Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 News
    
        Photos

    Week in Photos

    Air Force TV

    Commentaries

    Features

    Art

    About Us
    
        Air Force Senior Leaders
    
        SECAF

    CSAF

    CMSAF

    Biographies

    Fact Sheets

    SECAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library
    
        CSAF Leadership Library 2022

    CSAF Leadership Library 2021

    CSAF Reading List Pre-2020 Archive
    
        2018 CSAF Reading List

    2017 CSAF Reading List

    2016 CSAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library 2023

    CMSAF Leadership Library

    50 Years of the CMSAF

    Adjunct Professors

    Air Force Strategic Documents

    Arctic Strategy

    Empowered Airmen

    State Licensure Portability

    Careers

    AF Federal Advisory Committees

    AF 75th Anniversary

    Policy Updates

    AF Content Management

    Contact Us

    AF Sites
    
        Site RegistrationU.S. Air Force LogoAir Force

        Policy UpdatesNewsroomReoptimizationBIOGRAPHIESAF Senior Leaders      Diversity and Inclusion Board MeetingDiversity and Inclusion Board Meeting
                        
                        
                        Secretary of the Air Force Barbara Barrett chairs a Diversity and Inclusion Board Meeting at the Pentagon Conference Center in Arlington, Va., July 15, 2020. The board was established by Secretary of Defense Mark Esper as part of the Defense Department’s efforts to improve diversity, inclusion and equal opportunity for U.S. service members. (U.S. Air Force photo by Andy Morataya)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res
        


        Diversity and Inclusion Board MeetingDiversity and Inclusion Board Meeting
                        
                        
                        Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel Readiness Matthew Donovan speaks with Secretary of the Air Force Barbara Barrett during a Diversity and Inclusion Board Meeting at the Pentagon Conference Center in Arlington, Va., July 15, 2020. (U.S. Air Force photo by Andy Morataya)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res
        


        Diversity and Inclusion BoardDiversity and Inclusion Board
                        
                        
                        Secretary of Defense Mark Esper stands with Secretary of the Air Force Barbara Barrett and other members of a Diversity and Inclusion Board meeting at the Pentagon Conference Center in Arlington, Va., July 15, 2020. The board was established by Secretary of Defense Mark Esper as part of the Defense Department’s efforts to improve diversity, inclusion and equal opportunity for U.S. service members. (U.S. Air Force photo by Andy Morataya)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res
        


        Diversity and Inclusion Board MeetingDiversity and Inclusion Board Meeting
                        
                        
                        Secretary of the Air Force Barbara Barrett chairs a Diversity and Inclusion Board Meeting at the Pentagon Conference Center in Arlington, Va., July 15, 2020. The board was established by Secretary of Defense Mark Esper as part of the Defense Department’s efforts to improve diversity, inclusion and equal opportunity for U.S. service members. (U.S. Air Force photo by Andy Morataya)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res

First meeting held for military-wide Defense Board on Diversity and InclusionPublished July 15, 2020
                    
                    By Tech. Sgt. Robert Barnett
                    
                    
                    Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs
            **ARLINGTON, Va. (AFNS) --**The first meeting of the Defense Board on Diversity and Inclusion, a key mechanism in Defense Secretary Mark Esper’s effort to address “bias and prejudice” across the entire military, was chaired bySecretary of the Air Force Barbara Barrett, July 15.

Esper created the Board and appointed Barrett to lead as one element in DoD’s three-pronged initiative that was triggered by the larger national focus on racial injustice and specifically the death of George Floyd.

“This board’s mission is to achieve long-term impact — a commitment to making transformational change that will become part of the Department of Defense’s DNA,” Barrett said. “Diversity is more than tolerance. Genuine diversity generates acceptance. This Board’s mandate is to move forward with alacrity and positively transform the Defense Department for today’s service members and for generations to come.”

Esper, who also attended the meeting, attested to the Board’s importance and the high-profile nature of the undertaking. The defense secretary met with members of the board as they outlined the DoD’s way forward on addressing diversity, inclusion and equal opportunity.

“The actions I am directing are a necessary first step, but I have no illusion that these initial actions will fully address the concerns many of us know and which I have personally heard from many service members,” Esper said.

While Esper said he was pleased with the Board’s initial meeting, he also offered a sober assessment of what lies ahead.

“Hard work remains as efforts to shift our culture requires steadfast attention,” he said. “I look forward to receiving the recommendations of the Board and making further progress on these issues. I want to thank each member of the Board for taking on this responsibility and working to make the U.S. military a more cohesive, ready and capable force in defense of our great nation.”

Along with other efforts initiated by Esper, the Board, under Barrett’s direction, is working to identify actions the Department can take within policies, programs and processes to improve diversity, inclusion and equal opportunity for all service members.

The Board’s work is the middle prong of DoD’s three-tiered approach. The first is a short-term “sprint” to identify immediate actions. The Diversity and Inclusion Board and its recommendations is the “middle term” action, and the third long-term initiative is to establish a Defense Advisory Committee on Diversity and Inclusion in the armed forces.

“When the military embraces people of all races, ethnicities, genders, and creeds, we are stronger,” Barrett said. “Diversity among Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Space Professionals enables us to solve problems and innovate in ways we otherwise could not. An inclusive environment facilitates creativity and adaptation. A military culture of diversity and inclusion is not optional, it is mission essential.”

In addition to Barrett, Board members include:

-Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness Matthew Donovan (Senior Department Member)

-Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Ramón Colón-López (Senior Enlisted Member)

-Air Force Brig. Gen. Troy Dunn (Military Lead)

-Navy Capt. Judy Malana (Senior Officer)

-Army Maj. Wrencla Lopez (Member)

-Army Maj. Randy Fleming (Member)

-Marine Capt. Oludare Adeniji (Member)

-Navy Lt. Cassandra Chang (Member)

-Army Capt. Chrystal Ware (Member)

-Navy Master Chief Petty Officer John Diaz (Member)

-Army Sgt. Maj. Gabriel Harvey (Member)

-Air Force Master Sgt. Deondra Parks (Member)

-Air National Guard Master Sgt. Jessica Todd (Member)

-Air Force Tech. Sgt. Tysheena Brown-Jefferson (Member)

The Secretary of Defense June 19 memorandum directing DoD’s three-pronged approach can be found**here**. The memorandum on Immediate Actions to Address Diversity, Inclusion, and Equal Opportunity in the Military Services can be found **here**.AFWN 



USAF 



AF 



Air Force 



SecAF 



Secretary of the Air Force Barbara Barrett 



Defense Board on Diversity and Inclusion Featured News
        Senior Leader Priorities
                SecAF Kendall visits Bangor ANG Base
                    
                    Vice President Harris congratulates USAFA Class of ‘24
                    
                    Senate confirms Melissa Dalton as next Under Secretary of the Air Force
                    
                    ‘One Team, One Fight’: SecAF visits Keesler AFB
                    
                    SecAF Kendall experiences VISTA of future flight test at Edwards AFBInnovation
                AFSFC reaches final phase of fielding Model Defender gear
                    
                    Around the Air Force: PCS Allowances, Air Task Forces, All-Volunteer Force
                    
                    AFIMSC focuses I-WEPTAC topics on GPC solutions
                    
                    Optimizing AI, Air University hosts Artificial Intelligence Symposium
                    
                    AFIMSC tools deliver data-driven solutions across DAFMAJCOM News
                AFMC to expand AcqDemo workforce
                    
                    AFMC empowers small businesses for Air Force reoptimization
                    
                    Acquisition Instructor Course Class 25A open for nominations
                    
                    Air Guard leaders host 2024 Wing Leader Conference
                    
                    Referral bonuses aim to help fill mission-critical vacancies
 Quick Links
AccessibilityContact UsEqual OpportunityFOIA | Privacy | Section 508Information QualityInspector GeneralJAG Court-Martial DocketLink DisclaimerNo FEAR ActOpen GovernmentOSI Tip LinePlain LanguageQuestionsResilienceRSSSite MapVeterans Crisis LineCareers
Join the Air ForceAir Force BenefitsAir Force CareersAir Force ReserveAir National GuardCivilian ServiceConnect
            Get Social with Us
            
            Official United States Air Force Website
    Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil