Navy to Participate in Joint ANSO/NNOA Training Conference

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Navy leadership will play a key role in the professional development and training conference hosted by the National Naval Officers Association (NNOA) and the Association of Naval Service Officers (ANSO) in Portsmouth, Va., July 26-31.

The Navy has a sustained relationship with both affinity groups, which aim to support the sea services in the recruitment, mentoring, career development and retention of minority officers.

This will be the organizations' first joint conference and will feature more than 21 hours of speaker keynotes, panels and other learning opportunities provided by top leadership in the sea services, other government agencies and industry. The conference is aimed at informing attendees of important issues relevant to a successful career and providing an update on the latest diversity issues and programs.

Additionally, four hours of the conference will be devoted to mentoring by military and civilian leaders.

"We anticipate record attendance [at the conference]," said retired Capt. Bernard Jackson, NNOA's president. "Many of the sessions during the conference will focus on the importance of diversity in mission accomplishment and readiness. Increasing junior officer attendance is our focus this year and in support of this goal, the Navy, Coast Guard and Marine Corps have authorized funding to support junior officer attendance at this year's conference."

Key events at the conference include keynotes from Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead and Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Manpower and Reserve Affairs Juan Garcia, a panel with Navy enterprise leadership on diversity in support of the Maritime Strategy and an awards banquet July 30 featuring a speech from Army Gen. William E. "Kip" Ward, commander, U.S. Africa Command.

The conference will also feature a spouse symposium, which will provide spouses with valuable information and tools for military families. Youth day events will also target the nearly 200 students from the Tidewater area who will be exposed to techniques to prepare for college and opportunities as an officer in the sea services.

All Navy total force personnel are encouraged to attend. For more information and to register, visit http://www.nnoa.org/ and http://www.ansomil.org/.

Established in 1970, NNOA is an organization composed of active duty, Reserve and retired officers and civilians that assists the Navy, Coast Guard and Marine Corps in recruitment, retention and professional development of minority officers.

ANSO, established in 1981, is an organization dedicated to supporting the sea services in the recruitment, mentoring, career development and retention of Hispanic officers.

For more news from Chief of Naval Personnel - Diversity Directorate, visit www.navy.mil/local/cnp-diversity/.