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Wing execs host NAF-wide workshop

By Staff Sgt. Frank Casciotta / Published April 27, 2018

Executive officers from across the 22nd Air Force pose for a photo during the 22nd AF Executive Officer Development Workshop in Colorado Springs, Colorado, April 11, 2018. The workshop, hosted by the 302nd Airlift Wing and the 340th Flying Training Group, was the first of its kind offered across the 22nd Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Frank Casciotta)
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Executive officers from across the 22nd Air Force pose for a photo during the 22nd AF Executive Officer Development Workshop in Colorado Springs, Colorado, April 11, 2018. The workshop, hosted by the 302nd Airlift Wing and the 340th Flying Training Group, was the first of its kind offered across the 22nd Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Frank Casciotta)

Maj. Gen. Craig La Fave, the 22nd Air Force commander, speaks during the 22nd AF Executive Officer Development Workshop in Colorado Springs, Colorado, April 11, 2018.
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Maj. Gen. Craig La Fave, the 22nd Air Force commander, speaks during the 22nd AF Executive Officer Development Workshop in Colorado Springs, Colorado, April 11, 2018. The workshop was hosted by the 302nd Airlift Wing and the 340th Flying Training Group, was the first of its kind to be offered across the 22nd Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Frank Casciotta)

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PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. --

The 302nd Airlift Wing and 340th Flying Training Group hosted the first-ever 22nd Air Force Executive Officer Development Workshop in Colorado Springs, Colorado, April 10 through 12.

“We, as executive officers, provide a wide range of support functions to our commanders,” said Maj. Stefanie Purdie, the 302nd Airlift Wing executive officer and workshop coordinator. “The goal of this workshop is to give execs the tools they need to prioritize and communicate effectively for ultimate mission success.”

Throughout the three-day event, 35 executive officers from across the 22nd Air Force discussed best practices, heard from subject matter experts and received mentorship from senior leaders attending and speaking at the event.

“There is no training on how to be an executive officer,” said Maj. Joya Gamara, the 340th Flying Training Group executive officer based at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, who worked alongside Purdie on coordination for the workshop. “This was our way of creating an opportunity for exec-focused training and discussions.”

Capt. Yolanda Seals, a new reservist and executive officer from Kessler Air Force Base, Missouri, said the workshop was outstanding.

“I learned a ton,” said Seals who came into the AF Reserve eight months ago. “It helped answer questions I had about what options are available to me for development. That alone was awesome. It also showed me I’m not alone, and provided me with a great network of reservists who are well-versed in best practices. I’m feeling much more confident now and will bring a lot with me back to my wing.”

Gamara and Purdie produced the schedule of events for the workshop using a model previously developed by the 340th FTG.

Twenty-Second Air Force is a Numbered Air Force component of Air Force Reserve Command. It was activated on July 1,1993 and is headquartered at Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Georgia.

The 302nd AW is one of 15 subordinate units that fall under operational control of the Air Force Reserve Command through 22nd Air Force.