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# Nevada Air Guard colonel champions National Guard diversity, inclusion

By Spc. Mike OrtonJoint Force Headquarters, Nevada National Guard

CARSON CITY, Nev. - Air Force Col. Ondra Berry- a member of the Nevada Air National Guard and special advisor for diversity and equal opportunity to Army Gen. Frank Grass, the chief of the National Guard Bureau-knows firsthand a great deal about both adversity and diversity. His personal and military career experiences have combined to give him the foundation to become a champion of leadership and diversity in his current position, and throughout his career.

As special advisor for diversity and equal opportunity, Berry is responsible for the overall direction of policies and procedures for diversity and inclusion for the National Guard and is the first person to serve in his current position. 

Long before he became the National Guard's senior expert on the topic, Berry said he realized diversity could change a person's life and that challenging life experiences could broaden a person's horizons.

"A defining moment in my life was when I left a predominately all African-American elementary school and was bused to a predominately caucasian school," said Berry, who resides in Sparks, Nev., with his wife and three children when not working at the Pentagon. "It was a major struggle for me, but it definitely launched me on the path of understanding the importance of education and how it provides something internally that can never be removed." 

During his freshman year of high school, Berry and his fellow students protested against racial inequality. Berry said he was fortunate to have strong school leaders who eventually urged him to be part of the solution instead of the problem.

The event became a pivotal moment in his own understanding of personal differences and how perceptions and stereotypes can drive a wedge between friends and progress, he said.

"In school, I was part of a human relations team that worked on programs to make our high school more inclusive," Berry said. "At 14, not only did it cause me to gain an understanding of being a leader, but it also taught me the importance of problem solving, gaining trust, seeing other perspectives, relevancy to high performance teams and that we are more alike than we are different."

After high school, Berry went on to the University of Evansville and received a full-ride scholarship for football and track.

"I was a first-generation college student and did not realize how valuable a full-ride scholarship was in terms of cost," Berry said. "Even though I was on an athletic scholarship, the school heavily emphasized academics. I had to work extremely hard to graduate."

In 1986, Berry, who had taken ROTC classes in college, joined the Nevada Air Guard and enlisted as an airman first class. 

Berry excelled in the Air Guard and earned the state's Outstanding Airman of the Year award in 1988. Then, in 1990, Berry received his commission as a second lieutenant after graduating from the Academy of Military Science.

Berry's time in the Guard provided experiences that impacted his life, he said, adding that he was shaped by the leaders he encountered who exemplified pride, sacrifice and service.

"America sends its sons and daughters into harm's way so Americans can hold onto our democracy," Berry said. "I reflected on that a lot. I just wanted to be a part of something really special and I believe my life is better and more meaningful because I am a member of the Nevada Guard."

In addition to his military career, Berry's desire to serve was also reflected in his 25-year career with the Reno Police Department. Berry worked virtually every assignment within the department during his 25-year career, but one common theme prevailed no matter what his position: to protect and serve.

"One of the major lessons always in front of me was the importance of being a protector," he said. "We provided service to the entire community."

That also meant being able to recognize potential when he saw it.

" In addition, I recognized long ago the importance of potential," he said. "So many people forget that their potential is unlimited. I refused to allow a label, a job title or a position to define my potential." 

Berry carried those principles into his current assignment with the NGB. As an advisor to Grass, Berry emphasizes how important it is for individuals to strive for greatness, expand their abilities and develop personally. 

Developing Airmen and Soldiers into leaders and fostering their ability to cultivate their potential should be one of the National Guard's top priorities, Berry said.

"Every person is a brand," Berry said. "I often ask people if they work on their brand. Are they developing their brand? Do they take pride in their brand? Are they learning and growing everyday to have the best brand? We spend too much time attempting to be like someone else versus being our best self."

That also means being open to greater diversity of thought. 

"The Guard needs diversity of thought," he said. "If you aren't willing to be open in your thinking, diversity cannot be achieved."

Berry predicts a bright future for diversity and equal opportunity within the National Guard and said the key to that future is its Soldiers and Airmen.

"I believe the incoming work force of young Airmen, Soldiers and civilians is more adept and more intelligent than ever and really embraces diversity," Berry said. "We just have to provide the right environment for them to learn and grow and then mentor them to greatness."

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