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Hickam officers host 2011 PACAF regional CGOC conference

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Whitney Maynard
  • 647th Force Support Squadron
JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR HICKAM, Hawaii --  Jan. 31 commenced the annual Pacific Air Forces Regional Company Grade Officer's Professional Development Conference, hosted by Hickam's own Company Grade Officer's Council.

The theme for this year's conference was "preparing today's CGOs for tomorrow's challenges." An appropriate designation, considering the challenges young officers are guaranteed to face in upcoming years such as force management, world-wide joint-basing implementation, and unpredictable operations tempos on the forefront.

Speakers from the 15th Wing, 13th Air Force, and PACAF discussed topics such as total force integration, manpower, development teams, and leadership in a joint base environment with the group of 64 eager young officers hailing from Kadena Air Base, Misawa AB, Yokota AB, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, and our own Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. First sergeants, chiefs, squadron commanders, functional area managers, PACAF "A-staff" members, and even the Major General Brooks Bash, PACAF vice commander, volunteered to brief and advise conference attendees on being effective leaders, facing future challenges, and being knowledgeable about officer progression.

Conference events included an Arizona Memorial and USS Missouri tour, a tour of the 613th Air Operations center, and a hike to the top of Koko Head crater, giving the visiting CGO's a sample of Hawaii's true splendor. The conference wrapped up Feb. 3 with a traditional Hawaiian Luau at the Hale Koa Resort in Waikiki.

After numerous long hours of planning and preparation by several of Hickam's CGOC members, led by Capt. Mariko Boone, CGOC president and conference leaders Capt. Mike Lasher and 1st Lt. Ryan Bushnell, the event was deemed successful and worthwhile by all. The Hickam CGOC would like to thank all volunteers, speakers, and those who helped the logistics of this conference come together for the support for which all conference attendees were truly grateful.

This conference was one of the last big events of the term for the Hickam CGOC, winner of the PACAF CGOC of the third quarter of 2010 as well as the 2010 Martin Luther King community service award for serving the Oahu community. The search has already begun for new executive committee and committee chairs for the 2011 year. CGOs interested in running for a position can contact Captain Boone or any of the current committee members. Starting April 1, the Hickam CGOC will officially change its name to Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam CGOC with future plans to include Navy CGOs in social and community service events.