items, and cultural belief systems that need to be updated in order to get us headed in the direction that we need, as minorites, to achieve progress.

Hispanic Focus Panel:

Shifting attention to our Hispanic leaders and peers, there is indeed a lack of representation in the higher echelons of leadership. How do we bridge that gap? Let’s discuss the cultural barriers that prevent them from seeking mentorship and being mentors. No more “imposter syndrome!” You are strategically positioned in the right place, at the right time, with the right people. Let’s discuss various avenues to overcome these issues and eliminate those barriers.

Ohhhhhhhhh BUT THERE'S MORE... MUCH MORE!!!!

Agenda 

We are in the final stages of our agenda in which we are locking down our final keynote speakers! More to follow.

Uniform: Service Dress/Business Casual

Registration Opens 0745 on 14 February 2020 

If you need assistance finding a roomate who is attending the conference to offset the cost of lodging please contact Maj Alston at Aggiebear12@gmail.com. Please include your name, rank and preferred lodging location.