1 00:00:02,520 --> 00:00:04,610 And welcome to the military Women's 2 00:00:04,610 --> 00:00:06,630 Memorial for an historic event . 3 00:00:06,640 --> 00:00:09,700 Welcome all . So I'm gonna start with 4 00:00:09,700 --> 00:00:12,330 the formalities as we know we must do 5 00:00:12,330 --> 00:00:15,170 to welcome some of our V I P s in the 6 00:00:15,170 --> 00:00:17,600 room . So we wanna welcome ambassador 7 00:00:17,600 --> 00:00:20,010 Karen Williams and ambassador Jean 8 00:00:20,010 --> 00:00:22,580 Manes . Welcome here , all of our 9 00:00:22,580 --> 00:00:24,747 generals and flag officers that are in 10 00:00:24,747 --> 00:00:26,930 this room and ideally watching 11 00:00:26,930 --> 00:00:29,710 virtually . And of course , I could 12 00:00:29,710 --> 00:00:32,760 spend the next 10 minutes recognizing 13 00:00:32,760 --> 00:00:34,816 everyone in the room . So we're just 14 00:00:34,816 --> 00:00:37,038 gonna leave it at and welcome to all of 15 00:00:37,038 --> 00:00:38,982 our distinguished visitors today . 16 00:00:39,330 --> 00:00:41,220 We're delighted to welcome you to 17 00:00:41,220 --> 00:00:44,870 America's only major national memorial 18 00:00:44,880 --> 00:00:47,000 that honors the three million women 19 00:00:47,000 --> 00:00:49,270 that have defended this nation since 20 00:00:49,270 --> 00:00:52,210 the revolutionary war . I'm Phyllis 21 00:00:52,210 --> 00:00:54,490 Wilson , an army Chief Warrant Officer , 22 00:00:54,490 --> 00:00:56,900 five , retired and the president of the 23 00:00:56,900 --> 00:00:59,240 Women in military Service for America 24 00:00:59,240 --> 00:01:02,200 Memorial Foundation , the organization 25 00:01:02,210 --> 00:01:04,099 responsible for the operation and 26 00:01:04,099 --> 00:01:06,210 maintenance of this lovely building . 27 00:01:07,360 --> 00:01:09,910 The memorial is well positioned to be a 28 00:01:09,910 --> 00:01:12,520 leading voice and a resource in support 29 00:01:12,530 --> 00:01:15,320 of the US strategy on women , peace and 30 00:01:15,320 --> 00:01:17,940 security . Now , our approach is to 31 00:01:17,940 --> 00:01:20,090 place the perspectives and the 32 00:01:20,090 --> 00:01:22,930 experiences of service , women at the 33 00:01:22,930 --> 00:01:24,819 forefront of the discussions with 34 00:01:24,819 --> 00:01:28,160 practitioners , scholars and leaders 35 00:01:28,160 --> 00:01:30,180 from across the public and private 36 00:01:30,180 --> 00:01:32,650 sectors , as well as with our partner 37 00:01:32,650 --> 00:01:35,700 nations to better understand the 38 00:01:35,700 --> 00:01:38,290 essential role of women and global 39 00:01:38,290 --> 00:01:41,870 security and defense efforts and to 40 00:01:41,870 --> 00:01:43,750 work towards equality for future 41 00:01:43,750 --> 00:01:46,740 generations at home and around the 42 00:01:46,740 --> 00:01:50,240 globe . Today's program beyond 43 00:01:50,240 --> 00:01:53,380 first , powering the future force will 44 00:01:53,380 --> 00:01:55,980 address one of the critical issues 45 00:01:55,990 --> 00:01:57,934 facing the Department of Defense . 46 00:01:57,934 --> 00:02:01,160 Today , recruiting and retention 47 00:02:01,670 --> 00:02:04,110 of the best and the most competent 48 00:02:04,110 --> 00:02:06,750 personnel . Our most treasured and 49 00:02:06,750 --> 00:02:09,930 critical resource as we shape our force 50 00:02:09,930 --> 00:02:12,010 for the future and the critical 51 00:02:12,010 --> 00:02:14,510 national defense issues that it will 52 00:02:14,510 --> 00:02:17,940 bring . Joining us today are the 53 00:02:17,940 --> 00:02:21,160 Department of Defense's for most 54 00:02:21,170 --> 00:02:24,610 senior military women . I'll give you a 55 00:02:24,610 --> 00:02:26,630 short bio of each of them . Admiral 56 00:02:26,630 --> 00:02:29,100 Linda Fagan is the commandant of the 57 00:02:29,100 --> 00:02:32,750 U.S . Guard . Admiral Fagan is the 27th 58 00:02:32,750 --> 00:02:34,861 commandant of the Coast Guard and she 59 00:02:34,861 --> 00:02:37,820 is the first woman in the history of 60 00:02:37,820 --> 00:02:40,160 our nation to lead a branch of the 61 00:02:40,160 --> 00:02:43,150 military . As commandant . She oversees 62 00:02:43,160 --> 00:02:46,460 all global coast Guard operations and 63 00:02:46,460 --> 00:02:50,110 42,000 active duty , 7000 64 00:02:50,110 --> 00:02:53,770 reserve and 8700 civilian 65 00:02:53,770 --> 00:02:56,990 personnel as well as the support of the 66 00:02:56,990 --> 00:03:00,380 21,000 Coast Guard auxiliary 67 00:03:00,390 --> 00:03:04,020 volunteers , Air Force General 68 00:03:04,020 --> 00:03:06,470 Jacqueline van overdosed commander , 69 00:03:06,480 --> 00:03:08,920 United States Transportation Command . 70 00:03:08,930 --> 00:03:12,480 She is the 14th commander of transcom . 71 00:03:12,510 --> 00:03:16,400 One of the 11 combatant commands U S 72 00:03:16,400 --> 00:03:18,750 Transcom mission is to project and 73 00:03:18,750 --> 00:03:22,050 sustain military power globally . In 74 00:03:22,050 --> 00:03:24,460 order to assure our friends and our 75 00:03:24,460 --> 00:03:28,080 allies deter potential adversaries and 76 00:03:28,080 --> 00:03:31,360 if necessary respond to win 77 00:03:31,360 --> 00:03:34,820 decisively . Army General Laura 78 00:03:34,820 --> 00:03:36,820 Richardson , Commander U S Southern 79 00:03:36,820 --> 00:03:40,010 Command , she is the 32nd commander of 80 00:03:40,010 --> 00:03:42,380 the U S Southern Command . Another of 81 00:03:42,380 --> 00:03:44,640 the 11 Defense Department combatant 82 00:03:44,640 --> 00:03:47,230 commands . It's responsible for 83 00:03:47,230 --> 00:03:49,220 providing contingency planning , 84 00:03:49,230 --> 00:03:52,370 operations and security cooperation for 85 00:03:52,370 --> 00:03:54,650 Central and Southern America , the 86 00:03:54,650 --> 00:03:57,510 Caribbean and for the force protection 87 00:03:57,520 --> 00:03:59,800 of U S military resources at these 88 00:03:59,800 --> 00:04:02,540 locations . And it's also responsible 89 00:04:02,540 --> 00:04:04,707 for ensuring the defense of the Panama 90 00:04:04,707 --> 00:04:07,880 Panama canal and the canal areas . 91 00:04:08,750 --> 00:04:12,690 And Navy , Admiral Lisa Frank , et Vice 92 00:04:12,690 --> 00:04:15,710 Chief of naval operations . She is the 93 00:04:15,710 --> 00:04:18,720 42nd vice chief of naval operations , 94 00:04:18,730 --> 00:04:21,040 the second highest ranking naval 95 00:04:21,040 --> 00:04:23,810 officer and functions as the principal 96 00:04:23,810 --> 00:04:26,800 deputy of the chief of naval operations , 97 00:04:26,800 --> 00:04:29,020 who is responsible to the Secretary of 98 00:04:29,020 --> 00:04:32,080 the Navy for the command utilization of 99 00:04:32,080 --> 00:04:35,290 resources and operation of the Navy 100 00:04:35,690 --> 00:04:37,634 among her duties . If the chief of 101 00:04:37,634 --> 00:04:40,530 naval operations is absent or unable to 102 00:04:40,530 --> 00:04:43,540 perform his or her duties , the vice 103 00:04:43,540 --> 00:04:46,760 would assume such . And I am proud to 104 00:04:46,760 --> 00:04:50,650 say that here today here 105 00:04:50,660 --> 00:04:53,040 at the military women's memorial , it 106 00:04:53,040 --> 00:04:55,780 is the first time that all four of them 107 00:04:55,790 --> 00:04:58,012 have had the opportunity to be together 108 00:04:58,012 --> 00:05:00,590 in public . They did have a private 109 00:05:00,590 --> 00:05:02,590 dinner last night . So they kind of 110 00:05:02,590 --> 00:05:05,230 blew my quote , but in public , I'll 111 00:05:05,230 --> 00:05:08,540 say so this is a great day . Not only 112 00:05:08,540 --> 00:05:10,910 for all of you to hear from these 113 00:05:10,910 --> 00:05:12,966 extraordinary military leaders , but 114 00:05:12,966 --> 00:05:15,140 it's a great day as well for military 115 00:05:15,140 --> 00:05:17,980 women and a great way for the military 116 00:05:17,980 --> 00:05:20,460 women's memorial to kick off Women's 117 00:05:20,460 --> 00:05:23,410 History Month . But that's not all we 118 00:05:23,410 --> 00:05:25,520 have the distinct privilege to have 119 00:05:25,520 --> 00:05:27,464 joined us today . One of America's 120 00:05:27,464 --> 00:05:29,800 leading television journalists and 121 00:05:29,800 --> 00:05:32,345 anchor of the CBS evening news , Norah 122 00:05:32,345 --> 00:05:34,945 O'Donnell Nora has covered presidential 123 00:05:34,945 --> 00:05:37,056 elections and interviewed some of the 124 00:05:37,056 --> 00:05:39,223 most influential world leaders . She's 125 00:05:39,223 --> 00:05:41,334 a frequent contributing journalist to 126 00:05:41,334 --> 00:05:43,965 60 minutes , the recipient of multiple 127 00:05:43,975 --> 00:05:47,705 Emmy Awards and the list goes on and on . 128 00:05:48,065 --> 00:05:50,625 And today she will be moderating the 129 00:05:50,625 --> 00:05:52,695 discussion of some of the military's 130 00:05:52,695 --> 00:05:55,085 most influential leaders , the four 131 00:05:55,085 --> 00:05:57,745 women , four stars joining us today . 132 00:05:57,920 --> 00:05:59,976 So without further delay , I welcome 133 00:05:59,976 --> 00:06:01,753 our distinguished panel and the 134 00:06:01,753 --> 00:06:03,976 moderator to the stage here at the Vote 135 00:06:03,976 --> 00:06:06,309 Center of the Military Women's Memorial . 136 00:06:06,309 --> 00:06:08,309 And thank you all for joining us in 137 00:06:08,309 --> 00:06:10,960 person and virtual guests from across 138 00:06:10,960 --> 00:06:13,071 the country , including organizations 139 00:06:13,071 --> 00:06:15,127 like Air Force Women's initiatives , 140 00:06:15,127 --> 00:06:17,410 team , University ROTC programs , 141 00:06:17,420 --> 00:06:20,020 service academies and Veterans Affairs 142 00:06:20,020 --> 00:06:22,250 groups . We would love for you to share 143 00:06:22,250 --> 00:06:24,350 and engage with us on social media 144 00:06:24,350 --> 00:06:27,890 today and use the hashtag beyond first 145 00:06:27,900 --> 00:06:31,870 Nora . Please join us all and 146 00:06:31,870 --> 00:06:33,648 Nora will take over from here . 147 00:06:56,000 --> 00:06:57,970 Well , good afternoon and welcome 148 00:06:57,970 --> 00:06:59,970 everybody how thrilling it is to be 149 00:06:59,970 --> 00:07:02,137 here , Phyllis . Thank you so much for 150 00:07:02,137 --> 00:07:04,137 your incredible leadership and your 151 00:07:04,137 --> 00:07:06,192 introductory remarks we appreciate . 152 00:07:06,192 --> 00:07:09,320 Isn't this a fantastic spot ? Um I am 153 00:07:09,320 --> 00:07:11,730 thrilled to be here amongst so many of 154 00:07:11,730 --> 00:07:15,560 you as we mark 75 years of 155 00:07:15,560 --> 00:07:17,782 women in the United States . Military . 156 00:07:17,782 --> 00:07:19,504 Congratulations and strength . 157 00:07:28,520 --> 00:07:30,520 It's important to recognize how far 158 00:07:30,520 --> 00:07:32,910 we've come and how far we still need to 159 00:07:32,910 --> 00:07:35,380 go . When all of our panelists served 160 00:07:35,380 --> 00:07:37,720 up , uh , signed up to serve their 161 00:07:37,720 --> 00:07:40,230 country . There were barriers in their 162 00:07:40,230 --> 00:07:42,452 way , certain aircrafts , they couldn't 163 00:07:42,452 --> 00:07:44,674 fly certain ships that they couldn't be 164 00:07:44,674 --> 00:07:46,950 on certain jobs that they were not 165 00:07:46,960 --> 00:07:50,140 allowed to have that has changed . But 166 00:07:50,140 --> 00:07:52,450 there are still obstacles facing women 167 00:07:52,460 --> 00:07:54,950 in the military obstacles that I know 168 00:07:54,960 --> 00:07:57,127 everyone wants to work together to try 169 00:07:57,127 --> 00:07:59,760 and eliminate . So the theme of today 170 00:07:59,760 --> 00:08:02,790 is beyond . Firsts , I've been thinking 171 00:08:02,790 --> 00:08:04,957 a lot about what that means . It means 172 00:08:04,957 --> 00:08:07,590 that it's no longer a novelty when a 173 00:08:07,590 --> 00:08:10,100 woman breaks a glass ceiling . But I 174 00:08:10,100 --> 00:08:12,430 must say , I think it's kind of awesome 175 00:08:12,430 --> 00:08:14,820 to be with these women who have done it . 176 00:08:15,650 --> 00:08:17,817 I know they don't , they don't want to 177 00:08:17,817 --> 00:08:19,817 continue to be the first , but it's 178 00:08:19,817 --> 00:08:22,039 great to be able to . This is history , 179 00:08:22,039 --> 00:08:23,983 you all are here . This is history 180 00:08:23,983 --> 00:08:26,094 really to be able to hear from all of 181 00:08:26,094 --> 00:08:28,206 them . So without further ado , let's 182 00:08:28,206 --> 00:08:30,428 let's hear from them . And also I wanna 183 00:08:30,428 --> 00:08:32,317 remind you two , you will have an 184 00:08:32,317 --> 00:08:34,483 opportunity to ask them questions . So 185 00:08:34,483 --> 00:08:36,594 be thinking about what you would like 186 00:08:36,594 --> 00:08:38,594 to um ask each of our distinguished 187 00:08:38,594 --> 00:08:42,060 guests here . So first , um the Coast 188 00:08:42,060 --> 00:08:44,750 Guard Commandant Admiral Linda Fagan . 189 00:08:44,850 --> 00:08:46,200 Thank you . 190 00:08:50,990 --> 00:08:53,810 Okay . Thank you Nora . And for 191 00:08:53,810 --> 00:08:56,230 everyone that's helped put this event 192 00:08:56,230 --> 00:08:58,286 together . I can't think of a better 193 00:08:58,286 --> 00:09:00,397 location to be as we kick off Women's 194 00:09:00,397 --> 00:09:02,930 History Month and I'm really excited to 195 00:09:02,930 --> 00:09:05,120 be here . I am about to do one of the 196 00:09:05,120 --> 00:09:07,120 things that I like least , which is 197 00:09:07,120 --> 00:09:09,231 talk a little bit about myself . This 198 00:09:09,231 --> 00:09:11,453 is generally is probably a trait we all 199 00:09:11,453 --> 00:09:13,620 we all share . But I just , you know , 200 00:09:13,620 --> 00:09:15,850 I want to reflect a little bit on one 201 00:09:15,850 --> 00:09:18,640 how historic this is . It . It has 202 00:09:18,640 --> 00:09:20,990 truly been a journey . It's been a 203 00:09:21,000 --> 00:09:23,190 journey for the nation , a journey for 204 00:09:23,190 --> 00:09:25,357 each of our services and a journey for 205 00:09:25,357 --> 00:09:28,830 each of us individually . I reflected 206 00:09:28,840 --> 00:09:31,990 um I changed command this past June 207 00:09:32,000 --> 00:09:35,230 that had the then common on Owen Siler 208 00:09:35,230 --> 00:09:38,520 not taken the decision to , to bring 209 00:09:38,520 --> 00:09:40,742 women into the service academy into the 210 00:09:40,742 --> 00:09:42,964 Coast Guard Academy . And so that first 211 00:09:42,964 --> 00:09:45,880 class graduates in 1980 I arrived as a 212 00:09:45,880 --> 00:09:49,200 young 18 year old in the summer of 1981 213 00:09:49,400 --> 00:09:52,000 I would not be here today . Had that 214 00:09:52,010 --> 00:09:54,820 decision not been made at that at that 215 00:09:54,820 --> 00:09:56,987 point in time . So it truly has been a 216 00:09:56,987 --> 00:09:59,153 journey . I also saw , I'm a proud mom 217 00:09:59,153 --> 00:10:00,931 up here right now . My favorite 218 00:10:00,931 --> 00:10:04,250 Lieutenant Lieutenant Hagen 219 00:10:08,020 --> 00:10:11,950 is , is in so she's here today . 220 00:10:11,950 --> 00:10:14,750 But one of the things that she joined 221 00:10:14,750 --> 00:10:16,750 the Coast Guard that could not have 222 00:10:16,750 --> 00:10:18,694 been more different than the Coast 223 00:10:18,694 --> 00:10:20,694 Guard that I joined . And this just 224 00:10:20,694 --> 00:10:22,806 speaks to the to the journey . And so 225 00:10:22,806 --> 00:10:24,528 many people that have made the 226 00:10:24,528 --> 00:10:28,290 opportunity for us here here today . Uh 227 00:10:28,300 --> 00:10:30,910 One of my primary focus areas as 228 00:10:30,910 --> 00:10:33,035 commandant is a around talent 229 00:10:33,035 --> 00:10:35,146 management and workforce management , 230 00:10:35,146 --> 00:10:38,665 making it easier for not just women but 231 00:10:38,675 --> 00:10:40,685 all who want to serve in the Coast 232 00:10:40,685 --> 00:10:43,375 Guard in the military to find their way 233 00:10:43,385 --> 00:10:46,355 into the service and then to stay and 234 00:10:46,355 --> 00:10:48,685 be able to take advantage of all of the 235 00:10:48,685 --> 00:10:51,755 opportunity that is afforded . And many , 236 00:10:51,765 --> 00:10:53,876 we have many veterans in the audience 237 00:10:53,876 --> 00:10:56,098 and many people still in uniform . It's 238 00:10:56,098 --> 00:10:58,154 an incredibly exciting time to serve 239 00:10:58,154 --> 00:11:00,265 the nation and where the cloth of our 240 00:11:00,265 --> 00:11:03,660 country . And so I just consider myself 241 00:11:03,670 --> 00:11:06,350 very fortunate to have been able to 242 00:11:06,350 --> 00:11:08,461 take advantage of the law changes and 243 00:11:08,461 --> 00:11:11,110 things uh doors that were opened at 244 00:11:11,110 --> 00:11:13,388 sort of the right point in time for me . 245 00:11:13,388 --> 00:11:16,380 And now I consider privilege really , 246 00:11:16,380 --> 00:11:18,436 it's what excites me every day is to 247 00:11:18,436 --> 00:11:20,602 create that opportunity for those that 248 00:11:20,602 --> 00:11:22,713 are coming up , coming up behind me . 249 00:11:22,713 --> 00:11:24,936 But thank you . Thank you . Thank you , 250 00:11:24,936 --> 00:11:27,158 Admiral Fagan . And I did go up to Cape 251 00:11:27,158 --> 00:11:28,991 May recently and , and visit the 252 00:11:28,991 --> 00:11:30,824 facility there and they're doing 253 00:11:30,824 --> 00:11:32,658 incredible work . All the listed 254 00:11:32,658 --> 00:11:34,824 members there . Of course , training , 255 00:11:34,824 --> 00:11:36,769 hard training , very hard . Next . 256 00:11:36,769 --> 00:11:38,991 Please welcome the Commander of the U S 257 00:11:38,991 --> 00:11:40,824 Transportation Command Air Force 258 00:11:40,824 --> 00:11:42,658 General Jacqueline Van Provost . 259 00:11:48,420 --> 00:11:50,642 So I want to say thanks to you nora and 260 00:11:50,642 --> 00:11:52,642 thanks to fill us what a tremendous 261 00:11:52,642 --> 00:11:54,698 opportunity it is to share the stage 262 00:11:54,698 --> 00:11:56,900 with these incredible leaders who 263 00:11:56,900 --> 00:12:00,070 represent the past , present future of 264 00:12:00,080 --> 00:12:02,191 our services . And again , right here 265 00:12:02,191 --> 00:12:04,830 in this amazing memorial in the 75 266 00:12:04,830 --> 00:12:07,450 years since we've had the opportunity 267 00:12:07,450 --> 00:12:10,000 to serve , we certainly have come a 268 00:12:10,000 --> 00:12:12,100 long way . Our progress has been 269 00:12:12,100 --> 00:12:14,810 accelerating , but we have a ways to go 270 00:12:14,820 --> 00:12:17,060 still . And we're working on that , you 271 00:12:17,060 --> 00:12:19,250 know , only 30 years ago , women were 272 00:12:19,250 --> 00:12:21,139 allowed to fly fighter aircraft , 273 00:12:21,139 --> 00:12:24,280 combat aircraft and only 10 years ago 274 00:12:24,290 --> 00:12:26,512 where the restrictions on ground combat 275 00:12:26,512 --> 00:12:29,630 taken off of women . And now we serve 276 00:12:29,630 --> 00:12:31,463 in the military where if you are 277 00:12:31,463 --> 00:12:34,070 talented and qualified , you can go do 278 00:12:34,070 --> 00:12:36,730 that job . And that's amazing . And Joe 279 00:12:36,730 --> 00:12:39,790 opens up real , real doors . So all of 280 00:12:39,790 --> 00:12:43,010 us here , you know , and you and the 281 00:12:43,010 --> 00:12:45,780 audience have inherited this legacy , 282 00:12:45,790 --> 00:12:47,512 this expanding legacy of those 283 00:12:47,512 --> 00:12:49,623 tenacious people who have turned back 284 00:12:49,623 --> 00:12:52,040 the tide of cultural lethargy and 285 00:12:52,040 --> 00:12:54,151 decided to serve their nation in many 286 00:12:54,151 --> 00:12:56,580 different ways . I said nothing and 287 00:12:56,580 --> 00:12:58,580 said , you know , those before us , 288 00:12:58,580 --> 00:13:01,210 really a tremendous opportunity uh 289 00:13:01,220 --> 00:13:03,600 influence on the opportunities that we 290 00:13:03,610 --> 00:13:06,050 have . And I think about , you know , 291 00:13:06,050 --> 00:13:08,820 beside us here on stage , we all had 292 00:13:08,830 --> 00:13:11,420 great supporters , men and women 293 00:13:11,430 --> 00:13:13,319 provided opportunities for us and 294 00:13:13,319 --> 00:13:15,430 supported and encouraged us along the 295 00:13:15,430 --> 00:13:18,540 way . And now those behind us , you , 296 00:13:18,550 --> 00:13:21,000 your daughters , your mentors , right ? 297 00:13:21,010 --> 00:13:23,420 I think about the opportunities that 298 00:13:23,420 --> 00:13:25,642 you have . It's awesome to see everyone 299 00:13:25,642 --> 00:13:27,860 here . It reinvigorates our commitment 300 00:13:27,860 --> 00:13:30,570 to continue to get after any remaining 301 00:13:30,580 --> 00:13:33,190 vestiges of concerns and barriers that 302 00:13:33,190 --> 00:13:35,190 there might be out there to someone 303 00:13:35,190 --> 00:13:37,840 fulfilling their purpose in life here 304 00:13:37,840 --> 00:13:40,062 in our service . And that's what really 305 00:13:40,062 --> 00:13:42,310 motivates us every day . Because let me 306 00:13:42,310 --> 00:13:44,254 be clear , all of these efforts to 307 00:13:44,254 --> 00:13:46,850 ensure true inclusion in the military 308 00:13:46,860 --> 00:13:49,027 is first and foremost about building a 309 00:13:49,027 --> 00:13:52,610 lethal agile and ready joint force . 310 00:13:52,620 --> 00:13:54,842 That is the first and foremost thing on 311 00:13:54,842 --> 00:13:57,009 our mind everyday as we get to work is 312 00:13:57,009 --> 00:13:59,231 are we ready , are ready today and I'll 313 00:13:59,231 --> 00:14:01,453 be ready tomorrow . So , historically , 314 00:14:01,453 --> 00:14:05,110 militaries reflected the societies that 315 00:14:05,110 --> 00:14:08,160 supported them And we are at the 50th 316 00:14:08,160 --> 00:14:10,590 year of our all volunteer force and our 317 00:14:10,590 --> 00:14:13,380 force should continue to evolve to 318 00:14:13,380 --> 00:14:15,660 incorporate all of the talents and 319 00:14:15,660 --> 00:14:19,100 demographics of America , right ? And 320 00:14:19,110 --> 00:14:21,110 this is especially true as we enter 321 00:14:21,110 --> 00:14:22,777 this area of global strategic 322 00:14:22,777 --> 00:14:25,330 competition . We need diversity of 323 00:14:25,330 --> 00:14:27,441 thought , diversity of experience and 324 00:14:27,441 --> 00:14:29,274 capabilities all pulled together 325 00:14:29,274 --> 00:14:31,497 because we're getting after some really 326 00:14:31,497 --> 00:14:33,386 wicked hard problems in strategic 327 00:14:33,386 --> 00:14:35,497 competition , we need everyone at the 328 00:14:35,497 --> 00:14:37,830 table supporting us and we are examples , 329 00:14:37,830 --> 00:14:40,750 um leadership matters , inclusion 330 00:14:40,750 --> 00:14:43,440 matters and you see us now all 331 00:14:43,450 --> 00:14:46,240 generating results at the strategic 332 00:14:46,250 --> 00:14:48,610 operational and tactical level . So 333 00:14:48,610 --> 00:14:50,499 that's why we have to continue to 334 00:14:50,499 --> 00:14:53,380 recruit and retain talented women and 335 00:14:53,380 --> 00:14:56,370 men in our service capable of thinking 336 00:14:56,370 --> 00:14:59,410 creatively differently , innovating 337 00:14:59,410 --> 00:15:01,410 with the technology that we have so 338 00:15:01,410 --> 00:15:03,410 that we can create new concepts and 339 00:15:03,410 --> 00:15:05,466 capabilities so that we could remain 340 00:15:05,466 --> 00:15:07,521 first and foremost , the most lethal 341 00:15:07,521 --> 00:15:10,100 fighting force in the world for this 342 00:15:10,100 --> 00:15:13,270 reason , I encourage you to interact 343 00:15:13,270 --> 00:15:15,630 with folks here . These are decades of 344 00:15:15,630 --> 00:15:18,380 first see right here in this audience 345 00:15:18,390 --> 00:15:22,170 network here , those online uh and 346 00:15:22,180 --> 00:15:23,902 learn from each other . What a 347 00:15:23,902 --> 00:15:25,847 tremendous opportunities for us to 348 00:15:25,847 --> 00:15:28,013 learn from each other together . We're 349 00:15:28,013 --> 00:15:29,958 going to continue to push societal 350 00:15:29,958 --> 00:15:32,180 boundaries towards an area where beyond 351 00:15:32,180 --> 00:15:34,291 first , there are no no more first or 352 00:15:34,291 --> 00:15:36,402 only just professional military ready 353 00:15:36,402 --> 00:15:38,458 to get after the needs of the nation 354 00:15:38,458 --> 00:15:41,070 with highly talented , diverse and 355 00:15:41,070 --> 00:15:45,040 capable people before us beside us and 356 00:15:45,040 --> 00:15:47,262 behind us . So I'm pretty excited to be 357 00:15:47,262 --> 00:15:50,360 here . Thank you so much . Mhm . 358 00:15:55,840 --> 00:15:58,007 And we want to welcome everyone that's 359 00:15:58,007 --> 00:16:00,390 joining us um online as well watching 360 00:16:00,390 --> 00:16:02,668 and you too can submit questions . Now , 361 00:16:02,668 --> 00:16:04,668 please welcome the commander of the 362 00:16:04,668 --> 00:16:06,668 United States Southern Command Army 363 00:16:06,668 --> 00:16:08,168 General Laura Richardson . 364 00:16:14,040 --> 00:16:16,300 So thank you so much , Nora , thank you 365 00:16:16,300 --> 00:16:18,633 for the time that you've invested today . 366 00:16:18,633 --> 00:16:20,744 We really appreciate it . Thank you , 367 00:16:20,744 --> 00:16:23,540 Phyllis . Thank you , Jan . Uh Jan was 368 00:16:23,550 --> 00:16:25,990 a two star general when I was a 369 00:16:25,990 --> 00:16:27,768 lieutenant colonel right out of 370 00:16:27,768 --> 00:16:29,830 battalion command and had my first 371 00:16:29,830 --> 00:16:31,997 assignment to the Pentagon on the army 372 00:16:31,997 --> 00:16:34,750 staff and I watched a great role model 373 00:16:34,760 --> 00:16:38,400 uh and all the meetings uh and uh just 374 00:16:38,400 --> 00:16:40,511 really tremendous . I wanna thank you 375 00:16:40,511 --> 00:16:42,678 for your service , Phyllis . Thank you 376 00:16:42,678 --> 00:16:44,844 as well leading the charge here . It's 377 00:16:44,844 --> 00:16:47,590 an honor to be here . And certainly as 378 00:16:47,600 --> 00:16:49,820 my colleagues have talked about then , 379 00:16:49,830 --> 00:16:51,830 being on the stage here with all of 380 00:16:51,830 --> 00:16:55,010 them . It's about opportunities . Right . 381 00:16:55,020 --> 00:16:58,120 And so now all of these laws and 382 00:16:58,120 --> 00:17:00,120 policies have been changed to allow 383 00:17:00,120 --> 00:17:02,520 everybody the opportunity . And we 384 00:17:02,520 --> 00:17:04,520 shouldn't be surprised what happens 385 00:17:04,520 --> 00:17:07,430 when the opportunities are there . Uh 386 00:17:07,440 --> 00:17:10,000 This is what happens and there's no 387 00:17:10,000 --> 00:17:13,060 surprise . And so just the 388 00:17:13,070 --> 00:17:15,320 opportunities in the military , the 389 00:17:15,320 --> 00:17:18,050 mention of the 50 years of the all 390 00:17:18,050 --> 00:17:20,161 volunteer force that's very important 391 00:17:20,161 --> 00:17:22,700 to us this year . Uh and we have a 392 00:17:22,710 --> 00:17:25,820 little bit of ways to go to connect 393 00:17:25,820 --> 00:17:27,709 with our population , our younger 394 00:17:27,709 --> 00:17:30,160 population because our military is so 395 00:17:30,160 --> 00:17:33,950 very important . Um a very well 396 00:17:33,950 --> 00:17:35,500 known fact in terms of the 397 00:17:35,500 --> 00:17:38,280 incorporation of , of women into 398 00:17:38,280 --> 00:17:40,447 military and security forces that make 399 00:17:40,447 --> 00:17:42,502 our security forces and our security 400 00:17:42,502 --> 00:17:46,240 stronger . Uh And so I would say that 401 00:17:46,250 --> 00:17:48,194 it's all about the opportunities . 402 00:17:48,194 --> 00:17:51,500 There are tons of opportunities , 178 403 00:17:51,500 --> 00:17:53,850 different skill sets , 178 different 404 00:17:53,850 --> 00:17:56,072 jobs you can do in the military . Where 405 00:17:56,072 --> 00:17:58,490 else can you be a helicopter pilot , 406 00:17:58,500 --> 00:18:00,611 work at the White House , work at the 407 00:18:00,611 --> 00:18:02,611 United States Capitol , work at the 408 00:18:02,611 --> 00:18:04,444 Pentagon Lead America's sons and 409 00:18:04,444 --> 00:18:06,690 daughters in combat . I'll do all of 410 00:18:06,690 --> 00:18:08,579 those things . I could have never 411 00:18:08,579 --> 00:18:10,579 imagined that I would be able to do 412 00:18:10,579 --> 00:18:12,690 that in the military and talk about a 413 00:18:12,690 --> 00:18:14,990 challenge . Um You are impacting 414 00:18:14,990 --> 00:18:17,610 national security and global security 415 00:18:17,620 --> 00:18:20,060 every single day in the military . You 416 00:18:20,060 --> 00:18:22,800 wake up and you impact it just like 417 00:18:22,800 --> 00:18:25,022 that . You want to have meaning to what 418 00:18:25,022 --> 00:18:27,022 you're doing in the military . This 419 00:18:27,022 --> 00:18:29,189 group does everybody here . And we got 420 00:18:29,189 --> 00:18:31,189 to get out and , and talk about our 421 00:18:31,189 --> 00:18:33,356 United States military , the strongest 422 00:18:33,356 --> 00:18:36,180 fighting force in the world . But we 423 00:18:36,180 --> 00:18:38,180 got to keep it that way . We got to 424 00:18:38,180 --> 00:18:40,650 keep it that way . Everything is open . 425 00:18:40,650 --> 00:18:43,310 Now , all the opportunities are there . 426 00:18:43,320 --> 00:18:45,800 We again , we see what that does and 427 00:18:45,800 --> 00:18:48,390 what that affords everybody . And so 428 00:18:48,400 --> 00:18:50,622 just very honored to be here and I look 429 00:18:50,622 --> 00:18:52,567 forward to everybody's questions . 430 00:18:52,567 --> 00:18:53,567 Thank you 431 00:19:00,470 --> 00:19:02,800 and please welcome the Vice Chief of 432 00:19:02,800 --> 00:19:05,570 Naval Operations , Navy , Admiral Lisa 433 00:19:05,570 --> 00:19:06,350 Franchetti . 434 00:19:11,760 --> 00:19:13,816 Thank you very much , Nora again for 435 00:19:13,816 --> 00:19:16,149 spending so much time with us , Phyllis . 436 00:19:16,149 --> 00:19:18,204 Thank you and Jan for organizing the 437 00:19:18,204 --> 00:19:20,371 event today . It's really wonderful to 438 00:19:20,371 --> 00:19:22,316 be here sitting up with these very 439 00:19:22,316 --> 00:19:24,260 inspiring leaders that I've had an 440 00:19:24,260 --> 00:19:26,427 opportunity to work with or watch from 441 00:19:26,427 --> 00:19:28,480 below for many years . You know , 442 00:19:28,480 --> 00:19:31,330 sitting here in the women's memorial . 443 00:19:31,340 --> 00:19:34,520 This is a pretty good reminder of why I 444 00:19:34,520 --> 00:19:36,990 look forward to March every year to 445 00:19:36,990 --> 00:19:39,157 celebrate Women's History Month . It's 446 00:19:39,157 --> 00:19:41,570 really a time to pause and reflect on 447 00:19:41,570 --> 00:19:43,626 those pioneers and leaders that went 448 00:19:43,626 --> 00:19:46,110 before us who were able to work hard , 449 00:19:46,120 --> 00:19:48,590 break down barriers and put in place 450 00:19:48,600 --> 00:19:51,880 the changes in law and policy and 451 00:19:51,880 --> 00:19:54,270 culture really that enabled all of us 452 00:19:54,280 --> 00:19:56,790 to be here today . I think it's a the 453 00:19:56,790 --> 00:19:59,430 honor of a lifetime to be a witness to 454 00:19:59,430 --> 00:20:01,530 this history . And I think all of us 455 00:20:01,530 --> 00:20:03,641 have been part of the history and had 456 00:20:03,641 --> 00:20:05,620 an opportunity to pay it forward a 457 00:20:05,620 --> 00:20:07,787 little bit . I know when I came in the 458 00:20:07,787 --> 00:20:11,300 Navy in 1985 , a lot of the doors for 459 00:20:11,310 --> 00:20:14,450 women were closed . Um I could not even 460 00:20:14,450 --> 00:20:16,394 have imagined being the commanding 461 00:20:16,394 --> 00:20:18,410 officer of a warship carrier strike 462 00:20:18,410 --> 00:20:21,410 group , a fleet or the vice chief of 463 00:20:21,410 --> 00:20:24,770 naval operations . But pretty soon 464 00:20:24,770 --> 00:20:27,100 after I got in the navy , it started to 465 00:20:27,110 --> 00:20:29,890 change . We had the opportunity in 466 00:20:29,890 --> 00:20:33,190 1993 when the combat exclusion law was 467 00:20:33,190 --> 00:20:35,630 repealed for women to serve on 468 00:20:35,630 --> 00:20:38,110 combatants at sea or fly combatant 469 00:20:38,120 --> 00:20:41,100 aircraft . And so I knew that the doors 470 00:20:41,110 --> 00:20:45,110 were starting to open . And once 471 00:20:45,110 --> 00:20:47,332 that happened , all of the first , they 472 00:20:47,332 --> 00:20:49,277 started to fall . We had our first 473 00:20:49,277 --> 00:20:51,277 woman CEO of a combatant ship , our 474 00:20:51,277 --> 00:20:53,388 first woman CEO of a fighter squadron 475 00:20:53,388 --> 00:20:55,590 and then it went on and on and on . We 476 00:20:55,590 --> 00:20:57,690 have admiral retired Deb Lower here 477 00:20:57,690 --> 00:21:00,470 today who was our first warfare 478 00:21:00,470 --> 00:21:03,550 qualified female flag officer . Big 479 00:21:03,550 --> 00:21:06,160 shout out to one of my lifetime mentors . 480 00:21:06,170 --> 00:21:07,260 And then we had , 481 00:21:14,520 --> 00:21:16,990 and then we had reliable Nora Tyson 482 00:21:16,990 --> 00:21:19,200 then became Vice Admiral Tyson who was 483 00:21:19,200 --> 00:21:20,922 our first carrier strike group 484 00:21:20,922 --> 00:21:23,089 commander and numbered fleet commander 485 00:21:23,089 --> 00:21:25,256 and then admiral Michelle Howard , who 486 00:21:25,256 --> 00:21:27,311 was our first female four star . She 487 00:21:27,311 --> 00:21:29,422 was also our first vice chief and our 488 00:21:29,422 --> 00:21:32,240 first naval forces , Europe in Africa , 489 00:21:32,250 --> 00:21:34,250 really leading the way . And now 10 490 00:21:34,250 --> 00:21:36,540 years after the repeal of all combat 491 00:21:36,540 --> 00:21:38,860 exclusions , I can see that the doors 492 00:21:38,870 --> 00:21:40,648 are not just open , but they're 493 00:21:40,648 --> 00:21:42,537 completely gone . And I think the 494 00:21:42,537 --> 00:21:44,648 question for women today is no longer 495 00:21:44,648 --> 00:21:46,930 what can I do ? It's what do I want to 496 00:21:46,930 --> 00:21:49,170 do because you can do anything in 497 00:21:49,170 --> 00:21:51,226 today's military . So when you think 498 00:21:51,226 --> 00:21:53,226 about the theme of today , which is 499 00:21:53,226 --> 00:21:55,448 beyond first , I am really happy to see 500 00:21:55,448 --> 00:21:58,180 us nearing an end of all the first and 501 00:21:58,180 --> 00:22:00,291 most recently in my service , we have 502 00:22:00,291 --> 00:22:02,402 our first woman executive officer and 503 00:22:02,402 --> 00:22:04,569 the chief of the boat of a submarine , 504 00:22:04,569 --> 00:22:06,736 our first woman aircraft carrier , CEO 505 00:22:06,736 --> 00:22:08,880 our first woman special warfare 506 00:22:08,880 --> 00:22:12,380 combatant crewman . And soon right now 507 00:22:12,380 --> 00:22:14,560 this season , our first woman Blue 508 00:22:14,570 --> 00:22:17,340 Angel . So very excited to see her out 509 00:22:17,340 --> 00:22:19,562 there this year . And again , thanks to 510 00:22:19,562 --> 00:22:21,507 the example of these pioneers that 511 00:22:21,507 --> 00:22:23,640 we're seeing today and Nora Deb and 512 00:22:23,640 --> 00:22:26,550 Michelle before them , all 83,000 513 00:22:26,560 --> 00:22:28,980 female sailors can make a difference 514 00:22:28,990 --> 00:22:31,220 every day in every single one of our 515 00:22:31,220 --> 00:22:33,442 communities . I think that they are our 516 00:22:33,442 --> 00:22:35,700 shipmates . There are their daughters , 517 00:22:35,700 --> 00:22:38,230 their spouses , their sisters , they 518 00:22:38,230 --> 00:22:40,550 bring from across America , all the 519 00:22:40,550 --> 00:22:43,180 critical thinking skills that we need 520 00:22:43,190 --> 00:22:45,079 to be able to be the world's most 521 00:22:45,079 --> 00:22:47,301 formidable fighting force ready to , to 522 00:22:47,301 --> 00:22:49,190 deter fight and when whenever the 523 00:22:49,190 --> 00:22:51,412 nation needs us to do so . So again , I 524 00:22:51,412 --> 00:22:53,357 know there's a lot of folks in the 525 00:22:53,357 --> 00:22:55,357 audience that's on online today . I 526 00:22:55,357 --> 00:22:57,357 would just like to offer one simple 527 00:22:57,357 --> 00:22:59,523 message , which is if you can see it , 528 00:22:59,523 --> 00:23:01,690 you can be it and you can see it right 529 00:23:01,690 --> 00:23:03,690 here . So , in today's military , I 530 00:23:03,690 --> 00:23:05,690 think it's a little bit of a choose 531 00:23:05,690 --> 00:23:07,746 your own adventure . You can be your 532 00:23:07,746 --> 00:23:09,857 best . You can do your best . You can 533 00:23:09,857 --> 00:23:11,968 be part of an amazing team and make a 534 00:23:11,968 --> 00:23:14,023 difference every day . So I'm really 535 00:23:14,023 --> 00:23:16,023 excited to be up here and hear your 536 00:23:16,023 --> 00:23:15,470 questions today . Thank you . 537 00:23:22,780 --> 00:23:24,860 Well , thank you in America's rich 538 00:23:24,860 --> 00:23:27,170 history . There have been hundreds of 539 00:23:27,230 --> 00:23:29,770 four stars and admirals , but there 540 00:23:29,770 --> 00:23:32,730 have only been 10 women Today . There 541 00:23:32,730 --> 00:23:35,190 are four . This is the first time they 542 00:23:35,190 --> 00:23:37,190 have ever been together in a public 543 00:23:37,190 --> 00:23:40,250 setting and you are here with them this 544 00:23:40,250 --> 00:23:42,472 incredible moment . So thanks to all of 545 00:23:42,472 --> 00:23:44,550 you just underscoring really how 546 00:23:44,550 --> 00:23:46,717 incredible this is and thank you for , 547 00:23:46,717 --> 00:23:48,772 for gathering us . Let me start with 548 00:23:48,772 --> 00:23:50,994 you , General Van overdosed . What does 549 00:23:50,994 --> 00:23:53,161 it mean to be amongst so many of these 550 00:23:53,161 --> 00:23:55,161 incredible leaders ? I know for the 551 00:23:55,161 --> 00:23:57,217 first time you guys had got together 552 00:23:57,217 --> 00:23:58,994 over dinner last night and then 553 00:23:58,994 --> 00:23:58,890 speaking in an interview with me , 554 00:23:58,890 --> 00:24:01,112 that'll air on the CBS evening news and 555 00:24:01,112 --> 00:24:03,334 part of a longer format that we have on 556 00:24:03,334 --> 00:24:05,501 CBS called personal person . What have 557 00:24:05,501 --> 00:24:07,668 you learned from them too ? Even after 558 00:24:07,668 --> 00:24:07,580 your incredible leadership on your own ? 559 00:24:08,020 --> 00:24:09,970 And this is so amazing . The 560 00:24:09,970 --> 00:24:12,081 opportunities now abound . It's , you 561 00:24:12,081 --> 00:24:14,137 know , you think about when we first 562 00:24:14,137 --> 00:24:16,890 came in 35 years ago to now , you know , 563 00:24:16,890 --> 00:24:19,410 Emily Fagan said it , this is not , is 564 00:24:19,410 --> 00:24:21,632 not the Coast Guard I entered . This is 565 00:24:21,632 --> 00:24:23,632 not the Air Force , this is not the 566 00:24:23,632 --> 00:24:25,632 service that we entered . We helped 567 00:24:25,632 --> 00:24:27,743 create a service that's more inviting 568 00:24:27,743 --> 00:24:29,799 to ensure that we are more ready and 569 00:24:29,799 --> 00:24:31,688 more capable and so to hear their 570 00:24:31,688 --> 00:24:33,890 stories and , you know , it's , it's 571 00:24:33,890 --> 00:24:35,723 not all that different . We were 572 00:24:35,723 --> 00:24:37,779 talking about how we sort of had the 573 00:24:37,779 --> 00:24:39,779 same challenges early on and it got 574 00:24:39,779 --> 00:24:42,001 better and doors , more doors over , we 575 00:24:42,001 --> 00:24:44,279 just blew open the doors . I like that , 576 00:24:44,279 --> 00:24:46,390 we just blew , blew them open . Uh So 577 00:24:46,390 --> 00:24:48,501 that folks come , come in behind us . 578 00:24:48,501 --> 00:24:50,723 So , but today is really not about us . 579 00:24:50,723 --> 00:24:52,834 It's really about just thinking about 580 00:24:52,834 --> 00:24:52,500 all the challenges that our 581 00:24:52,500 --> 00:24:55,230 predecessors had . Uh and how they 582 00:24:55,240 --> 00:24:57,310 paved that path , made it smoother , 583 00:24:57,310 --> 00:24:59,360 made it wider , provided us more 584 00:24:59,370 --> 00:25:02,430 options . And then , and then just kind 585 00:25:02,430 --> 00:25:04,486 of collecting and thinking about all 586 00:25:04,486 --> 00:25:06,597 the options that you can , all of the 587 00:25:06,597 --> 00:25:08,740 career fields , everything is open to 588 00:25:08,740 --> 00:25:10,907 you and the fact that we have improved 589 00:25:10,907 --> 00:25:13,400 the quality of life and quality of 590 00:25:13,400 --> 00:25:15,750 service that is going to inspire for 591 00:25:15,750 --> 00:25:17,917 generations to come . And so it's just 592 00:25:17,917 --> 00:25:19,972 been very excited to be a part of it 593 00:25:19,972 --> 00:25:22,139 all . Uh General Richardson and I were 594 00:25:22,139 --> 00:25:24,306 talking about this earlier for each of 595 00:25:24,306 --> 00:25:26,472 these women to reach this point . They 596 00:25:26,472 --> 00:25:28,417 have all been serving more than of 597 00:25:28,417 --> 00:25:30,472 course , three decades , maintaining 598 00:25:30,472 --> 00:25:32,639 and keeping the best and the brightest 599 00:25:32,639 --> 00:25:34,972 in our military is incredibly important . 600 00:25:34,972 --> 00:25:34,390 So , General Richardson what would you 601 00:25:34,390 --> 00:25:36,960 say to a young woman looking at the U S 602 00:25:36,960 --> 00:25:39,770 army or thinking about maybe , has been 603 00:25:39,770 --> 00:25:41,992 in the U S army and maybe like , well , 604 00:25:41,992 --> 00:25:44,159 I might want to leave . What would you 605 00:25:44,159 --> 00:25:46,381 say ? Well , I would just say , uh back 606 00:25:46,381 --> 00:25:48,548 to what I said earlier in terms of the 607 00:25:48,548 --> 00:25:50,770 impact that you get to have on national 608 00:25:50,770 --> 00:25:52,937 security uh to our United States , but 609 00:25:52,937 --> 00:25:55,103 then also globally , all the positions 610 00:25:55,103 --> 00:25:57,270 that are available and open the things 611 00:25:57,270 --> 00:25:59,492 that you get to do . I had no idea that 612 00:25:59,492 --> 00:26:01,714 I would get to do all those things that 613 00:26:01,714 --> 00:26:03,826 I've been able to do . And , uh , and 614 00:26:03,826 --> 00:26:06,120 so certainly the everything is there 615 00:26:06,130 --> 00:26:08,241 just for you to choose . I mean , you 616 00:26:08,241 --> 00:26:10,440 have a choice now of what you want to 617 00:26:10,440 --> 00:26:13,070 do . And so I think it's just a matter 618 00:26:13,070 --> 00:26:15,880 of being able to connect the dots for 619 00:26:15,880 --> 00:26:18,230 our younger generation . It's coaches , 620 00:26:18,240 --> 00:26:21,230 teachers , parents , everybody in the 621 00:26:21,230 --> 00:26:23,286 community , helping to connect these 622 00:26:23,286 --> 00:26:25,230 big ideas and these dreams for our 623 00:26:25,230 --> 00:26:27,820 young people to the military and folks 624 00:26:27,820 --> 00:26:30,042 that are in the military , we've got to 625 00:26:30,042 --> 00:26:32,376 talk to them right ? Open communication . 626 00:26:32,376 --> 00:26:34,810 We can't do it on , on , on social 627 00:26:34,810 --> 00:26:36,866 media and things like that . We have 628 00:26:36,866 --> 00:26:39,160 got to do this investment of time with 629 00:26:39,160 --> 00:26:42,400 our younger generation to educate them 630 00:26:42,410 --> 00:26:44,521 on the opportunities that are there , 631 00:26:44,521 --> 00:26:46,688 help them decide , okay , if you don't 632 00:26:46,688 --> 00:26:48,799 wanna do , you don't like what you're 633 00:26:48,799 --> 00:26:50,854 doing , what do you want to do ? You 634 00:26:50,854 --> 00:26:52,854 know , here's some options and then 635 00:26:52,854 --> 00:26:54,688 connect those options if they're 636 00:26:54,688 --> 00:26:56,799 already in the service to those . But 637 00:26:56,799 --> 00:26:58,966 quite honestly , I mean , when I was a 638 00:26:58,966 --> 00:27:00,966 kid coming up in high school , uh , 639 00:27:00,966 --> 00:27:03,188 okay . I want to be a pilot . I want to 640 00:27:03,188 --> 00:27:05,354 be a doctor . But how do I get there ? 641 00:27:05,354 --> 00:27:07,632 Uh , costs a lot of money to get there , 642 00:27:07,632 --> 00:27:09,688 both those routes . So , how do I do 643 00:27:09,688 --> 00:27:11,950 that ? Army ROTC and any one of our R O 644 00:27:11,950 --> 00:27:15,290 T C s open that opens that door ? Oh my 645 00:27:15,290 --> 00:27:17,440 gosh . It's just amazing if you're in 646 00:27:17,440 --> 00:27:19,607 college , you're not really sure about 647 00:27:19,607 --> 00:27:21,329 the military , whether it's an 648 00:27:21,329 --> 00:27:23,440 appointment to an academy , it's ROTC 649 00:27:23,440 --> 00:27:25,730 or enlistment . There are options and 650 00:27:25,730 --> 00:27:28,070 there are plenty of options . Uh So 651 00:27:28,070 --> 00:27:30,181 we've got to connect with our younger 652 00:27:30,181 --> 00:27:32,181 generation . We've got to tell them 653 00:27:32,181 --> 00:27:34,292 about the military because they don't 654 00:27:34,292 --> 00:27:37,080 know , 72% of our young generation does 655 00:27:37,080 --> 00:27:39,460 not know what resides in the military 656 00:27:39,460 --> 00:27:41,780 today . Those are the statistics and 657 00:27:41,780 --> 00:27:44,058 those are daunting and that's not good . 658 00:27:44,058 --> 00:27:46,113 Now , once they get in our retention 659 00:27:46,113 --> 00:27:49,140 rate is over 100 once they get in there , 660 00:27:49,140 --> 00:27:51,270 like , wow , look at all this right . 661 00:27:51,280 --> 00:27:53,502 We can retain its just like we've gotta 662 00:27:53,502 --> 00:27:55,447 recruit , we've got to retain , we 663 00:27:55,447 --> 00:27:58,410 gotta train and we got to advance . So 664 00:27:58,420 --> 00:28:00,531 I think we have great opportunities . 665 00:28:00,531 --> 00:28:02,587 Thank you for the question , Admiral 666 00:28:02,587 --> 00:28:04,698 Fabian , as the nation's first female 667 00:28:04,698 --> 00:28:06,809 service chief , I know you faced many 668 00:28:06,809 --> 00:28:09,140 barriers in your career . What advice . 669 00:28:09,150 --> 00:28:11,610 Would you offer to those who may feel 670 00:28:11,610 --> 00:28:13,690 underrepresented , who are facing 671 00:28:13,690 --> 00:28:17,560 challenges ? So I shared earlier , 672 00:28:17,570 --> 00:28:21,010 I was not welcomed on my first ship . I 673 00:28:21,020 --> 00:28:24,870 uh they , so I was on 674 00:28:24,870 --> 00:28:27,180 the icebreaker Polar Star which is on 675 00:28:27,180 --> 00:28:29,380 her way back from 26 ft . Freeze , the 676 00:28:29,380 --> 00:28:31,547 ship has not gotten younger . That's a 677 00:28:31,547 --> 00:28:33,602 different story . Neither have I for 678 00:28:33,602 --> 00:28:37,530 that . But I reported in the 679 00:28:37,530 --> 00:28:40,920 X O calls me into a state room and um 680 00:28:40,930 --> 00:28:43,470 said , hey , um we weren't sure we were 681 00:28:43,470 --> 00:28:45,581 gonna let your orders go through . We 682 00:28:45,581 --> 00:28:47,859 considered having your orders canceled . 683 00:28:47,859 --> 00:28:49,859 I was the only woman as part of the 684 00:28:49,859 --> 00:28:52,081 crew . In fact , for the two years that 685 00:28:52,081 --> 00:28:51,770 I was assigned , I was the only female 686 00:28:51,770 --> 00:28:54,410 on that ship and at the time I thought , 687 00:28:54,420 --> 00:28:56,531 oh , all right . Well , good , good . 688 00:28:56,531 --> 00:28:58,642 They didn't do that . But then with , 689 00:28:58,642 --> 00:29:00,920 with more time and reflection like why , 690 00:29:00,920 --> 00:29:03,087 why did they think that that needed to 691 00:29:03,087 --> 00:29:05,309 be necessary ? Of course , fast forward 692 00:29:05,309 --> 00:29:07,800 to today where that ship is gonna fully 693 00:29:07,800 --> 00:29:10,500 integrated crew , both officers and 694 00:29:10,500 --> 00:29:13,290 enlisted and it just um creates 695 00:29:13,300 --> 00:29:16,810 opportunity for , for all I uh when it 696 00:29:16,810 --> 00:29:18,977 was announced , it was just about last 697 00:29:18,977 --> 00:29:21,199 year at this time that it was announced 698 00:29:21,199 --> 00:29:23,532 that I was being nominated to be common . 699 00:29:23,532 --> 00:29:25,643 In fact , it was at sea air space and 700 00:29:25,643 --> 00:29:28,070 uh you know , the , you know , big 701 00:29:28,070 --> 00:29:30,570 announcement and I'm leaving the venue 702 00:29:30,580 --> 00:29:33,490 and this , this woman chases me down 703 00:29:33,500 --> 00:29:35,611 and she's like you have no idea who I 704 00:29:35,611 --> 00:29:37,667 am . I'm , you know , I'm like , all 705 00:29:37,667 --> 00:29:37,620 right , I have no , we've all had this 706 00:29:37,620 --> 00:29:40,800 experience like What's what's coming 707 00:29:40,800 --> 00:29:44,460 next . And she , she was , she works in 708 00:29:44,460 --> 00:29:46,680 the , in the White House budget in the 709 00:29:46,680 --> 00:29:50,160 White House . He says my daughter is 10 710 00:29:50,170 --> 00:29:54,090 and she can be anything because of you . 711 00:29:54,090 --> 00:29:56,312 And of course , my inside voice is like 712 00:29:56,312 --> 00:29:58,312 your daughter can be anything , not 713 00:29:58,312 --> 00:30:00,534 just because of me , but because of all 714 00:30:00,534 --> 00:30:02,701 of the change that we're talking about 715 00:30:02,701 --> 00:30:05,120 here and uh and all of the opportunity . 716 00:30:05,360 --> 00:30:08,960 And so what I would offer by way of 717 00:30:08,960 --> 00:30:11,127 advice first , I never thought I would 718 00:30:11,127 --> 00:30:14,430 be a first . I don't particularly like 719 00:30:14,440 --> 00:30:16,662 talk about being a first and you know , 720 00:30:16,662 --> 00:30:18,551 this opportunity . And I see Vice 721 00:30:18,551 --> 00:30:20,718 General Sally Brice o'hara here in the 722 00:30:20,718 --> 00:30:22,829 front row of former Vice Commandant , 723 00:30:22,829 --> 00:30:25,120 retired three star , right ? Those are 724 00:30:25,120 --> 00:30:27,610 the trailblazers and the trendsetters 725 00:30:27,610 --> 00:30:30,140 that created uh the opportunity that 726 00:30:30,140 --> 00:30:32,950 I've been able to benefit from . But , 727 00:30:32,960 --> 00:30:36,410 but the advice that I would leave for 728 00:30:36,420 --> 00:30:38,910 any of us and I was speaking with our 729 00:30:38,920 --> 00:30:41,090 young cadets just a couple a couple of 730 00:30:41,090 --> 00:30:43,260 days ago and that is , you know , find 731 00:30:43,260 --> 00:30:45,480 your passion and then , you know , 732 00:30:45,480 --> 00:30:48,960 pursue it and persistence matters 733 00:30:48,970 --> 00:30:52,110 and it's not gonna be easy work , but 734 00:30:52,110 --> 00:30:54,220 it is worth the endeavor and the 735 00:30:54,220 --> 00:30:57,440 commitment and it takes time . You 736 00:30:57,440 --> 00:30:59,510 don't , I joke like I didn't wake up 737 00:30:59,510 --> 00:31:01,232 one morning last March and the 738 00:31:01,232 --> 00:31:03,343 secretary called , hey , I'm planning 739 00:31:03,343 --> 00:31:05,177 on sending your name over to the 740 00:31:05,177 --> 00:31:07,288 president . There's a problem , there 741 00:31:07,288 --> 00:31:09,288 was a 35 plus year process that got 742 00:31:09,288 --> 00:31:11,399 each of us here to this point . And , 743 00:31:11,399 --> 00:31:13,177 you know , there's , there's no 744 00:31:13,177 --> 00:31:15,232 shortcut in it . And so , you know , 745 00:31:15,232 --> 00:31:17,288 find your passion and then commit to 746 00:31:17,288 --> 00:31:20,040 the work , show up to work at it , 747 00:31:20,050 --> 00:31:22,230 endeavor to make it better for those , 748 00:31:22,240 --> 00:31:24,351 you know , better for the people that 749 00:31:24,351 --> 00:31:26,351 you're leading and better for those 750 00:31:26,351 --> 00:31:28,462 that come behind you . And , and then 751 00:31:28,462 --> 00:31:30,518 all of a sudden , 35 years go by and 752 00:31:30,518 --> 00:31:34,470 here we are . Um well , 753 00:31:34,470 --> 00:31:36,581 Admiral Frank , any , we were talking 754 00:31:36,581 --> 00:31:38,470 about this legally , there are no 755 00:31:38,470 --> 00:31:40,637 barriers that should prevent women and 756 00:31:40,637 --> 00:31:42,914 others from pursuing what they want in , 757 00:31:42,914 --> 00:31:44,970 in the U S military . But it is very 758 00:31:44,970 --> 00:31:47,137 different from when you joined as well 759 00:31:47,137 --> 00:31:49,303 as those and many , many of the people 760 00:31:49,303 --> 00:31:51,414 here . Can you talk about some of the 761 00:31:51,414 --> 00:31:53,581 challenges that you experienced in the 762 00:31:53,581 --> 00:31:55,803 navy ? Well , as I said earlier , there 763 00:31:55,803 --> 00:31:57,970 was a lot of things I couldn't do when 764 00:31:57,970 --> 00:31:57,850 I came in the navy and that was very 765 00:31:57,860 --> 00:32:00,320 frustrating to me . I was an ROTC 766 00:32:00,320 --> 00:32:02,710 student . I felt like I should be able 767 00:32:02,710 --> 00:32:04,710 to do anything I wanted to do . And 768 00:32:04,710 --> 00:32:06,766 then I ran right into the barrier of 769 00:32:06,766 --> 00:32:08,821 not going able , being able to go to 770 00:32:08,821 --> 00:32:10,988 see right away . So my first challenge 771 00:32:10,988 --> 00:32:13,043 was actually bill it one of the 17 a 772 00:32:13,043 --> 00:32:15,280 year that we had back then for women to 773 00:32:15,280 --> 00:32:17,510 go to see . So when I finally got one 774 00:32:17,510 --> 00:32:20,870 of those , I got to my first ship and 775 00:32:20,880 --> 00:32:23,150 my chief engineer who was my boss at 776 00:32:23,150 --> 00:32:26,550 the time , uh similar to Animal Fagan 777 00:32:26,560 --> 00:32:29,340 said , I don't think women should be on 778 00:32:29,340 --> 00:32:31,340 ships . I don't think you should be 779 00:32:31,340 --> 00:32:33,550 here . And I think I'm going to make 780 00:32:33,550 --> 00:32:36,680 sure you fail . And for me , that was 781 00:32:36,690 --> 00:32:38,801 pretty eye opening that someone would 782 00:32:38,801 --> 00:32:41,250 say that to me . Um But what I found 783 00:32:41,260 --> 00:32:44,650 through that adversity was that my team 784 00:32:44,660 --> 00:32:46,710 found out about it , my Chief petty 785 00:32:46,710 --> 00:32:48,830 officers and all my colleagues in 786 00:32:48,830 --> 00:32:51,060 engineering and they basically set out 787 00:32:51,070 --> 00:32:53,150 to make sure that that didn't happen 788 00:32:53,160 --> 00:32:55,680 and that he was wrong . So I think that 789 00:32:55,680 --> 00:32:58,040 I was able to just sort of let it roll 790 00:32:58,050 --> 00:33:00,810 like water off a duck's back and just 791 00:33:00,810 --> 00:33:03,410 get to work . I knew that if I did my 792 00:33:03,410 --> 00:33:05,350 best , I worked hard , I couldn't 793 00:33:05,350 --> 00:33:07,590 control what he was gonna do or say 794 00:33:07,600 --> 00:33:09,767 that I could make sure that we did our 795 00:33:09,767 --> 00:33:11,822 best . And so as a team , we rallied 796 00:33:11,822 --> 00:33:14,990 around my division , my efforts and we 797 00:33:15,000 --> 00:33:17,790 basically made it look like he was a 798 00:33:17,800 --> 00:33:20,078 failure For not wanting us to be there . 799 00:33:20,078 --> 00:33:22,300 So again , I'm really happy to say that 800 00:33:22,300 --> 00:33:24,300 that is the only time that I've run 801 00:33:24,300 --> 00:33:27,620 into that , that was back in 1987 . So 802 00:33:27,620 --> 00:33:29,453 I'm pleased to say that I really 803 00:33:29,453 --> 00:33:31,342 haven't run into those challenges 804 00:33:31,342 --> 00:33:33,287 throughout the rest of my now 37 . 805 00:33:33,287 --> 00:33:35,398 Years in the service . But that was a 806 00:33:35,398 --> 00:33:37,564 lesson right up front that you need to 807 00:33:37,564 --> 00:33:39,620 be able to just put your head down . 808 00:33:39,620 --> 00:33:41,620 Don't really worry about what other 809 00:33:41,620 --> 00:33:43,787 people think and just do your best and 810 00:33:43,787 --> 00:33:46,120 that will take you where you need to go . 811 00:33:46,220 --> 00:33:48,050 General van . You had a similar 812 00:33:48,050 --> 00:33:51,000 experience as an aviator . Yeah . So 813 00:33:51,010 --> 00:33:54,170 right after the women were , began to 814 00:33:54,180 --> 00:33:56,291 allow the flight fighters , I was , I 815 00:33:56,291 --> 00:33:58,820 was in test pilot school and flying 15 . 816 00:33:58,830 --> 00:34:02,130 Uh , and indeed one of the senior 817 00:34:02,130 --> 00:34:04,140 instructors , uh , pretty much said 818 00:34:04,140 --> 00:34:06,460 that you shouldn't be here . There's no 819 00:34:06,460 --> 00:34:09,130 reason for you to be here . Um , and , 820 00:34:09,140 --> 00:34:11,450 and , and so the thought was , hey , 821 00:34:11,460 --> 00:34:13,627 you know , you could just , you know , 822 00:34:13,627 --> 00:34:15,627 get out of the school . Of course , 823 00:34:15,627 --> 00:34:17,810 that was not my plan . And I was a 824 00:34:17,810 --> 00:34:19,400 little shocked , 825 00:34:21,410 --> 00:34:24,540 I was a little shocked by the incident 826 00:34:24,800 --> 00:34:27,022 and , you know , it took me about a day 827 00:34:27,022 --> 00:34:29,133 but I tell you what , I really leaned 828 00:34:29,133 --> 00:34:30,967 on my peers , you know , I was a 829 00:34:30,967 --> 00:34:33,244 captain , leaned on the other captains , 830 00:34:33,244 --> 00:34:35,300 the male , uh , my classmates , uh , 831 00:34:35,300 --> 00:34:37,356 and , uh , and it just encouraged me 832 00:34:37,356 --> 00:34:36,510 and said , you know , you have every 833 00:34:36,510 --> 00:34:39,360 right to be here . Uh , you're a great 834 00:34:39,360 --> 00:34:42,570 pilot , you can wax people and we're 835 00:34:42,570 --> 00:34:44,737 gonna help you . Right . I didn't know 836 00:34:44,737 --> 00:34:46,848 basic fighter maneuvers because I had 837 00:34:46,848 --> 00:34:48,848 flown a heavy airplane before I got 838 00:34:48,848 --> 00:34:51,014 there . Uh , and so I'm thrust into an 839 00:34:51,014 --> 00:34:53,181 airplane and , and all these maneuvers 840 00:34:53,181 --> 00:34:55,237 that everyone else already knew . So 841 00:34:55,237 --> 00:34:57,348 they worked with me on the side and I 842 00:34:57,348 --> 00:34:59,514 studied hard , put my head down , went 843 00:34:59,514 --> 00:35:01,681 out practice every time I can . So the 844 00:35:01,681 --> 00:35:01,500 next time I flew with or against this 845 00:35:01,500 --> 00:35:04,660 person , I was ready to wax them right ? 846 00:35:05,460 --> 00:35:08,620 To be your best , right ? But like 847 00:35:08,620 --> 00:35:10,610 that's growth , that's changed its 848 00:35:10,610 --> 00:35:12,332 internalization . That's being 849 00:35:12,332 --> 00:35:14,520 persistent and determined . Having a 850 00:35:14,520 --> 00:35:17,050 goal . Uh not being afraid to ask other 851 00:35:17,050 --> 00:35:19,328 people . But hey , how did you do this ? 852 00:35:19,328 --> 00:35:21,780 You have a mentor because , you know , 853 00:35:21,780 --> 00:35:23,947 people have been there , they may have 854 00:35:23,947 --> 00:35:26,058 done exactly what you did , but there 855 00:35:26,058 --> 00:35:26,050 are people that understand and have 856 00:35:26,050 --> 00:35:28,180 walked that path before , find those 857 00:35:28,180 --> 00:35:30,820 people and have them help you and they 858 00:35:30,830 --> 00:35:34,510 absolutely excited to do so . General 859 00:35:34,510 --> 00:35:36,621 Richardson is South com commander . I 860 00:35:36,621 --> 00:35:38,843 know that you have traveled extensively 861 00:35:38,843 --> 00:35:41,010 to the Caribbean , Latin America . How 862 00:35:41,010 --> 00:35:43,177 would you describe the extent to which 863 00:35:43,177 --> 00:35:45,288 countries in that region embraced the 864 00:35:45,288 --> 00:35:47,454 integration of women in their military 865 00:35:47,454 --> 00:35:49,710 ranks ? What have you learned ? I would 866 00:35:49,710 --> 00:35:52,570 say overall um pretty good . Some are 867 00:35:52,570 --> 00:35:54,800 better than others as you can imagine . 868 00:35:54,810 --> 00:35:58,240 Uh And so the , it's 869 00:35:58,250 --> 00:36:01,930 um um very , I could give great 870 00:36:01,930 --> 00:36:04,350 examples and then uh some examples 871 00:36:04,350 --> 00:36:07,250 where they need to do more work . But I 872 00:36:07,250 --> 00:36:09,306 will say that in this region , we've 873 00:36:09,306 --> 00:36:11,610 got uh two women presidents , we have 874 00:36:11,620 --> 00:36:13,960 two women , vice presidents , we have 875 00:36:13,970 --> 00:36:16,740 two women , my Ministers of Defense , 876 00:36:16,750 --> 00:36:18,780 we've got the only woman chief of 877 00:36:18,780 --> 00:36:21,002 defense in the world , right ? Now from 878 00:36:21,002 --> 00:36:24,370 Jamaica . Uh and we have a command 879 00:36:24,370 --> 00:36:26,426 sergeant major , female in charge of 880 00:36:26,426 --> 00:36:29,370 the Colombian military only command 881 00:36:29,370 --> 00:36:31,314 sergeant major female in the world 882 00:36:31,314 --> 00:36:33,537 right now as well . So I mean , we have 883 00:36:33,537 --> 00:36:36,590 some great shining examples . Um like 884 00:36:36,590 --> 00:36:38,701 to say , I've got two U S ambassadors 885 00:36:38,701 --> 00:36:41,050 in the front row . Um Karen Williams 886 00:36:41,050 --> 00:36:43,800 and also Jean manes . Jean is my deputy 887 00:36:43,800 --> 00:36:46,570 at South com . But in the region , we 888 00:36:46,570 --> 00:36:49,080 have a third of our U S ambassadors out 889 00:36:49,080 --> 00:36:51,380 of the 31 countries , a third of them 890 00:36:51,390 --> 00:36:54,150 are women . So we have great examples 891 00:36:54,160 --> 00:36:56,438 now itself . Come commanders , a woman , 892 00:36:56,438 --> 00:36:58,493 there are all kinds of examples . So 893 00:36:58,493 --> 00:37:01,230 it's a power of example . But you know , 894 00:37:01,230 --> 00:37:03,397 quite honestly when you go into a room 895 00:37:03,397 --> 00:37:06,270 and uh you know , you um you go talk to 896 00:37:06,270 --> 00:37:08,660 a leader whether it's a head of state , 897 00:37:08,670 --> 00:37:10,660 a Minister of Defense of Foreign 898 00:37:10,660 --> 00:37:13,070 Affairs Minister , uh the Chief of 899 00:37:13,070 --> 00:37:16,160 Defense . Um you know , they , I think 900 00:37:16,160 --> 00:37:18,390 that there's a general respect but you 901 00:37:18,390 --> 00:37:21,090 have to also it's , that's not enough . 902 00:37:21,100 --> 00:37:23,044 What are you there to talk to them 903 00:37:23,044 --> 00:37:25,211 about and what are you there to do for 904 00:37:25,211 --> 00:37:27,433 them ? How are you going to communicate 905 00:37:27,433 --> 00:37:29,489 with , with them ? How are you gonna 906 00:37:29,489 --> 00:37:31,600 understand their challenges that they 907 00:37:31,600 --> 00:37:34,150 have and uh seeing things through their 908 00:37:34,150 --> 00:37:36,430 eyes , how they see their challenges 909 00:37:36,440 --> 00:37:38,607 because until you see it through their 910 00:37:38,607 --> 00:37:40,551 eyes , do you understand ? I think 911 00:37:40,551 --> 00:37:43,400 we're able to buy the power of example , 912 00:37:43,410 --> 00:37:45,720 we always do women , peace and security 913 00:37:45,720 --> 00:37:48,660 events in every country I go to . So I 914 00:37:48,660 --> 00:37:50,900 have my women , peace and security lead 915 00:37:50,910 --> 00:37:53,810 Mary Major Aries Hoffs . So stand up 916 00:37:53,810 --> 00:37:55,710 Aries real quick wave to 917 00:37:55,710 --> 00:37:58,200 everybody . 918 00:38:01,820 --> 00:38:04,140 She does a great job . We will put 919 00:38:04,140 --> 00:38:07,130 conferences together uh regional with 920 00:38:07,130 --> 00:38:09,241 several different countries . We will 921 00:38:09,241 --> 00:38:11,352 have , if we just do something within 922 00:38:11,352 --> 00:38:13,408 the country , we have their military 923 00:38:13,408 --> 00:38:15,019 and security forces that are 924 00:38:15,019 --> 00:38:17,241 represented there and then we bring the 925 00:38:17,241 --> 00:38:19,408 Chiefs of defense , the service chiefs 926 00:38:19,408 --> 00:38:21,408 there and then they get to hear the 927 00:38:21,408 --> 00:38:23,463 barriers that these women have . The 928 00:38:23,463 --> 00:38:25,630 nice thing is , is it's not just women 929 00:38:25,630 --> 00:38:27,741 at the table and their leaders , it's 930 00:38:27,741 --> 00:38:29,852 also men from their services to . And 931 00:38:29,852 --> 00:38:31,741 uh it's quite honestly to see the 932 00:38:31,741 --> 00:38:33,797 younger generation empower women and 933 00:38:33,797 --> 00:38:35,574 want women to succeed is pretty 934 00:38:35,574 --> 00:38:37,797 incredible as well . Sometimes it's the 935 00:38:37,797 --> 00:38:39,908 older generation that you have to get 936 00:38:39,908 --> 00:38:42,130 through . So we'll just keep after it , 937 00:38:42,130 --> 00:38:44,241 I would say that it's a great example 938 00:38:44,241 --> 00:38:46,700 of , of integration of women into the 939 00:38:46,700 --> 00:38:48,644 military and security forces . But 940 00:38:48,644 --> 00:38:50,890 there's more work to be done . There's 941 00:38:50,890 --> 00:38:53,057 no doubt the leadership roles that you 942 00:38:53,057 --> 00:38:55,168 represent . And certainly many of the 943 00:38:55,168 --> 00:38:57,501 young women here today around the world . 944 00:38:57,501 --> 00:38:59,557 It's , it's once again a reminder to 945 00:38:59,557 --> 00:39:01,779 the rest of the world , what makes this 946 00:39:01,779 --> 00:39:04,001 country the best country in the world . 947 00:39:04,001 --> 00:39:06,770 It really is uniforms so proudly 948 00:39:06,780 --> 00:39:09,002 because people would love to be able to 949 00:39:09,002 --> 00:39:11,113 have the opportunities that we have . 950 00:39:11,113 --> 00:39:13,224 General . And I know you were just in 951 00:39:13,224 --> 00:39:15,336 the Middle East . Tell us what you're 952 00:39:15,336 --> 00:39:17,558 seeing there . Yeah , so Middle East is 953 00:39:17,558 --> 00:39:19,891 a slightly , slightly different uh than , 954 00:39:19,900 --> 00:39:23,790 than South America . But so there are a 955 00:39:23,800 --> 00:39:26,070 few decades behind us , but there is 956 00:39:26,070 --> 00:39:28,930 great hope . I was in Saudi Arabia , 957 00:39:28,930 --> 00:39:31,960 was in Riyadh and the New Vision 2030 958 00:39:31,960 --> 00:39:34,440 for that nation . Uh There are women 959 00:39:34,440 --> 00:39:36,900 now driving . Uh there are women going 960 00:39:36,900 --> 00:39:39,460 to school . Um There are women 961 00:39:39,460 --> 00:39:43,080 entrepreneurs , they can decide to work 962 00:39:43,090 --> 00:39:45,090 without having their guardians sign 963 00:39:45,090 --> 00:39:47,146 them up and get permission from your 964 00:39:47,146 --> 00:39:51,080 guardian . So they're moving and 965 00:39:51,090 --> 00:39:54,050 uh the shops are now open all the time 966 00:39:54,050 --> 00:39:56,272 and used to be closed for your times of 967 00:39:56,272 --> 00:39:58,328 prayer . And so all of a sudden , in 968 00:39:58,328 --> 00:40:00,439 fact , some of the older ladies would 969 00:40:00,439 --> 00:40:02,717 say it's almost moving too fast for us . 970 00:40:02,717 --> 00:40:04,939 Now , all of a sudden women are driving 971 00:40:04,939 --> 00:40:07,161 and they're working and you see them in 972 00:40:07,161 --> 00:40:09,490 the shops and it's weird to see a woman 973 00:40:09,490 --> 00:40:13,030 alone in the shop working , but it goes 974 00:40:13,030 --> 00:40:15,086 back to what is the talent and , and 975 00:40:15,086 --> 00:40:17,252 how are they using those talents ? And 976 00:40:17,252 --> 00:40:19,197 I think um the leadership there is 977 00:40:19,197 --> 00:40:21,363 really recognizing that they've got to 978 00:40:21,363 --> 00:40:23,419 get beyond just oil . They've got to 979 00:40:23,419 --> 00:40:25,474 get to the digital economy and , and 980 00:40:25,474 --> 00:40:27,586 using all the women , I was in Kuwait 981 00:40:27,586 --> 00:40:29,808 doing a women's empowerment event And I 982 00:40:29,808 --> 00:40:32,240 was told there by the , one of the lead 983 00:40:32,240 --> 00:40:33,907 ladies who put together these 984 00:40:33,907 --> 00:40:36,018 entrepreneurs that came and talked to 985 00:40:36,018 --> 00:40:39,150 us that 90% of the stem graduates in 986 00:40:39,150 --> 00:40:41,840 Kuwait are women . So you can imagine 987 00:40:41,840 --> 00:40:44,680 if you're not using that 90% . Right . 988 00:40:44,690 --> 00:40:47,460 And so from chemical engineers , 989 00:40:47,470 --> 00:40:50,120 digital . So they're getting after it 990 00:40:50,120 --> 00:40:52,270 and there and people are now seeking 991 00:40:52,270 --> 00:40:54,290 their advice and using them and 992 00:40:54,290 --> 00:40:56,290 leveraging them in ways that just , 993 00:40:56,290 --> 00:40:58,346 they just have not before . And so I 994 00:40:58,346 --> 00:41:00,401 have great hope not just about their 995 00:41:00,401 --> 00:41:02,401 economies but about the decision in 996 00:41:02,401 --> 00:41:04,930 their societies because the women are 997 00:41:04,940 --> 00:41:07,273 now allowed to work and do those things . 998 00:41:07,350 --> 00:41:09,628 I think I've seen doesn't the Emirates , 999 00:41:09,628 --> 00:41:11,850 United Air Emirates has had some female 1000 00:41:11,850 --> 00:41:14,017 pilots as well . They have , they have 1001 00:41:14,017 --> 00:41:16,128 some had their first fighter pilot as 1002 00:41:16,128 --> 00:41:15,850 well . So it's , it's really very 1003 00:41:15,850 --> 00:41:18,450 exciting and you know , going and 1004 00:41:18,450 --> 00:41:20,930 seeing the women in Qatar that our 1005 00:41:20,930 --> 00:41:23,800 pilots and , and load masters and in 1006 00:41:23,800 --> 00:41:25,800 the back of the airplane , dropping 1007 00:41:25,800 --> 00:41:27,689 things out and , and seeing their 1008 00:41:27,689 --> 00:41:29,856 capabilities . They're excited and the 1009 00:41:29,856 --> 00:41:32,078 men are excited as well . Admiral Frank 1010 00:41:32,078 --> 00:41:33,967 Eddie . What has been the biggest 1011 00:41:33,967 --> 00:41:35,967 influence in your career ? How have 1012 00:41:35,967 --> 00:41:38,560 mentors helped you describe how that 1013 00:41:38,560 --> 00:41:41,120 has worked and lead you to the position 1014 00:41:41,120 --> 00:41:43,510 you are today . I would say that my 1015 00:41:43,510 --> 00:41:45,750 first mentor , of course was my dad . 1016 00:41:45,780 --> 00:41:48,570 He wasn't in the military , but he was 1017 00:41:48,570 --> 00:41:50,737 a plant manager . And the one thing he 1018 00:41:50,737 --> 00:41:53,820 taught me about was about people and he 1019 00:41:53,820 --> 00:41:56,150 was one of the original management by 1020 00:41:56,150 --> 00:41:58,360 wandering around type of leaders where 1021 00:41:58,360 --> 00:42:00,582 he would go out and meet people he knew 1022 00:42:00,582 --> 00:42:02,804 all their stories , but he really could 1023 00:42:02,804 --> 00:42:05,100 get a sense of what was going on in the 1024 00:42:05,100 --> 00:42:07,156 business and what he needed to do to 1025 00:42:07,156 --> 00:42:09,378 make sure that each one of those people 1026 00:42:09,378 --> 00:42:11,378 could contribute their best . And I 1027 00:42:11,378 --> 00:42:13,600 took that approach in that philosophy , 1028 00:42:13,600 --> 00:42:16,030 really with me into the Navy . But I 1029 00:42:16,030 --> 00:42:18,650 would say that I have had been the 1030 00:42:18,650 --> 00:42:20,960 beneficiary of an incredible number of 1031 00:42:20,960 --> 00:42:23,182 mentors . Always used to say that I was 1032 00:42:23,182 --> 00:42:25,404 a big lump of Frank Eddie Clay and they 1033 00:42:25,404 --> 00:42:27,571 all came along and did a little bit of 1034 00:42:27,571 --> 00:42:29,516 molding on it to get me where I am 1035 00:42:29,516 --> 00:42:31,571 today . But between a mellower who's 1036 00:42:31,571 --> 00:42:33,682 here was really built a great network 1037 00:42:33,682 --> 00:42:35,738 of the very first pioneering surface 1038 00:42:35,738 --> 00:42:38,120 warfare women to people like Admiral 1039 00:42:38,120 --> 00:42:40,120 Tyson or strike commander , Admiral 1040 00:42:40,120 --> 00:42:42,287 Howard , who I mentioned earlier , But 1041 00:42:42,287 --> 00:42:44,509 also male mentors , John Petersen was a 1042 00:42:44,509 --> 00:42:46,800 guy at my Rosie unit who I still keep 1043 00:42:46,800 --> 00:42:49,022 in touch with today . And he was always 1044 00:42:49,022 --> 00:42:51,133 a great supporter and another Captain 1045 00:42:51,133 --> 00:42:53,356 Gary Bear who was the one who helped me 1046 00:42:53,356 --> 00:42:55,356 figure out a way to get to see when 1047 00:42:55,356 --> 00:42:57,700 there were only 17 opportunities back 1048 00:42:57,700 --> 00:43:01,340 in 1985 . So I feel like for everyone , 1049 00:43:01,350 --> 00:43:04,600 there are those key mentors that will 1050 00:43:04,600 --> 00:43:07,350 be the ones that tell you how to get 1051 00:43:07,350 --> 00:43:09,406 there , what experiences you need to 1052 00:43:09,406 --> 00:43:11,517 have . But also the ones that look at 1053 00:43:11,517 --> 00:43:13,572 you and say , hey , you're not doing 1054 00:43:13,572 --> 00:43:15,628 this well and you need to improve in 1055 00:43:15,628 --> 00:43:17,850 these a couple areas if you really want 1056 00:43:17,850 --> 00:43:17,240 to move on . And so I've been the 1057 00:43:17,240 --> 00:43:19,351 beneficiary of many great people like 1058 00:43:19,351 --> 00:43:21,518 that and I'm thankful for that . We're 1059 00:43:21,518 --> 00:43:24,090 just about ready to take questions from 1060 00:43:24,090 --> 00:43:27,120 the audience and from online . So be 1061 00:43:27,120 --> 00:43:29,430 ready . I'm gonna call on you . Um 1062 00:43:29,430 --> 00:43:31,820 Shortly General Richardson . I do want 1063 00:43:31,820 --> 00:43:35,280 to ask you um , as a soldier who has 1064 00:43:35,280 --> 00:43:37,750 served in jobs previously unavailable 1065 00:43:37,750 --> 00:43:40,470 to women , what lessons would you share 1066 00:43:40,470 --> 00:43:42,526 for women who want to follow in your 1067 00:43:42,526 --> 00:43:44,960 footsteps ? I would say the just the 1068 00:43:44,960 --> 00:43:47,240 availability of being able to do that . 1069 00:43:47,250 --> 00:43:49,350 Um I've always put my head down and 1070 00:43:49,350 --> 00:43:51,620 just worked really hard at uh at what 1071 00:43:51,620 --> 00:43:54,420 I've done . Um I've never been handed 1072 00:43:54,420 --> 00:43:57,060 anything . I've never been lucky . It's 1073 00:43:57,060 --> 00:43:59,393 just a matter of putting your head down , 1074 00:43:59,393 --> 00:44:01,116 working as hard as you can and 1075 00:44:01,116 --> 00:44:03,870 consistent performance . Uh And that is , 1076 00:44:03,880 --> 00:44:06,540 um , that is what has enabled me . I've 1077 00:44:06,550 --> 00:44:08,870 tried not to , what's next ? The only 1078 00:44:08,870 --> 00:44:10,759 reason I looked at what's next is 1079 00:44:10,759 --> 00:44:12,890 because um I was in a dual military 1080 00:44:12,890 --> 00:44:15,057 family and we got , I had to make sure 1081 00:44:15,057 --> 00:44:17,001 we had child care for our daughter 1082 00:44:17,001 --> 00:44:20,190 Lauren . And uh that's what , what next 1083 00:44:20,190 --> 00:44:22,301 was about . It wasn't like , how am I 1084 00:44:22,301 --> 00:44:24,412 gonna get promoted ? And what's gonna 1085 00:44:24,412 --> 00:44:26,579 get me ? There was a matter of keeping 1086 00:44:26,579 --> 00:44:28,690 me and my husband together everywhere 1087 00:44:28,690 --> 00:44:28,520 we went . He was a couple years ahead 1088 00:44:28,520 --> 00:44:30,730 of me and where's the , where's the 1089 00:44:30,730 --> 00:44:32,841 best child care that fits in with our 1090 00:44:32,841 --> 00:44:35,590 family and our values and everything 1091 00:44:35,600 --> 00:44:37,860 and it was great because the , the army 1092 00:44:37,870 --> 00:44:40,200 offered that the family caught child 1093 00:44:40,200 --> 00:44:42,422 care services . Otherwise I wouldn't be 1094 00:44:42,422 --> 00:44:45,140 in the army , uh , today . Um , quite 1095 00:44:45,140 --> 00:44:47,196 honestly , and it's because of those 1096 00:44:47,196 --> 00:44:49,490 programs that existed when I was back 1097 00:44:49,490 --> 00:44:51,710 as a lieutenant , um , that have 1098 00:44:51,710 --> 00:44:54,210 existed throughout . You can be a dual 1099 00:44:54,210 --> 00:44:57,700 military family . You can have kids , 1100 00:44:57,710 --> 00:45:00,620 you can both be successful . Uh , it 1101 00:45:00,620 --> 00:45:02,953 just takes a little bit of planning and , 1102 00:45:02,953 --> 00:45:05,120 and figuring out what's next and going 1103 00:45:05,120 --> 00:45:07,530 places where you both can go . Um , but 1104 00:45:07,540 --> 00:45:10,520 the opportunities are there . So , um , 1105 00:45:10,530 --> 00:45:12,641 lessons learned would be , you know , 1106 00:45:12,641 --> 00:45:16,350 just , um , just look for , you can 1107 00:45:16,350 --> 00:45:18,406 make it happen . I guess it's really 1108 00:45:18,406 --> 00:45:21,550 what it is , you can do it , it helps 1109 00:45:21,550 --> 00:45:23,772 now to have technology because then you 1110 00:45:23,772 --> 00:45:25,994 can share with your spouse where you're 1111 00:45:25,994 --> 00:45:28,106 gonna be and they can just share back 1112 00:45:28,106 --> 00:45:28,060 with you so you can get your calendar 1113 00:45:28,060 --> 00:45:28,620 set . 1114 00:45:30,600 --> 00:45:33,920 Wait a minute , I have this at this 1115 00:45:33,920 --> 00:45:37,710 time , right ? Um All right . 1116 00:45:37,710 --> 00:45:39,766 Last question I do wanna ask Admiral 1117 00:45:39,766 --> 00:45:43,130 Fagan this . How do you sometimes is 1118 00:45:43,130 --> 00:45:46,070 the only woman in the room ? Use your 1119 00:45:46,070 --> 00:45:49,580 voice to bring up a difficult subject 1120 00:45:49,590 --> 00:45:51,812 without offending people or getting you 1121 00:45:51,812 --> 00:45:53,920 in a position where maybe you think 1122 00:45:53,920 --> 00:45:56,130 people won't like you , whatever . 1123 00:45:56,130 --> 00:45:58,241 Maybe , maybe I'm saying , how do you 1124 00:45:58,241 --> 00:46:00,810 approach difficult subject matter , use 1125 00:46:00,810 --> 00:46:04,770 your voice but not , maybe offend 1126 00:46:04,770 --> 00:46:07,890 some of the people in the room . So , 1127 00:46:07,900 --> 00:46:10,360 first an observation because this has 1128 00:46:10,370 --> 00:46:13,550 happened not in the last 18 months , 1129 00:46:13,550 --> 00:46:16,530 but in the last two years in a room of 1130 00:46:16,530 --> 00:46:19,400 very senior people , very senior , 1131 00:46:19,410 --> 00:46:23,320 mostly white male , senior people . And 1132 00:46:23,330 --> 00:46:25,820 they're going around the table asking 1133 00:46:25,830 --> 00:46:29,010 for perspective on a topic . And it'll 1134 00:46:29,010 --> 00:46:32,120 come to me and I will say something and 1135 00:46:32,120 --> 00:46:34,287 there's just sort of a nod and they go 1136 00:46:34,287 --> 00:46:36,509 around and then two people later , same 1137 00:46:36,509 --> 00:46:38,700 thing gets said and they go , oh , 1138 00:46:38,700 --> 00:46:42,300 that's a great idea . And it's 1139 00:46:42,300 --> 00:46:46,030 like I just said that . So 1140 00:46:46,040 --> 00:46:49,120 I share that only because that dynamic 1141 00:46:49,120 --> 00:46:51,630 is still alive . And well , even with 1142 00:46:51,630 --> 00:46:54,220 all the seniority , there were senior 1143 00:46:54,220 --> 00:46:56,220 women in the Obama White House that 1144 00:46:56,220 --> 00:46:58,276 said that that happened to them . So 1145 00:46:58,276 --> 00:47:00,442 this is even in , you know , it's many 1146 00:47:00,442 --> 00:47:02,820 different settings . So for so where 1147 00:47:02,820 --> 00:47:04,709 I'm gonna go with this is right , 1148 00:47:05,090 --> 00:47:07,368 particularly for the women in the room , 1149 00:47:07,368 --> 00:47:09,860 you were at the table for a reason . 1150 00:47:10,730 --> 00:47:14,630 Use your voice . Don't presume that 1151 00:47:14,630 --> 00:47:17,090 the others sitting at the table have 1152 00:47:17,100 --> 00:47:19,670 your perspective and it may be an 1153 00:47:19,670 --> 00:47:22,310 uncomfortable topic , but you need to 1154 00:47:22,310 --> 00:47:24,640 use your voice . You're not there by 1155 00:47:24,640 --> 00:47:27,670 accident . It's not random . It's not 1156 00:47:27,670 --> 00:47:29,726 luck . You have earned your way into 1157 00:47:29,726 --> 00:47:33,270 the room at the table and you know , 1158 00:47:33,270 --> 00:47:36,080 you know your subject matter , but use 1159 00:47:36,090 --> 00:47:39,890 your voice . Uh at this point for me 1160 00:47:39,890 --> 00:47:42,610 now leading a service , it is 1161 00:47:42,610 --> 00:47:44,721 interesting to all of a sudden , I've 1162 00:47:44,721 --> 00:47:46,554 become very smart , very funny . 1163 00:47:50,480 --> 00:47:52,480 Some of the people here in the room 1164 00:47:52,480 --> 00:47:54,702 with me . Right . It's like , wow , how 1165 00:47:54,702 --> 00:47:56,924 did that happen ? Because I'm still the 1166 00:47:56,924 --> 00:47:59,202 same person that I was in some regards , 1167 00:47:59,202 --> 00:48:01,670 but it isn't , it is important to bring 1168 00:48:01,670 --> 00:48:05,240 up the difficult topics . Uh , usually 1169 00:48:05,240 --> 00:48:07,510 the approach that I take and , and for 1170 00:48:07,510 --> 00:48:09,621 us , particularly as a service , we , 1171 00:48:09,621 --> 00:48:11,843 uh we don't do particularly well if the 1172 00:48:11,850 --> 00:48:14,310 topic generates a lot of emotion , we , 1173 00:48:14,320 --> 00:48:16,730 we start to lose kind of rational thing . 1174 00:48:16,730 --> 00:48:19,150 And so I'm the one that's constantly 1175 00:48:19,150 --> 00:48:21,560 saying lose the emotion . We need to be 1176 00:48:21,570 --> 00:48:24,230 just a matter of fact raised the issue 1177 00:48:24,240 --> 00:48:26,410 and then with deliberation and intent 1178 00:48:26,430 --> 00:48:28,486 and yes , it may be an uncomfortable 1179 00:48:28,486 --> 00:48:30,980 topic , but we have an obligation as 1180 00:48:30,980 --> 00:48:34,050 senior leaders to make it better for 1181 00:48:34,050 --> 00:48:36,290 those coming behind us . And if we 1182 00:48:36,290 --> 00:48:37,790 don't have these difficult 1183 00:48:37,790 --> 00:48:39,910 conversations , it won't be better in 1184 00:48:39,910 --> 00:48:41,910 the future for the folks that are , 1185 00:48:41,910 --> 00:48:43,966 that are coming behind us . Thanks . 1186 00:48:43,966 --> 00:48:44,560 Yeah . 1187 00:48:52,850 --> 00:48:54,961 All right . Do we have some questions 1188 00:48:54,961 --> 00:48:58,610 from the audience ? Oh , yeah , we'll 1189 00:48:58,610 --> 00:49:00,554 start in the , in the front here . 1190 00:49:00,554 --> 00:49:03,260 Thank you . Wow . I'm a little 1191 00:49:03,260 --> 00:49:06,560 starstruck ladies major general 1192 00:49:07,160 --> 00:49:09,330 director . I don't know how much , 1193 00:49:13,820 --> 00:49:17,260 But my question , 35 plus 1194 00:49:17,270 --> 00:49:20,400 years for , for any of you , was there 1195 00:49:20,400 --> 00:49:22,980 a point in your career where you had 1196 00:49:22,990 --> 00:49:24,990 decided it was time to hang up your 1197 00:49:24,990 --> 00:49:28,060 boots and , and move on . And if so 1198 00:49:28,070 --> 00:49:31,240 why and why do you stay ? 1199 00:49:33,140 --> 00:49:35,140 Good question for a recruiter and 1200 00:49:35,140 --> 00:49:38,710 retainer . So I 1201 00:49:38,710 --> 00:49:40,877 never got to the point where it's like 1202 00:49:40,877 --> 00:49:43,043 time to go because I would have gone . 1203 00:49:43,043 --> 00:49:45,890 Right . I'm still here . But I 1204 00:49:47,220 --> 00:49:49,520 frequently I would ask myself the 1205 00:49:49,520 --> 00:49:51,464 question , I would run through the 1206 00:49:51,464 --> 00:49:53,520 capitalist and usually it was around 1207 00:49:53,520 --> 00:49:55,631 assignment time . And , you know , so 1208 00:49:55,631 --> 00:49:57,798 the question I always ask myself was , 1209 00:49:57,798 --> 00:50:00,220 is what they're offering . Something 1210 00:50:00,220 --> 00:50:02,331 that I can be excited about . This is 1211 00:50:02,331 --> 00:50:04,664 my life energy that I'm putting into it . 1212 00:50:04,870 --> 00:50:07,210 Is it something that creates 1213 00:50:07,220 --> 00:50:09,690 opportunity for growth , professional 1214 00:50:09,690 --> 00:50:12,280 growth and opportunity . And then is it 1215 00:50:12,280 --> 00:50:14,280 just , you know , again , something 1216 00:50:14,280 --> 00:50:16,391 that I feel like I can add value to . 1217 00:50:16,391 --> 00:50:18,558 And I've had the great fortune 35 plus 1218 00:50:18,558 --> 00:50:20,836 years and I've been able to answer yes , 1219 00:50:20,836 --> 00:50:22,947 all three of those questions at every 1220 00:50:22,947 --> 00:50:25,169 point where I pondered whether I should 1221 00:50:25,169 --> 00:50:27,224 say or not . So I have recently been 1222 00:50:27,224 --> 00:50:27,030 counseled that apparently I don't have 1223 00:50:27,030 --> 00:50:30,450 any more upward mobility but seems to 1224 00:50:30,450 --> 00:50:32,061 have gone . All right . So , 1225 00:50:34,620 --> 00:50:38,560 so I was , so I was definitely gonna 1226 00:50:38,560 --> 00:50:40,782 get out . I had , I was a Rosie , I had 1227 00:50:40,782 --> 00:50:44,250 a four year commitment and um , you 1228 00:50:44,250 --> 00:50:45,972 know , I had gone through this 1229 00:50:45,972 --> 00:50:48,350 opportunity to go to a ship . I tried 1230 00:50:48,350 --> 00:50:50,406 it out . I wanted to see if I really 1231 00:50:50,406 --> 00:50:52,461 liked it . So I went to another ship 1232 00:50:52,461 --> 00:50:54,572 and then I was on my shore duty and I 1233 00:50:54,572 --> 00:50:56,700 thought I don't really like this . I 1234 00:50:56,700 --> 00:50:58,922 was going to massage therapy school . I 1235 00:50:58,922 --> 00:51:01,150 was living in Southern Oregon . I was 1236 00:51:01,160 --> 00:51:04,360 definitely on my way out of the Navy . 1237 00:51:04,370 --> 00:51:06,890 And , you know , my dad said , hey , 1238 00:51:06,890 --> 00:51:08,834 you might wanna think about that a 1239 00:51:08,834 --> 00:51:10,834 little bit more . So I got a , what 1240 00:51:10,834 --> 00:51:12,890 color is your parachute book ? And I 1241 00:51:12,890 --> 00:51:14,834 forced myself to sit down at lunch 1242 00:51:14,834 --> 00:51:17,400 every day and do the work to figure out 1243 00:51:17,400 --> 00:51:19,511 what did I really want to do . And in 1244 00:51:19,511 --> 00:51:21,511 the end what it came down to is the 1245 00:51:21,511 --> 00:51:23,733 Navy had everything I wanted . I got to 1246 00:51:23,733 --> 00:51:25,780 travel , I got a new job every two 1247 00:51:25,780 --> 00:51:27,891 years . It's something I wanted . You 1248 00:51:27,891 --> 00:51:30,058 don't like your boss , they'll be gone 1249 00:51:30,058 --> 00:51:33,480 or you'll be gone . And I really liked 1250 00:51:33,480 --> 00:51:35,369 our mission , right ? Support and 1251 00:51:35,369 --> 00:51:37,480 defend the constitution of the United 1252 00:51:37,480 --> 00:51:37,470 States against all enemies , foreign 1253 00:51:37,470 --> 00:51:39,637 and domestic . I like being able to be 1254 00:51:39,637 --> 00:51:41,748 that beacon of democracy and hope and 1255 00:51:41,748 --> 00:51:43,810 really bring our nation forward and 1256 00:51:43,810 --> 00:51:45,921 defend far forward . But also to work 1257 00:51:45,921 --> 00:51:48,320 with the most amazing people from 1258 00:51:48,320 --> 00:51:50,487 across America and build great teams . 1259 00:51:50,487 --> 00:51:52,709 So in the end , when you're looking for 1260 00:51:52,709 --> 00:51:54,876 what keeps people in , you know , when 1261 00:51:54,876 --> 00:51:56,931 they're 27 , years old , that's what 1262 00:51:56,931 --> 00:52:00,760 kept me in the mission . So after I 1263 00:52:00,770 --> 00:52:03,490 became a test pilot , I wanted to be a 1264 00:52:03,490 --> 00:52:06,170 test pilot and firefighters . I got to 1265 00:52:06,180 --> 00:52:09,030 do all that in Spades and then it came 1266 00:52:09,030 --> 00:52:11,197 time and they wanted to send me to the 1267 00:52:11,197 --> 00:52:14,170 Pentagon . And yeah , at the time , I 1268 00:52:14,170 --> 00:52:16,337 thought it was a death wish . I mean , 1269 00:52:16,337 --> 00:52:18,448 I thought , oh no , I'm not , I'm not 1270 00:52:18,448 --> 00:52:20,503 doing that . And so I think I should 1271 00:52:20,503 --> 00:52:22,860 get out and my squad commander and a 1272 00:52:22,860 --> 00:52:26,190 couple of appears , what do you really 1273 00:52:26,190 --> 00:52:29,180 want to do is I'm done . This is what 1274 00:52:29,260 --> 00:52:32,320 my goal is to do and I'm done . And so 1275 00:52:32,320 --> 00:52:34,431 now I think it'll be a test pilot for 1276 00:52:34,431 --> 00:52:36,598 some company and just live out my life 1277 00:52:36,598 --> 00:52:39,310 with my hair on fire . And they said no , 1278 00:52:39,310 --> 00:52:41,990 you're , they started taking off the 1279 00:52:41,990 --> 00:52:44,670 qualities they needed a leader and 1280 00:52:44,670 --> 00:52:46,726 they're like , you're really good at 1281 00:52:46,726 --> 00:52:48,781 this . You really do that . And have 1282 00:52:48,781 --> 00:52:47,910 you thought about this ? And you 1283 00:52:47,910 --> 00:52:49,799 thought about that ? And I hadn't 1284 00:52:49,799 --> 00:52:52,021 really , because I didn't see myself as 1285 00:52:52,021 --> 00:52:51,900 a squadron commander , I didn't see 1286 00:52:51,900 --> 00:52:53,956 myself as a wing commander because I 1287 00:52:53,956 --> 00:52:56,260 had been so focused on engineering and 1288 00:52:56,270 --> 00:53:00,170 uh and those goals . But this is , you 1289 00:53:00,180 --> 00:53:02,810 really would do very well here . And so 1290 00:53:02,820 --> 00:53:04,931 we recommend actually come out of the 1291 00:53:04,931 --> 00:53:07,340 test field and go into the leadership 1292 00:53:07,740 --> 00:53:10,073 and operational . So I was one of those , 1293 00:53:10,073 --> 00:53:12,351 you know , weird unicorns that dropped , 1294 00:53:12,351 --> 00:53:14,518 that jumped out of that career field , 1295 00:53:14,518 --> 00:53:16,240 took a chance and went back to 1296 00:53:16,240 --> 00:53:18,351 operations and blossomed from there . 1297 00:53:18,351 --> 00:53:20,296 And it was , it was because of the 1298 00:53:20,296 --> 00:53:22,296 people . And yeah , it's a tactical 1299 00:53:22,296 --> 00:53:22,160 skill what you're going to test pilot 1300 00:53:22,160 --> 00:53:24,780 school and , but it's the people that 1301 00:53:24,780 --> 00:53:26,891 really mattered just like Lisa said , 1302 00:53:26,891 --> 00:53:28,930 and , and uh as soon as I made that 1303 00:53:28,930 --> 00:53:31,041 commitment , I'm like , I am all in , 1304 00:53:31,041 --> 00:53:33,041 I'm doing this , of course , ask my 1305 00:53:33,041 --> 00:53:35,374 husband , the kids . Hey , can you know , 1306 00:53:35,374 --> 00:53:34,640 we are , we still good . We're still 1307 00:53:34,640 --> 00:53:37,130 good . Go . So , okay , 1308 00:53:38,540 --> 00:53:41,030 such an important perspective . So I 1309 00:53:41,030 --> 00:53:44,870 would say the just , uh , in terms of 1310 00:53:44,880 --> 00:53:47,630 being able to keep our family together 1311 00:53:47,630 --> 00:53:50,820 was important for me and , and being 1312 00:53:50,820 --> 00:53:54,590 able to , um , because I think the , 1313 00:53:54,600 --> 00:53:56,822 the deal between my husband and I was , 1314 00:53:56,822 --> 00:53:58,878 if we couldn't find , you know , the 1315 00:53:58,878 --> 00:54:01,044 right child care , if we couldn't make 1316 00:54:01,044 --> 00:54:03,100 things work with all these different 1317 00:54:03,100 --> 00:54:05,322 assignments every 2 to 3 years , then I 1318 00:54:05,322 --> 00:54:07,489 would probably be the one to get out . 1319 00:54:07,489 --> 00:54:09,322 So I was the one that was always 1320 00:54:09,322 --> 00:54:11,433 looking for the , you know , the next 1321 00:54:11,433 --> 00:54:13,378 place and calling around about six 1322 00:54:13,378 --> 00:54:15,544 months out and trying to find the best 1323 00:54:15,544 --> 00:54:17,767 locations , the best schools , the best 1324 00:54:17,767 --> 00:54:19,767 and , you know , all of this , what 1325 00:54:19,767 --> 00:54:21,767 time do you open ? What time do you 1326 00:54:21,767 --> 00:54:23,822 close , you know , to make it work ? 1327 00:54:23,822 --> 00:54:26,044 You got to go to the field for a couple 1328 00:54:26,044 --> 00:54:28,100 of weeks , you know , what is , what 1329 00:54:28,100 --> 00:54:30,211 are your options then ? That was what 1330 00:54:30,211 --> 00:54:32,433 was first and foremost in my mind . But 1331 00:54:32,433 --> 00:54:34,600 I will tell you that the army programs 1332 00:54:34,600 --> 00:54:37,310 were all there And all the way back to . 1333 00:54:37,310 --> 00:54:39,366 I mean , I'm 36 years in the service 1334 00:54:39,366 --> 00:54:43,190 now . My daughter is , uh , is 34 1335 00:54:43,200 --> 00:54:46,480 and so that's many years of trying to 1336 00:54:46,480 --> 00:54:48,800 figure it out very early on and we were 1337 00:54:48,800 --> 00:54:52,310 able to do it . So , um , yeah , I 1338 00:54:52,310 --> 00:54:54,199 guess it was with every different 1339 00:54:54,199 --> 00:54:56,580 assignment that it came up for . You 1340 00:54:56,580 --> 00:54:58,747 know , not because I wanted to get out 1341 00:54:58,810 --> 00:55:01,410 but because , you know , it might not 1342 00:55:01,410 --> 00:55:03,577 work for our family at that point that 1343 00:55:03,577 --> 00:55:05,577 it always did . And now the army is 1344 00:55:05,577 --> 00:55:07,688 expanding all of those things , child 1345 00:55:07,688 --> 00:55:09,910 care centers and making more and more . 1346 00:55:09,910 --> 00:55:12,050 Um I'm sure the other services are as 1347 00:55:12,050 --> 00:55:14,106 well . Let's get some questions from 1348 00:55:14,106 --> 00:55:16,106 the back . Some of the young people 1349 00:55:16,106 --> 00:55:18,510 that are here . I see so many right . 1350 00:55:18,520 --> 00:55:20,853 Stand up . Oh , yes , yes , yes , ma'am . 1351 00:55:20,853 --> 00:55:23,480 Good afternoon ladies mass on Williams . 1352 00:55:23,490 --> 00:55:25,823 Um , my question is we're talking about , 1353 00:55:25,823 --> 00:55:28,410 about beyond . First , we have those M 1354 00:55:28,410 --> 00:55:30,410 O s is where in the Marine Corps we 1355 00:55:30,410 --> 00:55:33,060 haven't had a first yet . So with these 1356 00:55:33,060 --> 00:55:36,610 marines being 18 1920 years old and 1357 00:55:36,620 --> 00:55:38,676 they passed these schools , the only 1358 00:55:38,676 --> 00:55:40,842 thing that they're gonna be remembered 1359 00:55:40,842 --> 00:55:43,064 by is what that first that they've done 1360 00:55:43,064 --> 00:55:45,231 is that , do you think that first is a 1361 00:55:45,231 --> 00:55:47,453 burden for them throughout their career 1362 00:55:47,453 --> 00:55:49,731 because of what they had to go through ? 1363 00:55:49,731 --> 00:55:51,731 And now that's all they're gonna be 1364 00:55:51,731 --> 00:55:53,898 remembered by ? And the second part of 1365 00:55:53,898 --> 00:55:56,009 the question is what advice would you 1366 00:55:56,009 --> 00:55:58,064 give those young marines even though 1367 00:55:58,064 --> 00:56:00,231 with different branches ? But think of 1368 00:56:00,231 --> 00:56:02,342 them as your soldiers , your airmen , 1369 00:56:02,342 --> 00:56:04,564 your that take , I'd say the neat thing 1370 00:56:04,564 --> 00:56:06,676 about the military's . You write your 1371 00:56:06,676 --> 00:56:08,898 own history , right ? You have your own 1372 00:56:08,898 --> 00:56:11,009 story to tell . So if you're gonna be 1373 00:56:11,009 --> 00:56:13,009 encumbered by that , then you'll be 1374 00:56:13,009 --> 00:56:15,176 encumbered by that . The thing is , is 1375 00:56:15,176 --> 00:56:17,064 I would say that use that to your 1376 00:56:17,064 --> 00:56:19,580 advantage and , um , and build your own 1377 00:56:19,580 --> 00:56:21,580 history and your own story and tell 1378 00:56:21,580 --> 00:56:24,440 your story and not be , um , not be 1379 00:56:24,440 --> 00:56:26,551 encumbered by the fact that maybe you 1380 00:56:26,551 --> 00:56:28,900 were a first . The good thing is , is 1381 00:56:28,900 --> 00:56:31,680 that you won't be the last . Right . 1382 00:56:31,690 --> 00:56:35,210 Right . Being a first opens doors and 1383 00:56:35,210 --> 00:56:37,630 gives you a platform to talk about all 1384 00:56:37,630 --> 00:56:39,686 that's good in the service . And the 1385 00:56:39,686 --> 00:56:41,686 organization , I say I joked that I 1386 00:56:41,686 --> 00:56:43,797 don't like talking about myself , but 1387 00:56:43,797 --> 00:56:45,963 there was , there's definitely been uh 1388 00:56:45,963 --> 00:56:48,150 attention that has come to being a 1389 00:56:48,160 --> 00:56:50,271 first female service chief and I very 1390 00:56:50,271 --> 00:56:52,216 quickly pivot . So let me tell you 1391 00:56:52,216 --> 00:56:54,271 about how great the coast Guard is . 1392 00:56:54,271 --> 00:56:53,400 Let me tell you about what the 1393 00:56:53,400 --> 00:56:55,567 opportunity is . We tell you about the 1394 00:56:55,567 --> 00:56:58,050 workforce , what it means to uh serve 1395 00:56:58,050 --> 00:57:00,460 the nation and then I can't wait to 1396 00:57:00,460 --> 00:57:03,900 celebrate the next . Mhm . 1397 00:57:04,440 --> 00:57:06,820 Great question . Great question . And I 1398 00:57:06,820 --> 00:57:08,987 love that you write your own story and 1399 00:57:08,987 --> 00:57:11,209 then tell your own story . It's a great 1400 00:57:11,209 --> 00:57:13,710 message . Yes . Um Other questions , 1401 00:57:14,640 --> 00:57:17,350 future leaders . Yes , ma'am . 1402 00:57:21,050 --> 00:57:23,161 So I'm doing reverse discrimination . 1403 00:57:23,161 --> 00:57:24,828 I'm yelling to young people . 1404 00:57:26,400 --> 00:57:28,289 Good afternoon , Lieutenant Nikki 1405 00:57:28,289 --> 00:57:30,840 Kirchner . Hope U S Coast Guard . You 1406 00:57:30,840 --> 00:57:33,420 each spoke a lot about some of the 1407 00:57:33,420 --> 00:57:35,642 great things that you've all done . The 1408 00:57:35,642 --> 00:57:37,809 Coast Guard in particular has recently 1409 00:57:37,809 --> 00:57:40,031 admiral use , excuse me , signed um are 1410 00:57:40,031 --> 00:57:42,253 harassing behavior instruction . Master 1411 00:57:42,253 --> 00:57:44,476 Chief Webster is sitting in front of me 1412 00:57:44,476 --> 00:57:46,642 as part of the anti harassment program 1413 00:57:46,642 --> 00:57:46,550 office . So there have been some great 1414 00:57:46,550 --> 00:57:49,570 policy changes recently . Um But I'm 1415 00:57:49,570 --> 00:57:51,792 not gonna , I'm not naive enough to say 1416 00:57:51,792 --> 00:57:54,290 that making policy changes is easy , 1417 00:57:54,300 --> 00:57:56,356 but in a lot of senses , it's easier 1418 00:57:56,356 --> 00:57:58,620 than changing the culture . So can you 1419 00:57:58,620 --> 00:58:02,330 speak please to how you would change 1420 00:58:02,330 --> 00:58:05,310 the culture and how we as the culture 1421 00:58:05,310 --> 00:58:07,940 keepers , the E six is the lieutenant 1422 00:58:07,950 --> 00:58:10,800 um can shift culture to be more 1423 00:58:10,800 --> 00:58:14,570 inclusive . Yeah , so um policy 1424 00:58:14,570 --> 00:58:16,700 does matter but it doesn't change 1425 00:58:16,700 --> 00:58:20,360 culture . So when you look at all of 1426 00:58:20,360 --> 00:58:22,960 the services have been on a journey 1427 00:58:22,970 --> 00:58:25,050 around sexual harassment , sexual 1428 00:58:25,050 --> 00:58:28,660 assault , bullying . And I 1429 00:58:28,670 --> 00:58:31,650 consider where we are today versus 1430 00:58:31,650 --> 00:58:33,817 where we were , you know , eight or 10 1431 00:58:33,817 --> 00:58:36,480 years ago in a much better position . 1432 00:58:36,480 --> 00:58:40,030 So when somebody experiences harassment 1433 00:58:40,040 --> 00:58:42,190 or bullying or assault , there is a 1434 00:58:42,190 --> 00:58:44,412 strength of system in place that can be 1435 00:58:44,412 --> 00:58:47,720 trusted and relied on accusations are 1436 00:58:47,720 --> 00:58:49,331 fully investigated . There's 1437 00:58:49,331 --> 00:58:51,810 accountability where those , those um 1438 00:58:51,820 --> 00:58:55,210 uh actions are are substantiated . That 1439 00:58:55,210 --> 00:58:57,710 wasn't always true . So that is 1440 00:58:57,710 --> 00:59:00,980 positive change with 1441 00:59:00,980 --> 00:59:03,820 regard to culture , right ? And I love 1442 00:59:03,820 --> 00:59:06,042 that you use the term culture keepers , 1443 00:59:06,042 --> 00:59:08,790 I can talk about culture , respect , 1444 00:59:08,800 --> 00:59:12,370 being valued , creating opportunity , a 1445 00:59:12,370 --> 00:59:14,481 safe work environment where everybody 1446 00:59:14,481 --> 00:59:17,050 has heard , valued , understood where 1447 00:59:17,050 --> 00:59:18,883 there's a sense of community and 1448 00:59:18,883 --> 00:59:20,939 community , community and family and 1449 00:59:20,939 --> 00:59:23,410 belonging , right ? That's what I want 1450 00:59:23,420 --> 00:59:26,210 for our culture . But if the people on 1451 00:59:26,210 --> 00:59:30,010 the mess deck after hours . I have not 1452 00:59:30,020 --> 00:59:32,242 internalized that it doesn't matter how 1453 00:59:32,242 --> 00:59:34,750 much I talk about it . Right . Each of 1454 00:59:34,750 --> 00:59:38,090 us needs to own it . And then when you 1455 00:59:38,100 --> 00:59:41,040 see or hear someone do something 1456 00:59:41,050 --> 00:59:43,300 inconsistent with that , you have to 1457 00:59:43,300 --> 00:59:45,578 call them on it . You can't walk by it . 1458 00:59:46,100 --> 00:59:48,920 And I , you know , speaking at the Cape 1459 00:59:48,920 --> 00:59:51,710 May graduation just , just about a week 1460 00:59:51,710 --> 00:59:54,240 ago . And what I told the parents there 1461 00:59:54,250 --> 00:59:56,340 is just this , this is the culture I 1462 00:59:56,340 --> 00:59:58,800 want for the services that it's , it's 1463 00:59:58,800 --> 01:00:00,856 a safe environment where everyone is 1464 01:00:00,856 --> 01:00:03,700 valued , heard , understood and that 1465 01:00:03,700 --> 01:00:06,490 we've got all of the right policies in 1466 01:00:06,490 --> 01:00:08,800 place . You know , should when you have 1467 01:00:08,800 --> 01:00:10,856 an unfortunate incident , you follow 1468 01:00:10,856 --> 01:00:12,967 through because I told him , I said , 1469 01:00:12,967 --> 01:00:15,189 what I want for your sons and daughters 1470 01:00:15,189 --> 01:00:17,244 is what I want for my daughter . And 1471 01:00:17,244 --> 01:00:19,411 it's no more complicated than that for 1472 01:00:19,411 --> 01:00:21,633 me that , that , you know , I would not 1473 01:00:21,633 --> 01:00:23,744 have brought or encourage my daughter 1474 01:00:23,744 --> 01:00:25,856 to come in . I didn't believe that we 1475 01:00:25,856 --> 01:00:28,220 can get this done , but it is I I own 1476 01:00:28,220 --> 01:00:30,810 it and from a describing what we're 1477 01:00:30,810 --> 01:00:33,100 getting after , but you and I see a lot 1478 01:00:33,100 --> 01:00:36,290 of young Coast Guard folks back to own 1479 01:00:36,290 --> 01:00:38,512 the actual execution of it and carrying 1480 01:00:38,512 --> 01:00:40,840 it forward day in day out because it , 1481 01:00:40,850 --> 01:00:42,961 it's insidious and it happens there . 1482 01:00:42,961 --> 01:00:45,183 Most of the folks that are guilty of it 1483 01:00:45,183 --> 01:00:47,300 are no better than to do or say those 1484 01:00:47,300 --> 01:00:49,467 types of things than when I'm when I'm 1485 01:00:49,467 --> 01:00:51,990 around . I would just add , as a 1486 01:00:51,990 --> 01:00:55,690 reporter abuse fosters in silence 1487 01:00:55,900 --> 01:00:58,450 and sunlight is the best disinfectant . 1488 01:00:58,460 --> 01:01:00,349 And I've spent the past six years 1489 01:01:00,349 --> 01:01:02,293 reporting about sexual assault and 1490 01:01:02,293 --> 01:01:04,349 harassment and domestic abuse in the 1491 01:01:04,349 --> 01:01:07,030 military . And that attention has won 1492 01:01:07,040 --> 01:01:09,151 numerous awards , an entire team that 1493 01:01:09,151 --> 01:01:11,207 I've worked with at CBS News . And , 1494 01:01:11,207 --> 01:01:13,429 you know , just this past , of course , 1495 01:01:13,429 --> 01:01:15,484 the Secretary of Defense made , uh , 1496 01:01:15,484 --> 01:01:18,300 remarkable changes after a relatively 1497 01:01:18,300 --> 01:01:20,244 short period of study for not only 1498 01:01:20,244 --> 01:01:22,244 business but even in the military , 1499 01:01:22,244 --> 01:01:24,244 they moved pretty quickly . Um , on 1500 01:01:24,244 --> 01:01:26,300 that . So change is certainly a foot 1501 01:01:26,300 --> 01:01:28,356 and people's voice matters on that . 1502 01:01:28,356 --> 01:01:30,133 But I'm a reporter too and it's 1503 01:01:30,133 --> 01:01:32,189 something we , we've , we've spent a 1504 01:01:32,189 --> 01:01:34,244 lot of attention on because in order 1505 01:01:34,244 --> 01:01:36,467 for women to achieve leadership roles , 1506 01:01:36,467 --> 01:01:38,689 they have to feel like they're valued . 1507 01:01:38,689 --> 01:01:39,744 Um , yes , ma'am . 1508 01:01:42,700 --> 01:01:44,970 So , uh , good afternoon . My name is 1509 01:01:44,970 --> 01:01:48,870 Denise Rocker . And I'm a former 1510 01:01:48,870 --> 01:01:51,060 Coast Guard officer , but that's not 1511 01:01:51,060 --> 01:01:53,227 the question I'm gonna ask . It's more 1512 01:01:53,227 --> 01:01:55,830 of my army background slash Rucker . Um , 1513 01:01:57,510 --> 01:01:59,732 about two years ago , congress passed a 1514 01:01:59,732 --> 01:02:01,343 law that says , take all the 1515 01:02:01,343 --> 01:02:03,177 confederate names , including my 1516 01:02:03,177 --> 01:02:05,343 family's name off army basis . So , as 1517 01:02:05,343 --> 01:02:07,510 a Rucker , I'm here to say thank you . 1518 01:02:08,090 --> 01:02:11,720 But as a female officer , my question 1519 01:02:11,720 --> 01:02:14,810 to all of you is who are you gonna put 1520 01:02:14,810 --> 01:02:17,032 next ? Because you're in a room full of 1521 01:02:17,032 --> 01:02:19,590 women and you're taking family names 1522 01:02:19,590 --> 01:02:21,900 down . Thank you . But who are the 1523 01:02:21,900 --> 01:02:24,150 women you're gonna name next ? Because 1524 01:02:24,150 --> 01:02:26,261 you're gonna be naming ships , you're 1525 01:02:26,261 --> 01:02:28,483 gonna be naming roads , you're gonna be 1526 01:02:28,483 --> 01:02:30,483 naming facilities and there are 100 1527 01:02:30,483 --> 01:02:33,520 plus years of history of women . So I 1528 01:02:33,520 --> 01:02:35,631 ask again , as you take , my family's 1529 01:02:35,631 --> 01:02:39,440 name off is put a woman's name on and 1530 01:02:39,440 --> 01:02:41,662 put more than one woman . Because let's 1531 01:02:41,662 --> 01:02:43,718 be honest , there's been a lot of us 1532 01:02:43,718 --> 01:02:45,440 that serves . So , thank you . 1533 01:02:54,630 --> 01:02:58,010 Okay . That's a good question . That's 1534 01:02:58,010 --> 01:03:00,620 strong . Huh ? 1535 01:03:01,570 --> 01:03:05,220 I agree . Well , who , 1536 01:03:05,230 --> 01:03:08,610 who decides what's it sets each of the , 1537 01:03:09,100 --> 01:03:11,322 yeah , the secretary services each have 1538 01:03:11,322 --> 01:03:13,489 a process for doing . Exactly . So for 1539 01:03:13,489 --> 01:03:15,433 example , you probably know in the 1540 01:03:15,433 --> 01:03:17,656 Coast Guard , the fast response cutters 1541 01:03:17,656 --> 01:03:19,878 there where they are service that has a 1542 01:03:19,878 --> 01:03:21,878 fleet of ships named after enlisted 1543 01:03:21,878 --> 01:03:23,989 heroes . But this speaks to the let's 1544 01:03:23,989 --> 01:03:25,933 not just fall into the traditional 1545 01:03:25,933 --> 01:03:27,711 naming conventions and look for 1546 01:03:27,711 --> 01:03:29,700 opportunity to honor service and 1547 01:03:29,700 --> 01:03:32,270 progress , you know , across the the 1548 01:03:32,280 --> 01:03:32,980 communities 1549 01:03:41,090 --> 01:03:43,201 afternoon , ladies , Captain farmer , 1550 01:03:43,201 --> 01:03:45,423 um you mentioned the fight at the round 1551 01:03:45,423 --> 01:03:47,590 table to make your voice heard . Um to 1552 01:03:47,590 --> 01:03:50,390 not let a male or another counterpart 1553 01:03:50,400 --> 01:03:52,456 speak the same words that are coming 1554 01:03:52,456 --> 01:03:54,567 out of your mouth and be recognized . 1555 01:03:54,567 --> 01:03:56,622 Um It seems like as you grow through 1556 01:03:56,622 --> 01:03:58,733 the ranks , uh seats at the table for 1557 01:03:58,733 --> 01:04:00,900 women are smaller and smaller . You're 1558 01:04:00,900 --> 01:04:03,011 seeing very few of us sitting there , 1559 01:04:03,011 --> 01:04:04,900 um especially with the population 1560 01:04:04,900 --> 01:04:06,956 that's here . You would expect a lot 1561 01:04:06,956 --> 01:04:08,678 more of us there . How are you 1562 01:04:08,678 --> 01:04:11,300 fostering in your younger leaders ? Um 1563 01:04:11,310 --> 01:04:14,760 to make it equal to accept the opinions , 1564 01:04:14,760 --> 01:04:17,660 not only of another gender , um of 1565 01:04:17,660 --> 01:04:19,882 another background of another culture , 1566 01:04:19,882 --> 01:04:22,870 of another race . Uh just making that 1567 01:04:22,880 --> 01:04:25,600 kind of distinguished ceiling of 1568 01:04:25,610 --> 01:04:27,666 there's different people , but we're 1569 01:04:27,666 --> 01:04:31,560 all one unit disappear . That's a 1570 01:04:31,560 --> 01:04:33,671 great question . I'll start with that 1571 01:04:33,671 --> 01:04:35,727 one . I think all of us have been in 1572 01:04:35,727 --> 01:04:37,893 positions where we've not been heard . 1573 01:04:37,893 --> 01:04:40,004 Our voice hasn't been heard even when 1574 01:04:40,004 --> 01:04:42,440 we sat at the table . So , you know , 1575 01:04:42,450 --> 01:04:46,270 besides preparation for being at the 1576 01:04:46,270 --> 01:04:49,310 table , it's coming upon us as leaders 1577 01:04:49,320 --> 01:04:53,220 uh to develop people . Uh 1578 01:04:53,230 --> 01:04:55,119 and to ensure that there are safe 1579 01:04:55,119 --> 01:04:58,000 spaces that we can actually include and 1580 01:04:58,000 --> 01:05:00,910 have discussions , right ? When I look 1581 01:05:00,910 --> 01:05:02,854 around the table , I look for that 1582 01:05:02,854 --> 01:05:05,060 diversity . Uh and if I don't have the 1583 01:05:05,060 --> 01:05:07,004 diversity , if you , everyone that 1584 01:05:07,004 --> 01:05:09,171 walks and talks and looks like you and 1585 01:05:09,171 --> 01:05:11,338 is an academy graduate sitting at that 1586 01:05:11,338 --> 01:05:13,393 table , you are not getting the best 1587 01:05:13,393 --> 01:05:13,230 advice . So I'm not doing my 1588 01:05:13,230 --> 01:05:15,290 organization good if I , if I don't 1589 01:05:15,290 --> 01:05:17,940 have multiple uh folks with different 1590 01:05:17,940 --> 01:05:20,162 experiences and different backgrounds , 1591 01:05:20,162 --> 01:05:22,384 but it doesn't help if they don't speak 1592 01:05:22,384 --> 01:05:24,570 at the table . So I go around , I want 1593 01:05:24,570 --> 01:05:26,737 to make sure one that I have diversity 1594 01:05:26,737 --> 01:05:28,848 at the table and two , if they're not 1595 01:05:28,848 --> 01:05:30,959 speaking , I reach out to them either 1596 01:05:30,959 --> 01:05:33,140 publicly or privately say , hey , you 1597 01:05:33,140 --> 01:05:35,196 know , what did you think about that 1598 01:05:35,196 --> 01:05:37,196 issue ? Didn't say anything ? And I 1599 01:05:37,196 --> 01:05:36,720 looked at you and you didn't , you 1600 01:05:36,720 --> 01:05:40,010 didn't respond . So you teach them that 1601 01:05:40,010 --> 01:05:42,840 it is okay to talk there . Uh And if 1602 01:05:42,840 --> 01:05:45,110 someone is , you know , is in such a 1603 01:05:45,110 --> 01:05:47,110 way that they are not ensuring that 1604 01:05:47,110 --> 01:05:49,221 there are safe spaces to have that or 1605 01:05:49,221 --> 01:05:51,443 that you're not being included . That's 1606 01:05:51,443 --> 01:05:53,443 a leadership issue . We just talked 1607 01:05:53,443 --> 01:05:55,221 about that . That is a flat out 1608 01:05:55,221 --> 01:05:57,443 leadership issue . And we've got to get 1609 01:05:57,443 --> 01:05:57,300 at that at every level because we will 1610 01:05:57,300 --> 01:05:59,467 not be able to give the best advice or 1611 01:05:59,467 --> 01:06:01,522 make the best decisions without it . 1612 01:06:01,522 --> 01:06:03,744 And I think that starts from , from the 1613 01:06:03,744 --> 01:06:05,967 very beginning when you create teams at 1614 01:06:05,967 --> 01:06:08,133 basic training all the way up to where 1615 01:06:08,133 --> 01:06:10,078 you are now . To even even at this 1616 01:06:10,078 --> 01:06:12,022 level , my teams have to have that 1617 01:06:12,022 --> 01:06:14,078 diverse perspective and they need to 1618 01:06:14,078 --> 01:06:16,078 know that account on me that , that 1619 01:06:16,078 --> 01:06:18,189 when they offer their advice , I have 1620 01:06:18,189 --> 01:06:20,356 the courage to listen to it and to act 1621 01:06:20,356 --> 01:06:22,770 accordingly . We have time for just one 1622 01:06:22,770 --> 01:06:25,690 or two more quick questions . Yes , 1623 01:06:25,690 --> 01:06:27,912 ma'am . You first and then we'll go for 1624 01:06:27,912 --> 01:06:30,640 it . Go ahead , ma'am . Yes , you , I'm 1625 01:06:30,640 --> 01:06:31,640 coming . 1626 01:06:36,830 --> 01:06:40,540 You have to use video . 1627 01:06:41,500 --> 01:06:43,667 That's fine . I hope I'm not yelling . 1628 01:06:43,667 --> 01:06:46,270 Okay . Hi , everyone . Staff sergeant 1629 01:06:46,270 --> 01:06:48,540 Duggan's from joint base . Andrews High 1630 01:06:48,540 --> 01:06:50,818 General Lenovo's nice to see you again . 1631 01:06:50,818 --> 01:06:52,984 Um So just a quick question for all of 1632 01:06:52,984 --> 01:06:55,151 you . I know we're talking about a lot 1633 01:06:55,151 --> 01:06:57,610 of first here , right ? But I feel like 1634 01:06:57,620 --> 01:07:00,010 we're failing to mention some of the 1635 01:07:00,010 --> 01:07:03,780 next , right ? And so I've only been in 1636 01:07:03,780 --> 01:07:05,891 for five years , the air force that I 1637 01:07:05,891 --> 01:07:08,113 walked into is a lot different than the 1638 01:07:08,113 --> 01:07:10,224 air force . Everybody else has walked 1639 01:07:10,224 --> 01:07:12,002 into and still some of the same 1640 01:07:12,002 --> 01:07:14,230 challenges persist . Like the biggest 1641 01:07:14,230 --> 01:07:16,780 thing for me was when people were still 1642 01:07:16,780 --> 01:07:20,110 shocked at like me being smart , right 1643 01:07:20,120 --> 01:07:22,453 everywhere . I've been , it's just like , 1644 01:07:22,453 --> 01:07:24,787 oh you're so smart . But it's also like , 1645 01:07:24,787 --> 01:07:27,009 why is the assumption that I'm not like 1646 01:07:27,009 --> 01:07:29,176 I made it into this Air Force the same 1647 01:07:29,176 --> 01:07:31,231 way everybody else made it into this 1648 01:07:31,231 --> 01:07:33,342 Air force . And I feel like we're not 1649 01:07:33,342 --> 01:07:35,453 really talking about the stigmas that 1650 01:07:35,453 --> 01:07:37,620 are still associated and a way forward 1651 01:07:37,620 --> 01:07:39,731 to because we have the people all the 1652 01:07:39,731 --> 01:07:41,787 way at the top , all of you guys and 1653 01:07:41,787 --> 01:07:43,787 all the leadership really trying to 1654 01:07:43,787 --> 01:07:45,953 enforce this change and we have buy in 1655 01:07:45,953 --> 01:07:47,898 from the people all the way at the 1656 01:07:47,898 --> 01:07:50,064 bottom , the brand new people that are 1657 01:07:50,064 --> 01:07:52,009 just coming in . What are we to do 1658 01:07:52,009 --> 01:07:51,320 about the people in the middle who 1659 01:07:51,330 --> 01:07:53,510 really won't budge 1660 01:07:58,700 --> 01:08:02,490 the middle , the frozen middle , we 1661 01:08:02,490 --> 01:08:04,712 call them the frozen middle and they're 1662 01:08:04,712 --> 01:08:06,712 a little insidious because I look , 1663 01:08:06,712 --> 01:08:08,546 it's fascinating , you know , so 1664 01:08:08,546 --> 01:08:10,712 headquarters sitting at the top of the 1665 01:08:10,712 --> 01:08:12,712 organization and I look down to the 1666 01:08:12,712 --> 01:08:15,120 lieutenants and many sitting here into 1667 01:08:15,120 --> 01:08:17,480 your point , right ? Eager for change , 1668 01:08:17,490 --> 01:08:19,601 eager for the change that I'm talking 1669 01:08:19,601 --> 01:08:21,268 about , generational change , 1670 01:08:21,268 --> 01:08:23,490 transformational change . But what's in 1671 01:08:23,490 --> 01:08:25,434 cities about is I peer through the 1672 01:08:25,434 --> 01:08:28,260 middle and it's frozen solid and it's 1673 01:08:28,260 --> 01:08:30,260 clear you don't even realize you've 1674 01:08:30,260 --> 01:08:32,900 looked through it and they're acting as 1675 01:08:32,900 --> 01:08:35,370 an impediment to some of that change . 1676 01:08:35,440 --> 01:08:37,970 I , so this is , there's , it is a 1677 01:08:37,970 --> 01:08:40,192 little bit incumbent on all of us , but 1678 01:08:40,192 --> 01:08:42,359 at a certain point , it's either , you 1679 01:08:42,359 --> 01:08:44,303 know , you're , you're in the boat 1680 01:08:44,303 --> 01:08:46,414 rowing in the direction we need to go 1681 01:08:46,414 --> 01:08:48,581 for the , the , you know , good of the 1682 01:08:48,581 --> 01:08:50,637 order for the organization or you're 1683 01:08:50,637 --> 01:08:52,803 not . And there's not always a seat on 1684 01:08:52,803 --> 01:08:55,026 the bus for everybody . So at a certain 1685 01:08:55,026 --> 01:08:57,081 point like that , if that leadership 1686 01:08:57,081 --> 01:08:59,303 becomes that much of an impediment , it 1687 01:08:59,303 --> 01:09:01,526 needs , it needs to move on . It's just 1688 01:09:01,526 --> 01:09:03,526 not , not healthy for the , for the 1689 01:09:03,526 --> 01:09:05,303 organization , but it is , it's 1690 01:09:05,303 --> 01:09:07,414 cultural change is difficult . We are 1691 01:09:07,414 --> 01:09:09,359 recruiting from society and so our 1692 01:09:09,359 --> 01:09:12,340 workforces reflect societal norms , 1693 01:09:12,340 --> 01:09:14,730 trans good , bad and otherwise , that 1694 01:09:14,730 --> 01:09:17,040 means every day , every person and you 1695 01:09:17,040 --> 01:09:19,460 have to commit to the effort to build 1696 01:09:19,460 --> 01:09:22,390 that in inclusivity , the diversity , 1697 01:09:22,400 --> 01:09:25,270 the opportunity to be heard to be 1698 01:09:25,270 --> 01:09:28,350 valued and not have somebody say , oh , 1699 01:09:28,370 --> 01:09:30,592 you know , you're smart , right ? Why ? 1700 01:09:30,592 --> 01:09:32,560 Why wouldn't they presume that you 1701 01:09:32,580 --> 01:09:34,913 again , you're in the room for a reason . 1702 01:09:34,913 --> 01:09:37,140 You've got a voice , you've got a lot 1703 01:09:37,140 --> 01:09:39,760 of perspective to , to add one of the 1704 01:09:39,760 --> 01:09:41,704 things that they talked about in a 1705 01:09:41,704 --> 01:09:43,871 prior conversation that's gonna on our 1706 01:09:43,871 --> 01:09:45,927 show , they talked about persistence 1707 01:09:45,927 --> 01:09:45,350 and the importance of persistence , 1708 01:09:45,360 --> 01:09:47,582 forgive me . But I did read that one of 1709 01:09:47,582 --> 01:09:50,750 your parents and quitting 1710 01:09:51,310 --> 01:09:53,300 mind me . Yeah . 1711 01:09:56,060 --> 01:09:59,390 What it said you can soar with the 1712 01:09:59,390 --> 01:10:01,501 Eagles in the daytime or you can hoot 1713 01:10:01,501 --> 01:10:03,730 with the owls at night and there were a 1714 01:10:03,730 --> 01:10:06,410 bunch of other things too . But , yeah , 1715 01:10:06,420 --> 01:10:09,300 about winning and quitting and , um , 1716 01:10:09,310 --> 01:10:12,710 and all of that . And so , um , I do 1717 01:10:12,710 --> 01:10:14,766 want to , if I could nora go back to 1718 01:10:14,766 --> 01:10:17,530 the , I don't think we could say the 1719 01:10:17,530 --> 01:10:19,697 answer to the question any better than 1720 01:10:19,697 --> 01:10:21,940 Linda did . Um Just now , but the on 1721 01:10:21,940 --> 01:10:24,107 the previous question in terms of your 1722 01:10:24,107 --> 01:10:26,670 voice at the table sometimes , um 1723 01:10:26,680 --> 01:10:30,680 sometimes topics , um I think that um 1724 01:10:30,690 --> 01:10:32,912 uh and , and I would say my colleague's 1725 01:10:32,912 --> 01:10:34,968 probably agree with me , but there's 1726 01:10:34,968 --> 01:10:38,380 some shaping of issues and topics and 1727 01:10:38,390 --> 01:10:40,490 influencing that you have to do , 1728 01:10:40,830 --> 01:10:43,160 that's saying something out in a table 1729 01:10:43,160 --> 01:10:45,840 or at a forum might not be the right 1730 01:10:45,840 --> 01:10:49,350 place to enter in that um that topic or 1731 01:10:49,350 --> 01:10:52,310 that idea , there might be shaping that 1732 01:10:52,310 --> 01:10:54,532 you need to do that you want to do . So 1733 01:10:54,532 --> 01:10:56,699 you have those alliances . So when you 1734 01:10:56,699 --> 01:10:58,699 do bring it up , if that's how it's 1735 01:10:58,699 --> 01:11:00,754 gonna happen , that you do , you can 1736 01:11:00,754 --> 01:11:02,977 count on those reinforcements that said 1737 01:11:02,977 --> 01:11:05,199 that says already have processed it and 1738 01:11:05,199 --> 01:11:07,366 agreed with you that , that was a good 1739 01:11:07,366 --> 01:11:09,532 idea . Um And it's better , I think to 1740 01:11:09,532 --> 01:11:11,643 do that on the front end , there will 1741 01:11:11,643 --> 01:11:13,699 be times that you have to do that on 1742 01:11:13,699 --> 01:11:15,810 the back end after um after a meeting 1743 01:11:15,810 --> 01:11:18,143 or something like that . But , you know , 1744 01:11:18,143 --> 01:11:20,254 I think that that's what's good about 1745 01:11:20,254 --> 01:11:22,477 us is we know how to do that shape that 1746 01:11:22,477 --> 01:11:24,699 influence , give ideas , you know , how 1747 01:11:24,699 --> 01:11:27,630 to , how to convince people that , um , 1748 01:11:27,640 --> 01:11:29,640 that , you know , this might be the 1749 01:11:29,640 --> 01:11:31,807 best way to go , but sometimes how you 1750 01:11:31,807 --> 01:11:33,640 deliver it or how you present it 1751 01:11:33,640 --> 01:11:36,050 matters just as much . So I would just 1752 01:11:36,050 --> 01:11:37,939 offer that . So you're saying you 1753 01:11:37,939 --> 01:11:40,440 usually find some allies before you go 1754 01:11:40,440 --> 01:11:42,950 into the table to use your voice , who 1755 01:11:42,950 --> 01:11:45,061 already agree with you . So that then 1756 01:11:45,061 --> 01:11:47,228 they second you and third you when you 1757 01:11:47,228 --> 01:11:49,394 present an idea and that could be with 1758 01:11:49,394 --> 01:11:51,228 anything , not just something in 1759 01:11:51,228 --> 01:11:53,283 particular about gender or something 1760 01:11:53,283 --> 01:11:55,339 like that , right ? That could be on 1761 01:11:55,339 --> 01:11:58,610 anything . Um Well , I think we've got 1762 01:11:58,620 --> 01:12:00,970 one final question I see in the back . 1763 01:12:04,760 --> 01:12:06,760 Good afternoon . Thank you for your 1764 01:12:06,760 --> 01:12:08,871 time . Sam slam the United States Air 1765 01:12:08,871 --> 01:12:11,290 Force since 1947 . When the women in 1766 01:12:11,300 --> 01:12:13,411 our integration of the Armed Services 1767 01:12:13,411 --> 01:12:15,633 Act was signed . How close do you truly 1768 01:12:15,633 --> 01:12:17,633 think we are to full integration of 1769 01:12:17,633 --> 01:12:19,300 women into the service versus 1770 01:12:19,300 --> 01:12:21,470 accommodation ? Especially given the 1771 01:12:21,470 --> 01:12:24,100 fact that we're still facing issues of 1772 01:12:24,100 --> 01:12:26,267 child care where predominantly we find 1773 01:12:26,267 --> 01:12:28,378 that that falls on the woman , female 1774 01:12:28,378 --> 01:12:30,600 access to female specialized healthcare 1775 01:12:30,600 --> 01:12:33,360 flying while pregnant just obstacles 1776 01:12:33,360 --> 01:12:35,416 that as it relates to parenthood and 1777 01:12:35,416 --> 01:12:37,471 then even finding female specialized 1778 01:12:37,471 --> 01:12:39,638 equipment so that we can do our jobs . 1779 01:12:39,638 --> 01:12:43,180 Thank you . Yeah , sure . 1780 01:12:43,190 --> 01:12:46,410 Um Yeah , this , this goes back to , 1781 01:12:46,420 --> 01:12:48,790 you know , women being accepted versus 1782 01:12:48,790 --> 01:12:51,160 being included . If we were fully 1783 01:12:51,160 --> 01:12:53,430 included , we would have the armor that 1784 01:12:53,430 --> 01:12:55,550 is built for a woman's body based on 1785 01:12:55,560 --> 01:12:58,560 how we carry the weight , uh , of the 1786 01:12:58,560 --> 01:13:00,660 equipment we have to carry , we have 1787 01:13:00,660 --> 01:13:02,604 flight suits that would fit us and 1788 01:13:02,604 --> 01:13:04,716 uniforms that would fit us so that we 1789 01:13:04,716 --> 01:13:06,938 wouldn't have to be accommodating . And 1790 01:13:06,938 --> 01:13:08,827 the good news is where we , we've 1791 01:13:08,827 --> 01:13:10,882 identified those things . We've made 1792 01:13:10,882 --> 01:13:13,104 changes , we've got the body armor , we 1793 01:13:13,104 --> 01:13:15,216 have , you know , we can do pregnancy 1794 01:13:15,216 --> 01:13:17,327 and flying . Now you can , you know , 1795 01:13:17,327 --> 01:13:16,670 some work we're doing in the missile 1796 01:13:16,670 --> 01:13:19,600 fields and so there's there's been 1797 01:13:19,600 --> 01:13:21,600 great progress and what we need is 1798 01:13:21,600 --> 01:13:23,822 everyone here . So who's on the wit the 1799 01:13:23,822 --> 01:13:26,044 women's initiative team ? We have a few 1800 01:13:26,044 --> 01:13:28,267 here . Yeah . Okay . Alright , see , so 1801 01:13:28,790 --> 01:13:31,012 you know we with social media it's been 1802 01:13:31,012 --> 01:13:32,846 great because we've been able to 1803 01:13:32,846 --> 01:13:34,790 crowdsource ideas uh for continued 1804 01:13:34,790 --> 01:13:36,568 change . What are the continued 1805 01:13:36,568 --> 01:13:39,240 barriers ? What's the friction points 1806 01:13:39,420 --> 01:13:41,364 that we still have that we can get 1807 01:13:41,364 --> 01:13:43,420 after it has been a big list . We've 1808 01:13:43,420 --> 01:13:45,531 been going after it , not just in the 1809 01:13:45,531 --> 01:13:47,753 Air Force , but multiple services , but 1810 01:13:47,753 --> 01:13:49,531 having the power of the women's 1811 01:13:49,531 --> 01:13:49,520 initiative team and the Barry analysis 1812 01:13:49,520 --> 01:13:52,910 working groups has been phenomenal . So 1813 01:13:52,910 --> 01:13:54,966 I want to thank all the leaders here 1814 01:13:54,966 --> 01:13:57,132 that are , that have been part of that 1815 01:13:57,132 --> 01:13:59,354 and we're just gonna keep chipping away 1816 01:13:59,354 --> 01:14:01,577 at , but we need to bring in society is 1817 01:14:01,577 --> 01:14:01,430 changing our needs are changing . We're 1818 01:14:01,430 --> 01:14:04,200 looking at the health care piece , we 1819 01:14:04,200 --> 01:14:06,367 have to be insistent upon it . We have 1820 01:14:06,367 --> 01:14:08,478 to continue to show what does it mean 1821 01:14:08,478 --> 01:14:10,700 from a readiness standpoint ? Alright , 1822 01:14:10,700 --> 01:14:12,700 we're not ready because of this and 1823 01:14:12,700 --> 01:14:14,644 that's , that's how we rally car . 1824 01:14:14,644 --> 01:14:16,811 That's how we've been getting the data 1825 01:14:16,811 --> 01:14:16,310 to say , look , we can be a more ready 1826 01:14:16,310 --> 01:14:19,210 force if we did this . So that data 1827 01:14:19,210 --> 01:14:21,720 based assessments that are coming 1828 01:14:21,720 --> 01:14:23,831 forward . So that's what's on the Air 1829 01:14:23,831 --> 01:14:26,053 Force . All of the other services speak 1830 01:14:26,053 --> 01:14:25,960 to some of the things that they've been 1831 01:14:25,960 --> 01:14:28,920 doing . I just wanted to add that by 1832 01:14:28,920 --> 01:14:31,142 the time you get to be us , it's pretty 1833 01:14:31,142 --> 01:14:33,270 hard to see what it looks like from 1834 01:14:33,270 --> 01:14:35,570 where you are . So the one thing I 1835 01:14:35,570 --> 01:14:37,514 would ask is that as you're seeing 1836 01:14:37,514 --> 01:14:40,280 these barriers or these challenges , we 1837 01:14:40,280 --> 01:14:43,100 may not necessarily be as aware of them 1838 01:14:43,100 --> 01:14:45,156 as you are . So again , to the point 1839 01:14:45,156 --> 01:14:47,322 about using your voice , you really do 1840 01:14:47,322 --> 01:14:49,378 want to make sure that we have these 1841 01:14:49,378 --> 01:14:51,544 forums and you have opportunities , we 1842 01:14:51,544 --> 01:14:53,767 have listening tours . You know , a lot 1843 01:14:53,767 --> 01:14:55,767 of leaders are going around out and 1844 01:14:55,767 --> 01:14:57,878 about gathering information on how we 1845 01:14:57,878 --> 01:14:59,989 can make things better for all of our 1846 01:14:59,989 --> 01:15:02,156 service members . You want to continue 1847 01:15:02,156 --> 01:15:04,322 to , to bring them up because there is 1848 01:15:04,322 --> 01:15:06,544 a big list and I am happy to say that I 1849 01:15:06,544 --> 01:15:06,210 think we are getting after them . It 1850 01:15:06,210 --> 01:15:08,560 takes a little bit of time . Um But we 1851 01:15:08,560 --> 01:15:10,782 have to be insistent on going after the 1852 01:15:10,782 --> 01:15:12,782 challenges . So I really appreciate 1853 01:15:12,782 --> 01:15:14,727 that , but now I see some of these 1854 01:15:14,727 --> 01:15:16,838 challenges . I'm gonna take that back 1855 01:15:16,838 --> 01:15:16,620 and asking my own service . We have a 1856 01:15:16,620 --> 01:15:19,450 women's integration team as well and uh 1857 01:15:19,450 --> 01:15:21,672 and see what , what else is on the list 1858 01:15:21,672 --> 01:15:23,617 that we can get after I've allowed 1859 01:15:23,617 --> 01:15:25,728 probably way too many questions , but 1860 01:15:25,728 --> 01:15:28,006 they were all so good . So , thank you . 1861 01:15:28,006 --> 01:15:30,061 So I will now give an opportunity um 1862 01:15:30,061 --> 01:15:32,117 for each of you to make some closing 1863 01:15:32,117 --> 01:15:34,228 remarks and they certainly don't have 1864 01:15:34,228 --> 01:15:34,080 to be long , you know . 1865 01:15:41,200 --> 01:15:43,420 Um Thank you . Bye . 1866 01:15:45,140 --> 01:15:47,420 So , so again , 1867 01:15:47,430 --> 01:15:50,800 Nora , and you know , you guys have the 1868 01:15:50,810 --> 01:15:52,977 military , you're the ones that are on 1869 01:15:52,977 --> 01:15:55,500 time , but I just want to thank 1870 01:15:55,510 --> 01:15:57,540 everyone that helped put the event 1871 01:15:57,540 --> 01:16:00,930 together . It really is a privilege to 1872 01:16:00,940 --> 01:16:03,051 be here with you . Share a little bit 1873 01:16:03,051 --> 01:16:05,162 of perspective . And I , you know , I 1874 01:16:05,162 --> 01:16:07,400 say this to our Coast Guard , men and 1875 01:16:07,400 --> 01:16:09,800 women , right ? This is our service . 1876 01:16:09,810 --> 01:16:12,720 It's our Coast Guard . This is our 1877 01:16:12,720 --> 01:16:15,440 journey and together we make it better . 1878 01:16:15,450 --> 01:16:17,850 We have made a ton of progress since I 1879 01:16:17,850 --> 01:16:20,017 walked into the Coast Guard Academy in 1880 01:16:20,017 --> 01:16:22,128 1981 . But we're not where we need to 1881 01:16:22,128 --> 01:16:24,239 be and together , we need to continue 1882 01:16:24,239 --> 01:16:26,730 to , to make it better . Thank you , 1883 01:16:31,070 --> 01:16:33,330 General . Just add my thanks . And you 1884 01:16:33,330 --> 01:16:35,497 know , we have come a long way , but I 1885 01:16:35,497 --> 01:16:37,608 tell you , there is great opportunity 1886 01:16:37,608 --> 01:16:39,497 you've heard here . We have great 1887 01:16:39,497 --> 01:16:42,260 training , uh and initiatives you can . 1888 01:16:42,260 --> 01:16:44,371 Now , the quality of life and quality 1889 01:16:44,371 --> 01:16:46,538 of service has tremendously changed in 1890 01:16:46,538 --> 01:16:48,704 35 years . I've been in this service . 1891 01:16:48,704 --> 01:16:50,649 It continues to change to meet our 1892 01:16:50,649 --> 01:16:52,760 needs where the most lethal agile and 1893 01:16:52,760 --> 01:16:54,927 ready force in the world . And because 1894 01:16:54,927 --> 01:16:57,093 of you , we will continue to be . So , 1895 01:16:57,093 --> 01:16:55,520 thank you . 1896 01:17:02,260 --> 01:17:04,038 It's my honor to be part of the 1897 01:17:04,038 --> 01:17:06,370 greatest fighting force , military in 1898 01:17:06,370 --> 01:17:08,990 the world . And I wanna thank all of 1899 01:17:08,990 --> 01:17:11,870 you . Um It's an honor to do this . Um 1900 01:17:11,880 --> 01:17:14,158 Thank you to my colleague sitting here . 1901 01:17:14,158 --> 01:17:16,158 We have to make sure that there's a 1902 01:17:16,158 --> 01:17:18,047 bench behind General Richardson , 1903 01:17:18,047 --> 01:17:20,158 admiral , Friend Keady , General Vano 1904 01:17:20,158 --> 01:17:22,660 Vos and Admiral Fagan , right , who's 1905 01:17:22,660 --> 01:17:25,120 on the bench who's behind us and who's 1906 01:17:25,120 --> 01:17:27,510 in the pipeline , you can't take your 1907 01:17:27,510 --> 01:17:29,500 eye off the ball or we will lose a 1908 01:17:29,500 --> 01:17:31,444 generation . That's how quickly it 1909 01:17:31,444 --> 01:17:33,940 happens . So , thank you for being here . 1910 01:17:33,950 --> 01:17:36,190 Thank you for the support . And Nora 1911 01:17:36,190 --> 01:17:39,290 again , thank you , Phyllis Jan . Thank 1912 01:17:39,290 --> 01:17:40,290 you very much . 1913 01:17:47,090 --> 01:17:49,257 I likewise want to say thank you . And 1914 01:17:49,257 --> 01:17:51,368 again , it's really a privilege to be 1915 01:17:51,368 --> 01:17:53,368 here with all the first because I'm 1916 01:17:53,368 --> 01:17:55,590 actually never been a first , I've been 1917 01:17:55,590 --> 01:17:57,701 a 2nd , 3rd or fourth or we never not 1918 01:17:57,701 --> 01:17:59,923 even stopped counting by the time I got 1919 01:17:59,923 --> 01:18:02,090 here , which is a real sign I think of 1920 01:18:02,090 --> 01:18:04,201 the progress that all of our services 1921 01:18:04,201 --> 01:18:06,201 has made . Again , very proud to be 1922 01:18:06,201 --> 01:18:08,368 part of the Navy and the joint force . 1923 01:18:08,368 --> 01:18:10,590 I would say just one thing , especially 1924 01:18:10,590 --> 01:18:10,460 to our younger folks out there as 1925 01:18:10,460 --> 01:18:12,990 you're planning out your career is I 1926 01:18:12,990 --> 01:18:15,060 always adopted this philosophy of 1927 01:18:15,060 --> 01:18:17,160 Admiral Chester Nimitz who commanded 1928 01:18:17,160 --> 01:18:19,320 our navy in World War Two in the 1929 01:18:19,320 --> 01:18:21,930 Pacific . And I'll paraphrase it here . 1930 01:18:21,940 --> 01:18:24,290 He said , learn all you can do your 1931 01:18:24,290 --> 01:18:26,401 best and don't worry about the things 1932 01:18:26,401 --> 01:18:28,623 you can't control . I think that's good 1933 01:18:28,623 --> 01:18:30,846 to keep that always in the back of your 1934 01:18:30,846 --> 01:18:32,846 mind . set your sights on where you 1935 01:18:32,846 --> 01:18:34,679 want to go and just head in that 1936 01:18:34,679 --> 01:18:36,568 direction and you'll end up where 1937 01:18:36,568 --> 01:18:38,568 you're supposed to . Thank you very 1938 01:18:38,568 --> 01:18:37,170 much . 1939 01:18:45,840 --> 01:18:48,007 Well , thank you all for participating 1940 01:18:48,007 --> 01:18:50,007 in this incredibly historic event . 1941 01:18:50,007 --> 01:18:52,118 Thank you . I've learned so much from 1942 01:18:52,118 --> 01:18:54,960 sitting up here and listening to you um 1943 01:18:54,970 --> 01:18:57,210 to many of the women in the audience . 1944 01:18:57,220 --> 01:19:00,420 I hope that at the 100th anniversary of 1945 01:19:00,420 --> 01:19:02,420 women in the U S military , I'll be 1946 01:19:02,420 --> 01:19:04,531 interviewing you up here or maybe one 1947 01:19:04,531 --> 01:19:06,587 of my daughters will be interviewing 1948 01:19:06,587 --> 01:19:09,210 you . So stay in the pipeline . Um I , 1949 01:19:09,210 --> 01:19:12,130 I recently heard someone say , I don't 1950 01:19:12,130 --> 01:19:15,490 think the future is female . Present is 1951 01:19:15,490 --> 01:19:18,570 female . So let's make that a reality . 1952 01:19:18,580 --> 01:19:20,850 Thanks to the museum for having us all 1953 01:19:20,860 --> 01:19:22,971 those . Thank you so much and Jan for 1954 01:19:22,971 --> 01:19:25,027 your leadership and thanks for being 1955 01:19:25,027 --> 01:19:24,740 here .