Luke Airmen attend Women's symposium

  • Published
  • By Capt. Jamie Rempel
  • 62nd Aircraft Maintenance Unit
WASHINGTON --  The first-ever Air Force Women's Training Symposium was held the last week in October in Springfield, Va., highlighting an important facet of the U.S. Air Force.

More than 600 Air Force women attended, including four women from Luke, and were addressed by speakers who articulated the challenges and triumphs of women in our military and current day society. Multiple heritage panels highlighted the role of military women through the ages, personalized by women like Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Wilma Vaught, the first female promoted to general officer in the comptroller career field and the first female to operationally deploy with the Strategic Air Command bombardment wing. Other panels featured women in combat and heritage scholars.

Guest speakers included Maj. Gen. Terry Gabreski, Air Force Materiel Command vice commander and Chief Master Sgt. (Ret.) Lynn Shell, who was the first female to make chief in the Air Force Office of Special Investigations and the first female to be a command chief in the same career field. Tech. Sgt. Kathy Shaw relayed her experiences as the first female enlisted tactical combat convoy commander and numerous other women shared their adventures and vision.

Dr. Al Pierce verbalized modern day ethics and his perceived challenges for the next generation, and Col. (Dr.) Penney Pierce conveyed preliminary scientific results of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and its effect on women. The final day of the symposium closed with a morning of speakers which included Gail Evans, author and former CNN vice president; a leadership styles panel, featuring E-9s from the U.S. Army, Navy and Air Force; and Dan Clark, Professional speaker, athlete, songwriter and author.

Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley stated, "This professional development symposium pays special tribute to the women who've been integral to fighting and winning our nation's conflicts for more than six decades. Their dedication, sacrifice and contributions inspire us all and should never be forgotten. This symposium also provides a unique opportunity for Airmen to examine the challenges women in the Air Force have faced and to develop an appreciation for the unlimited possibilities women have in our future Air Force."