Scott CGOs host leadership conference Published March 23, 2016 By Staff Sgt. Maria Bowman 375th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- Scott AFB hosted the 4th Annual Company Grade Officer Leadership conference March 15-16 at the Global Reach Planning Center, with the theme of "Synergy: Total Force Leadership." The two-day conference began with Col. Laura Lenderman, 375th Air Mobility Wing commander, addressing 120 company grade officers from Scott AFB and the surrounding areas who were in attendance. "This is a great opportunity to listen to a variety of leadership perspectives," Lenderman said. "We have an advantage at Scott to hear from senior leaders who have compelling personal and professional narratives and are willing to share their experiences with all of us. Thank you for taking advantage of this opportunity to learn from others and make new friends and connections. These connections are a force multiplier in that we truly are stronger when we work together as a Total Force team." The conference featured dynamic speakers, as well as enlisted, officer, and legal panels in addition to interactive breakout sessions designed to address issues that directly impact CGOs and cadets in their roles as junior leaders in the Air Force. Tech. Sgt. Robert Rath, a guest on the enlisted panel, said "From my experiences with lieutenants as supervisors, to working side-by-side with 2nd Lieutenants as element leaders now, I just tried to share a few do's and dont's for them when working with enlisted members." Rath said mentorship is an important part of developing these young officers, and said receiving good counseling from knowledgeable counterparts is invaluable. "I think mentorship is important to develop in all members of the Air Force," he said. "It was something I didn't really receive coming up through the ranks, and I remember how lost I felt as a new staff sergeant many years ago. "CGO's have such a high learning curve and a mass amount of pressure to succeed--it is most important to listen to subordinates' concerns and be a wise counselor when giving advice. Know when to talk and when to listen; that's the best advice I can give anyone." For 1st Lt. Bradford Davis, the experience was an excellent opportunity to receive guidance from senior leaders from the Air Force and other services, he said. "Scott AFB offers us a unique opportunity to receive mentorship from the broad spectrum of senior leaders due to the vast number of mission partners across the installation such as U.S. Transportation Command, Air Mobility Command, and the 635th Supply Chain Operations Wing. It's truly an opportunity you do not have available to you at most other bases," Davis said. Davis said he was impressed with the entire conference and enjoyed the networking opportunities this conference provided him. "The event as a whole is amazing," Davis said. "I would say my favorite parts were a combination of the breaks in between speakers and the networking mixer. This was where I got to see just how the event is successful in its mission. During the breaks and at the mixer, CGOs met each other for the first time, forming lasting bonds and growing their professional network, as well as conversations discussing many of the topics that were presented. I truly saw their minds and attitudes taking shape." Capt. Deepa Patel, the conference coordinator, said her goal for the attendees was to embrace the theme and to give attendees the tools and perspectives they would need to succeed as junior officers in the ever-evolving Air Force. "This type of conference is crucial to the development of young officers because it provides a platform for us to engage in cross-discipline networking and strengthen our knowledge of the total force mission," Patel said. "Overall, this event gave CGOs the rare opportunity to come together, learn from each other, and elevate our understanding of the Air Force as a whole."