2011 Air Force Company Grade Officer Professional Development Conference

Col. Lenny Richoux, 6th Air Mobility Wing commander, welcomes Airmen attending the 2011 Air Force Company Grade Officer Professional Development Conference May 2, 2011 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel Tampa, Fla. The 2011 AFCGOC them is “Culture-Competence-Leadership: Joint Airmen for Tomorrow’s Battlefield.” Junior officers are briefed on current operations, culture, and customs of tribal regions in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and the many leadership opportunities in total force and joint environments, while still having the opportunity to interact with peers Air Force wide. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Staff Sgt. Angela Ruiz)

2011 Air Force Company Grade Officer Professional Development Conference

Airmen attending the 2011 Air Force Company Grade Officer Professional Development Conference listen intensely as Col. Lenny Richoux, 6th Air Mobility Wing commander, gives opening remarks May 2, 2011, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel Tampa, Fla. The 2011 AFCGOC them is “Culture-Competence-Leadership: Joint Airmen for Tomorrow’s Battlefield.” Junior officers are briefed on current operations, culture, and customs of tribal regions in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and the many leadership opportunities in total force and joint environments, while still having the opportunity to interact with peers Air Force-wide. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Staff Sgt. Angela Ruiz)

Air Force Company Grade Officer Professional Development Conference at MacDill AFB

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Kenneth Scott, a United States Special Operations Command parachute rigger, demonstrates the capabilities of airborne soldiers and their equipment to junior officers during the Air Force Company Grade Officer Professional Development Conference tour of the joint parachute facility at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., May 3, 2011. The conference theme is “Culture-Competence-Leadership; Joint Airmen for Tomorrow’s Battlefield” focusing on providing junior officers with a greater awareness of current operations, the culture and customs of tribal regions in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and the myriad of leadership opportunities in Total Force and joint environments. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Linzi Joseph/Released)

Air Force Company Grade Officer Professional Development Conference at MacDill AFB

2nd Lt. Lisa Faulkner, the 22nd Operations Group intelligence officer, receives assistance from U.S. Army Sgt. Luke Allen, the Joint Communications Support Element maintenance ncoic of the parachute rigger facility, as she prepares for parachute simulation training during the Air Force Company Grade Officer Professional Development Conference tour of the joint parachute facility at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., May 3, 2011. The conference theme is “Culture-Competence-Leadership; Joint Airmen for Tomorrow’s Battlefield” focusing on providing junior officers with a greater awareness of current operations, the culture and customs of tribal regions in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and the myriad of leadership opportunities in Total Force and joint environments. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Linzi Joseph/Released)

Air Force Company Grade Officer Professional Development Conference at MacDill AFB

2nd Lt. Lisa Faulkner, the 22nd Operations Group intelligence officer, learns how to maneuver a free-fall parachute while participating in parachute simulation training during the Air Force Company Grade Officer Professional Development Conference tour of the joint parachute facility at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., May 3, 2011. The conference theme is “Culture-Competence-Leadership; Joint Airmen for Tomorrow’s Battlefield” focusing on providing junior officers with a greater awareness of current operations, the culture and customs of tribal regions in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and the myriad of leadership opportunities in Total Force and joint environments. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Linzi Joseph/Released)

Air Force Company Grade Officer Professional Development Conference at MacDill AFB

U. S. Army Staff Sgt. Christopher Isbelle, a Joint Communications Support Element parachute rigger, describes the capabilities of parachute equipment to junior officers during the Air Force Company Grade Officer Professional Development Conference tour of the joint parachute facility at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., May 3, 2011. The conference theme is “Culture-Competence-Leadership; Joint Airmen for Tomorrow’s Battlefield” focusing on providing junior officers with a greater awareness of current operations, the culture and customs of tribal regions in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and the myriad of leadership opportunities in Total Force and joint environments. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Linzi Joseph/Released)

Air Force Company Grade Officer Professional Development Conference at MacDill AFB

U.S. Army Sgt. Jonathan Copley, the Joint Communications Support Element parachute pack ncoic, assists Capt. Raymond Funke, the 56th Medical Information Systems flight commander, with parachute simulation training during the Air Force Company Grade Officer Professional Development Conference tour of the joint parachute facility at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., May 3, 2011. The conference theme is “Culture-Competence-Leadership; Joint Airmen for Tomorrow’s Battlefield” focusing on providing junior officers with a greater awareness of current operations, the culture and customs of tribal regions in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and the myriad of leadership opportunities in Total Force and joint environments. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Linzi Joseph/Released)

Professional development inspires future leaders

Published May 4, 2011
By Capt. Genieve David
Air Force Company Grade Officers' Council Executive Officer

TAMPA, Fla. -- 250 joint company grade officers gathered here for the ninth annual Air Force Company Grade Officer Professional Development Conference.

This year's conference is hosted by the Eastern Region Company Grade Officers' Council. The conference's theme for this year was: Culture-Competence-Leadership: Joint Airmen for Tomorrow's Battlefield.

"It's been a monumental effort led by a team of CGOs from the Air Force CGOC, including Eastern Region CGOC leadership and MacDill AFB, Fla. CGOs," said Capt. Kaight Cichon, Air Force CGOC vice chairman.

The agenda contains many senior leaders, guest speakers, and events that will inspire thought, foster networking, and generate discussion.

The 6th Air Mobility Wing commander, Col. Lenny Richoux, provided opening welcome remarks to the officers and hosted a day-long base tour at several different organizations throughout the base.

The officers received a host installation mission brief, an update on South and Central American operations, an overview on culture and customs of tribal regions of Pakistan and Afghanistan, and a brief on psychological operations and rapid communication capabilities as part of the first day.

"This is my sixth worldwide professional development conference," said Capt. Faith Eudy, president of the Eastern Region CGOC. "The right ingredients to put on a conference of this caliber include a positive can-do attitude, and synergistic efforts between the host base, the region and Air Force CGOC leadership."

The conference, scheduled for May 2-6 here, will include a traditional "Stars and Bars Dining-In" event, where CGOs will be paired with general officers at their respective tables for mentoring and networking.

The Air Force CGOC is an organized network of Air Force lieutenants and captains working together to promote professional development, base support, community service and esprit-de-corps. Many base CGOCs have formed joint organizations, incorporating U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps lieutenants and captains and U.S. Navy ensigns and lieutenants.