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      Women's Leadership Symposium discussionCol. Bridget McNamara, Eighth Air Force vice commander, Gen. Anthony Cotton, Air Force Global Strike Command commander and Under Secretary of the Air Force Gina Ortiz Jones discuss authenticity in leadership at the 2022 AFGSC Women’s Leadership Symposium at Louisiana State University of Shreveport, La., April 12, 2022. The mission of this year’s symposium was to promote a community of inclusion across AFGSC, enabling all personnel to lead as their authentic selves. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class William Pugh)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res

2022 AFGSC Women’s Leadership Symposium promotes authenticityPublished April 15, 2022
                    
                    
                    Air Force Global Strike Command Public Affairs
            **BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. (AFNS) --**Airmen across **Air Force Global Strike Command** united both virtually and in person for the 2022 AFGSC Women’s Leadership Symposium April 12-13. The hybrid option allowed for more than 300 Airmen from across the Department of Defense to participate in the event. Gen. Anthony Cotton, Air Force Global Strike Command commander, Under Secretary of the Air Force Gina Ortiz Jones and Chief Master Sgt. Melvina Smith, AFGSC command chief, stand with Airmen at the 2022 AFGSC Women’s Leadership Symposium at Louisiana State University of Shreveport, La., April 12, 2022. The Airmen were recognized for their roles in organizing the symposium. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Nia Jacobs)
            
            
            Photo Details /
                Download Hi-Res

    











“As authentic leaders, we are encouraged to bring our whole selves to our teams; engage and have the hard discussions,” said Maj. Ashley Hazel, AFGSC budget analyst and 2022 WLS committee chair. “This year’s symposium brought together amazing men, women and leaders to share their experiences and connect with one another.”
Authenticity in leadership was explored through this year’s objectives:
- Embracing our vision and desired purpose – who do you see yourself as and who you want to be?

- Removing barriers and feelings of being less than or having to be more than who you are in order to succeed.

- Finding confidence in the multiple identities we hold as women.

- Having the courage to question and have hard conversations.

- Being the leader you want to be! Brig. Gen. Lisa Craig speaks with attendees at the 2022 Air Force Global Strike Command Women’s Leadership Symposium at Barksdale Air Force Base, La., April 13, 2022. The two-day symposium focused on educating Airmen on the importance of retaining female warfighters and acknowledging diversity as a force-multiplier. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class William Pugh)
            
            
            Photo Details /
                Download Hi-Res
    
    Photo of Women's Leadership Symposium participantsAttendees of the 2022 Air Force Global Strike Command Women’s Leadership Symposium stand for a group photo at Barksdale Air Force Base, La., April 13, 2022. The two-day event marked the fourth Women’s Leadership Symposium for AFGSC. The mission of this year’s symposium was to promote a community of inclusion across the command, enabling all personnel to lead as their authentic selves. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Tristan Biese)
            
            
            Photo Details /
                Download Hi-Res
    
    Audience members listen to panelists speak at the 2022 Air Force Global Strike Command Women’s Leadership SymposiumAudience members listen to panelists speak at the 2022 Air Force Global Strike Command Women’s Leadership Symposium at Barksdale Air Force Base, La., April 13, 2022. The theme of this year’s symposium was authenticity. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Nia Jacobs )
            
            
            Photo Details /
                Download Hi-Res

The keynote speaker, Under Secretary of the Air Force **Gina Ortiz Jones**, spoke with attendees about bringing experiences at events like WLS and lessons learned back to their workspaces and across the Department of the Air Force.
“We obviously can’t be in every organization” Jones said. “This is where you all come in, by ensuring we are living up to our core values and doing everything possible to get the most out of our Airmen, **Guardians** and civil servants.”
The theme focused on finding the courage and confidence to lead genuinely and strengthen our bond as service members.
One attendee, Renee Faller, 509th Contracting Squadron procurement analyst, shared her experience at the symposium. “My biggest takeaway from WLS 2022 was not to let lack of representation keep me from reaching my dreams, taking on new tasks or paving the way for others.”
AFGSC engages with personnel at all levels to ensure Airmen are properly trained, equipped, and families are cared for – to promote Striker culture and to encourage Airmen to proudly be their authentic self.
“I am excited about our culture of inclusion that embraces **diversity** within AFGSC– not just gender, ethnicity, or race ... also diversity of authenticity, thought, experience, knowledge and backgrounds,” said **Gen. Anthony J. Cotton**, AFGSC commander. “Through events like this, we celebrate our people – they are the foundation of every system, mission and sortie across our command.”FS 



USAF 



AF 



Air Force 



AFGSC 



Air Force Global Strike Command 



WLS 



Women’s Leadership Symposium 



diversity 



inclusion 



Barksdale AFB 



One Air Force 



USecAF 



Gina Ortiz Jones 



Gen. Anthony Cotton

Related Links
        USecAF visits Barksdale AFB Featured News
        Senior Leader Priorities
                DAF leaders talk budget, reoptimizing the force
                    
                    DAF leaders speak at National Character and Leadership Symposium
                    
                    DAF members recognized during BEYA STEM awards
                    
                    DAF senior enlisted advisors discuss Airmen, Guardians in the fight
                    
                    SecAF Kendall AFA Warfare Symposium Q&A: Reoptimizing for Great Power CompetitionInnovation
                AFWERX director discusses role of tech startups, quick innovation in Great Power Competition
                    
                    DAF delivers lethality at the speed of data during Project Convergence Capstone 4
                    
                    DAF welcomes industry partners to HQ development program
                    
                    DAF announces Spark Tank 2024 finalists
                    
                    Chief Digital, Artificial Intelligence Office to host hackathon in HawaiiMAJCOM News
                Safety enterprise announces new mission, vision, goals in 2024 strategic plan
                    
                    Air Combat Command welcomes new commander
                    
                    USAFE-AFAFRICA commander discusses Integrated Air, Missile Defense during Munich Security Conference
                    
                    Flosi to AFMC family: Embrace change, make every day count
                    
                    AMC rises to increasing global tension
 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