CGOs gaining professional development strategies for an evolving force

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Alessandra Horban
  • 6th Operations Group
MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  "Our nation requires intelligent, assertive, well-rounded young men and women as leaders and defenders of freedom," said Brig. Gen. Richard Clark.

Many company grade officers are feeling the pressure of force shaping and learning to lead Airmen in fiscally constrained environments. The 2011 CGO Professional Development Conference sponsored by the Air Force Company Grade Officers' Council and hosted by MacDill AFB CGOC, May 2-6, will address these topics and more with guest speakers, such as Brig. Gen. Sharon Dunbar, AF/A1P, and Brig. Gen. Joseph Ward Jr, Director, Budget Operations and Personnel.

Through commissioning sources officers are provided professional development and leadership tools. However, after commissioning they may have a five, or more, year gap between Air and Space Basic Course and Squadron Officer School. Some may not even have the opportunity to get an in- residence experience of SOS. This conference will offer a professional development opportunity to shape and mold leadership styles to create officers that will lead the future of the greatest Air Force in the world.

In today's deployed environment, the need to understand other services and cultures is paramount. A joint senior enlisted panel will deliver some insight of how to lead within these types of environments with troops from different services. There will also be regional briefings on areas, such as Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Space is the future; the Air Force uses satellite communications to and from the area of responsibility to execute missions. Today, CGOs will deploy multiple times and it's important to understand how technology is used to enhance overseas contingency operations. Brig. Gen. Cary Chun, deputy commander, Operations and Interagency Integration, Joint Functional Component Command for Space, as well as Col. Stephen Corcoran, commander of the Joint Communications Support Element, will discuss the future of harnessing joint space for the war fighters' needs and divulge how rapid joint communications are deployed.

This year's conference will occur at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Tampa from May 2- 6. For additional information and register go to http://www.afcgoc.org/content/conference. Confirm your attendance today as registration closes March 30. You and your leadership will not regret investing in your Air Force career and future. You will live to appreciate attending this conference by the knowledge gained and the important networking opportunities with senior leaders and more than 200 other CGOs from around the Air Force.