The US Depart of Defense (DoD) announced on Friday that it has launched a Diversity and Inclusion Committee, made up of intellectuals and former military personnel.
Committee appointees will provide recommendations on matters and policies relating to the improvement of racial/ethnic diversity, inclusion and equal opportunity within the Department with a primary focus on military personnel. US Secretary of Defense, Lloyd J Austin III was responsible for appointing all members of the new advisory committee.
Retired General Lester Lyles is the new Chair of the Defense Advisory Committee on Diversity and Inclusion (DACODAI). Lyles is a seasoned leader and US Air Force veteran, with over two decades of executive-level leadership to corporate and STEM boards.
“The Department looks forward to the valuable and insightful recommendations provided by the DACODAI,” stated Gilbert R Cisneros, Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, also DACODAI’s sponsor.
IMPRESSIVE EXPERIENCE
As the new Chair, Lyles brings with him an impressive record of providing military and corporate strategic advice on a wide range of policy matters. This includes national security issues to the executive branch, congressional officials and the corporate industry. In 2009, Lyles served as Chairman of the Military Leadership Diversity Commission. During his Air Force career, he served as Vice Chief of Staff, US Air Force at the Pentagon. He was also Commander, Air Force Materiel Command of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio.
Lyles is devoted to community service, particularly in diversity and inclusion matters which he believes is a mission imperative to national security. He currently serves on a multitude of boards. They include Chairman, KBR Corp; JobsOhio (the economic development entity for the State of Ohio); and Frontier Technologies, Inc. He also served as the Chairman of the NASA Advisory Council. He was also recently named by the Office of the Vice President as Chairman of the National Space Council’s User Advisory Group.
IMPROVING RACIAL DIVERSITY
“It is an incredible honour to be appointed as the Chair of the DACODAI. This year marks a historical event as the first committee to provide the Secretary of Defense with advice and recommendations to improve racial/ethnic diversity, inclusion and equal opportunity as a force multiplier in the military. I look forward to working with my fellow committee members to help the Defense Department so that our national security is strengthened by the full participation of a diverse and inclusive environment with service members of every background,” stated Lyles.
As part of the Zero-Based Review of all Defense Department advisory committees, Secretary Austin authorised the DACODAI to begin operations once members were appointed in accordance with DoD policy and procedures.
NEW MEMBERS
In addition to General Lyles, the DACODAI’s new committee members will include:
- DACODAI Vice Chair, Kristen Kavanaugh, Senior Director, Diversity and Inclusion, Tesla; US Marine Corps veteran
- DACODAI Member, Maj Gen Byron Bagby, US Army (Ret.), Managing Partner, BMB Strategies Inc.
- DACODAI Member, Fleet Master Chief April Beldo-Lilley, U.S. Navy (Ret.), Director, Executive Operational Planning, USAA for the CEO and Chief of Staff, USAA
- DACODAI Member, Gen Vincent Brooks, US Army (Ret.), Consultant Principal, WestExec Advisors. Also visiting Senior Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs
- DACODAI Member, Phillip Carter, JD, Senior Director, Corporate Counsel, Salesforce; Adjunct Professor of Law, Georgetown University
- DACODAI Member, Col Lisa Carrington Firmin , US Air Force (Ret.). And CEO, Carrington Firmin LLC on Leadership, Veterans, Transitions, Military Sexual Trauma and Diversity and Inclusion
- DACODAI Member, Brig Gen Lawrence Gillespie, Army National Guard of the United States (Retired), and International Consultant
- DACODAI Member, Sgt Maj Gregory Jenkins, US Army (Ret). Also CEO, Greg Jenkins Consulting on Diversity and Inclusion, Organizational Development, Education and Training
- DACODAI Member, Maj Gen James Johnson, US Air Force (Ret.). Also CEO, Operations Gratitude, a non-profit organization; and Vice Chairman, US Air Force Academy Board of Visitors
- DACODAI Member, Dr/Col Walter Kaneakua, US Air Force (Ret.), Ph.D., Professor, U.S. Naval War College; and Adjunct Professor, Pacific Rim Christian University
- DACODAI Member: Professor Thomas Lee, Leitner Family Professor of International Law at Fordham University School of Law; Of Counsel, Hughes Hubbard & Reed; Member of the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) Panel of Conciliators
- DACODAI Member: Dr Nelson Lim, Director, Workforce, Development and Health Program, RAND Project Air Force. Also Senior Social Scientist, Professor, Pardee RAND Graduate School
- DACODAI Member: Dr Jeffrey Means, Department Chair and Associate Professor of History. Also Adjunct Faculty and Advisory Councils Board Member; American Indian Studies Program, University of WY; and Enrolled Member of the Oglala Sioux Nation
- DACODAI Member: Horacio Rozanski, President and CEO, Booz Allen Hamilton. Also Chairman of the Board of Directors for Children’s National Medical Center
- DACODAI Member: Lt Col Alfredo Sandoval, US Air Force Reserve (Ret). Also Founder and Managing Partner, Private Investment Group; and Co-Founder, Creosote Partners
- DACODAI Member: Dr Celia Szelwach, Professor of Practice for Leadership and Organization Development and Change, Cabrini University. Also Co-Director, Fulbright Hays “Bridges to Zambia II” Project
- DACODAI Member: Dr/Col Heidi Urben, US Army (Ret.), Ph.D. Also Professor of the Practice and Director of External Education and Outreach, Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service Security Studies Program, Georgetown University
- DACODAI Member: Maj Gen Linda Urrutia-Varhall, US Air Force (Ret). Also Vice Chair, Board of Directors, National Military Intelligence Foundation; Board of Directors, National Intelligence University Foundation. Also Member, Secretary of the Air Force Scientific Advisory Board
- DACODAI Member: Dr/Lt Gen Frances Wilson, US Marine Corps (Ret.), Ed.D., Board of Directors, Sentara Healthcare; Virginia Beach Mayor’s Military Economic Development Advisory Committee
Check out our Movers and Shakers section for more new appointments in the DE&I, ESG and wellbeing space.
Crowe LLP bolsters purpose, sustainability, diversity, equity and inclusion efforts with three new appointments. Click here to read more.
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