All-services summit focuses on military professionalism

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Leadership centers of excellence from all branches of the military recently gathered for the 2017 DoD Professionalism Summit at the U.S. Naval Academy (USNA) in Annapolis, Md. 

The two-day conference focused on strengthening professionalism through the development of ethical leaders of character throughout all the armed services, and equipping those leaders to cultivate a climate of continuous growth. The attendees participated in panel discussions, cross-service breakout groups and presentations.

The summit, sponsored by the Secretary of Defense Senior Advisor for Military Professionalism (SAMP) and hosted by the Naval Academy’s Stockdale Center for Ethical Leadership, welcomed representatives of the Naval Leadership and Ethics Center (NLEC) -- Navy, Lejeune Leadership Institute -- Marine Corps, Leadership Development Center -- Coast Guard, the Center for the Army Profession and Ethic -- Army, the Profession of Arms Center of Excellence -- Air Force.

The keynote speaker for the event was Andy Fleming, contributing author to the book “An Everyone Culture” and chief executive officer of Way to Grow, Inc. 

Fleming has worked with U.S. Naval War College’s Center for Operational and Strategic Leadership, USS Monsoor (DDG 1001), and Electronic Attack Wing Pacific to implement elements of the Deliberately Developmental Organization concept that furthers leader development and enables everyone in the military to reach their fullest potential to contribute, lead and grow.

“Leadership is a dynamic, complex and inherently human endeavor,” said Capt. Peter Mantz, NLEC’s commanding officer. “This summit provided an opportunity to get all the leadership and professionalism centers of excellence together with a very accomplished industry thought leader. It is vital we seek out opportunities to learn from each other, share what’s working, and align and operationalize those ideas and insights into actionable efforts, cultivating cultures of learning environments in which continuous leader development ensures the seamless integration of the two lanes of leader development, competence and character.”