Following a lunch and social hour, attendees will participate in a roundtable discussion with five panelists, each with different backgrounds and career experiences. Panelists scheduled are:
• Gail Forest, SES, Air Force Materiel Command director of Engineering and Technical Management;
• Janet Wirth, 88th Air Base Wing vice director;
• Col. Olivia Elliott, recent Air Force Institute of Technology Ph.D. graduate and A-10 pilot;
• Chief Master Sgt. Tynisha Haskins, AFMC Paralegal manager;
• Tech Sgt. Brittany Johnson, AMC DET 4, commander support staff
Tech Sgt. Liban Kano, Lunch and Learn coordinator, explained why it is important to hear from these panelists and continue to talk about these topics.
“One of the reasons that this is important to continuously do is that this is not a one-time event or a one-time conversation that will fix this, but it is beneficial to continue to have these types of conversations every day,” said Kano. “This day is essentially just to highlight that.”
“It’s going to be more of a candid discussion,” said Tech. Sgt. Patrice Earl, event coordinator. “(Attendees) will get to know the panelists on more of a personal level.”
She also explained that having these panelists will contribute positively to the conversations by providing different perspectives.
Tech Sgt. Holly Earl, event coordinator, spoke frankly about the relevance of the Wright-Patterson community taking an active role in the pursuit of equality.
“We’re still not equal; everything is still not equal,” she explained. “When you look at the military in general there are way more men than women; there are way more men at the top. We want to bring awareness to equality for women across the board.”
“Come on out and listen to these people. You have five individuals coming from different backgrounds sharing some amazing stories. That’s powerful,” said Kano. “At the end of the day I believe when people discuss, they will bring forth change.”
For any further questions, contact Earl at patrice.earl@us.af.mil or Kano at liban.kano@us.af.mil.
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