The Women’s Initiative team and the Secretary of the Air Force Office of Diversity and Inclusion hosted the second annual Air Force Women’s Air and Space Power Symposium March 8-10.



Hundreds of people attended the three-day virtual symposium to hear a variety of panelists highlight the importance of equality for women in the military and discuss how leaders, regardless of gender, can break the barriers to pursuing positive change at all levels in the air and space forces.



“Our The department requires diverse styles of leadership to help solve the complex issues facing our Airmen and Custodians today,” the Secretary of the Air Force said. Frank Kendall. “Representation matters. Having female leaders around the table is important. As your Secretary of the Air Force, I recognize that we still have work to do.



Kendall opened the symposium with a message to attendees that encouraged them to ask themselves why women’s equality is not just a conversation for women, but for leaders, to ensure that strength is also diverse and reflection of the society it serves.



“As we look to the next 75 years old from the Air Force Department, we have to make sure we have the brightest young Americans we can get,” Kendall explained. “To do this, we must ensure that everyone who serves, and everyone who wants to serve, in the best air force in the world and the only one in the world space force have the opportunity to do it. We need to create an environment where all who serve feel needed, their service is equal to that of those around them, and their families are cared for.



Panelists from air and space forces joined the conversation that extended beyond gender equality – encompassing topics such as balancing family and service, practicing resilience and becoming a leader.



Keynote Speakers Chief Staff Sgt. of the air force Joanne S. Bass and Chief Master Sgt. space force RogerA. Towberman specifically emphasized the importance of being a multi-faceted leader for the benefit of Airmen and Custodians who report to an NCO’s custody.



“Understand how critical you are,” Towberman pointed out to listeners. “You have the opportunity to change someone’s life and you are obligated to do so. If we succeed at the level of the first level supervisor, we change the world. No one reaches 20, 30, or 40 without first reaching four.



After echoing Towberman’s Feelings for Leaders, Bass went on to explain how the Department of the Air Force seeks to develop a healthy force of leaders who will be prepared to take on complex responsibilities as they progress at all levels.



She prompted, “Before our Airmen [and Guardians] becoming NCOs and dealing with the responsibilities we expect of them at that rank, how do we prepare the line to help them grow and ensure they are ready to succeed? »

The third day of the symposium featured a keynote address by Under Secretary of the Air Force Gina Ortiz Jones and included memoirs on women in science, technology, engineering and math, life on the front lines, broken ceilings and shifting policies.

Jones took the time to answer questions from the audience following her remarks on the Department’s gender-specific policy review, recent clarifications regarding flying while pregnant, and what Airmen and Guardians can actively do. to meet what the Department of the Air Force still needs to change.

“Just because it doesn’t affect you doesn’t mean it doesn’t affect the unit,” Jones replied to the audience when asked how to change policies faster. “Our leaders at all levels must focus on being a good ally and improving the environment in which they work to ensure that we recruit and retain the best talent our country has to offer.”

Jones’ message echoed the recurring theme of all speakers throughout the symposium – current and future leaders must make a change for the better to break down barriers and evolve the Department of the Air Force. into a force as diverse and thoughtful as the society it serves.

Similarly at Jones’s idea, Lieutenant General Nina Armagno, The Director of the Space Force Staff, described the national security imperative to create an environment where all can thrive, regardless of age, race, sexuality or gender.



“Culture is the responsibility of the leader,” she stressed. “Create the environment you want and you will get the results you need to advance the mission.”



When describing the value of events such as the Women’s Air and Space Power Symposium and groups such as the Women’s Initiative Team, the Air Force Vice Chief of Staff General David Allvin described three areas in which they are helping the service achieve meaningful and lasting change:

“First and foremost, we need to celebrate the incredible accomplishments of women in our air and space forces, and this forum does just that,” Allvin began. “We need to educate about the barriers that exist and figure out how we can help remove those barriers. Then we need to commit to action and make sure we can deliver on our commitments. The national security events unfolding before us show us the consequences of failing to commit to action. We know what is at stake. We know that we have the opportunity to break down these barriers, by continuing to move towards a more diverse and inclusive workforce in our Air Force, because our country does not need nothing less.

For those wishing to watch the symposium, recordings of panels and dissertations are available on the Women’s Air and Space Power Symposium Facebook page.

Airmen or Guardians interested in getting involved with the Barrier Analysis Task Force should contact the Air Force Office of Diversity and Inclusion Secretary at [email protected].