Conference
From AFCGOC
2008 Air Force Company Grade Officer Professional Development Conference
The annual 2008 Air Force Company Grade Officer Professional Development Conference is scheduled from 5-9 May 2008 to be held in San Antonio Texas at the Holiday Inn Riverwalk. The 2008 conference will address multiple impacting AF issues like war-fighter training & equipping, officer professional development, AF Cyber Command, expeditionary operations, and Joint integration.
Theme: Warrior Airmen: Developing Leaders for the 21st Century
Date: 5-9 May 2008
Location: San Antonio, Texas (various locations around town)
Additional information: Visit the forums for the latest Conference documents, including:
- A letter from the CSAF regarding this year's conference
- A letter from the Western Region Advisor regarding this year's conference
- Legal information regarding conference attendance and funding
- The conference schedule
On-site visits to Randolph AFB, AFPC, Lackland AFB, Brooks City Base, Brook Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, and the San Antonio Riverwalk!
Budgeting:
- Conference Fee: $150 (projected approx fee includes daily breakfast, stars & bars banquet, and facilities)
- Hotel parking: $10/day (Use of rental cars is highly discouraged. Transportation to and from events will be provided and the best part of the San Antonio night life is in walking distance!)
- Per Diem:
- Lodging: $112/day (hotel will be charging per diem rate)
- Full rate M&IE: $54/day
- Partial rate M&IE: $33/day
- Travel days M&IE: $40.50/day
- NOTE: If you claim the conference fee on your travel voucher, you must claim partial rate per diem on your non-travel days and indicate that breakfast is provided on all days and dinner is provided on Wednesday, 7 May. You can not claim full per diem and reimbursement of your conference fee. In this case, you will usually still come out ahead by claiming the conference fee. This table shows the varous reimbursements based on when you travel:
| Travel Days | Partial Per Diem + Conference Fee | Full Per Diem without Conference Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Sunday/Saturday | $396 | $351 |
| Sunday/Friday | $363 | $297 |
Event Chairperson: Capt Jill Schofield
If you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact Jill or Capt Dave Wilson, Western Region CGOC President.
Registration
- Conference registration is now closed.
- Conference Hotel Reservations (You can also call the hotel directly at 210-224-2500. Use group code "APD".)
- Pay online (Please register first!) NOTE: You will be taken to the PayPal site to pay. You do not need to sign up for PayPal to pay the fee. Simply click the link below where it says "Don't have a PayPal account?" and you will be able to pay with your credit card. The GTC/GPC restriction on PayPal applies when you are actually putting money on PayPal, not when you use PayPal as a credit card processor.
Conference FAQ
Q1: Where and when is the next conference?
A1: The 2008 Conference will be held in Downtown San Antonio at the Holiday Inn Riverwalk. The conference will start Monday morning and continue through Friday afternoon. You will be home for Mother’s Day!
Q2: How much is it going to cost?
A2: The conference fee will be $150. This will cover all of your breakfasts, local travel, meeting rooms, snacks, and dining in.
Q3: What about locals?
A3: Unfortunately, you’ll still have to send in the registration fee. You are not required to stay at the hotel, so you can commute from home every day. We’re currently working on getting daily shuttles from Randolph and Lackland, which will keep you from needing to pay for parking every day. Remember, though, you ARE expected to be at every session of the conference (if nothing else, for accountability reasons), including the Stars and Bars Dining In on Wednesday night.
Q4: What about other expenses?
A4: You will NOT need a vehicle—the Holiday Inn is within walking distance of shopping, the Alamo, a myriad of restaurants and the best nightlife San Antonio has to offer. Taxis and buses will shuttle you to/from the hotel for $20 per person (or less). Parking will be $10/day if you choose to drive, but it’s not worth it at all! Each room at the hotel is at per diem ($112/day). Other than that, you’ll just need to eat…and pay for whatever kind of after-hours recreation you choose.
Q5: What should we wear?
A5: The UOD will be ABU/BDU/Flight Suits. Wednesday night, we’ll have a Stars and Bars Dining In and Awards Dinner as part of the conference (not optional) and you will need Mess Dress for this event.
Q6: Who are the guest speakers?
A6: We’re still working on that. As soon as we get confirmations, we’ll update the agenda online.
Q7: How do I register?
A7: We’re still working on that, too, but you’ll be able to register online or by snail mail and pay by credit card or by check.
Q8: When can I register?
A8: We’ll start registration very soon and you’ll have to register by April 18 so we can make sure to be ready for everyone who’s coming.
Q9: What about room reservations?
A9: We have online reservations through Holiday Inn. The link will be on the conference page with our key word to get our special rates.
Q10: Why did you choose the Holiday Inn?
A10: There were 4 hotels who responded to our request for a quote. Holiday Inn offered us a prime location (directly on the River Walk and less than ¼ a mile from the “action”), per diem on our rooms, more conference space than we could imagine at a VERY low rate, completely refurbished rooms, free wireless internet for the ENTIRE hotel, and extraordinary customer service. It is a very nice hotel and it’s just close enough to the restaurants/night life to enjoy, yet far enough away to get some peaceful rest when we want it.
Q11: What other amenities are offered at the Hotel?
A11: Heated outdoor pool and whirlpool spa, fitness room with cardio equipment and free weights, bar & grill overlooking the River Walk, a business center (free printing!), and free wireless internet throughout the hotel. There are NOT kitchens in the rooms, but they do have coffeemakers.
Q12: What time can I check into the Holiday Inn?
A12: Check-in starts at 1500, but we’ll already have the conference rooms by then. If your flight (or ride, if you’re driving) arrives before then, just make your way to the 7th floor and we’ll hold your bags for you until check-in time while you explore downtown San Antonio!
Q13: How close is the Holiday Inn to the “action”…and what do you mean by “action”?
A13: It’s directly on the banks of the infamous River Walk, within walking distance of all major downtown attractions, 3 blocks to the Alamo, 8 blocks to the Tower of the Americas, 7 blocks to the Institute of Texas Cultures, 5 blocks to La Villita, 2 blocks to Buckhorn Saloon & Museum, 6 blocks to Market Square, 3 blocks to San Fernando Cathedral, 5 blocks to the Convention Center, and 5 blocks to the River Center Mall. Inside the River Center Mall is an IMAX theater and a Comedy Club, as well as 5 floors of shopping, a large food court, and other restaurants. Just outside the back of the hotel, you can catch one of the riverboats and tour the entire River Walk! Across the street from the front of the hotel are 2 theaters. There are AT LEAST 36 restaurants/bars within a mile of the Holiday Inn. There are also streetcars that will take you around downtown if you’d like to see something a little farther away or if your shopping bags get heavy at the mall. If that isn’t enough action for you, we can plunk you in the middle of I-10 during rush hour!
Q14: What exactly is the River Walk?
A14: Go to www.thesanantonioriverwalk.com and find out much more than I’ve told you.
Q15: Can I bring my spouse?
A15: If you'd like to bring your spouse, that's fine. We will not have any organized activities for spouses while you're participating in conference sessions; however, we are encouraging any spouses who would like to get together with other spouses throughout the week to meet at 1000 Monday morning on the 7th floor in the Sky Line Atrium to discuss. THERE WILL NOT BE A FACILITATOR AT THIS MEETING.
Q16: Can my spouse attend conference sessions?
A16: Unless your spouse is an Air Force CGO and has paid the conference fee, he/she is unable to attend the briefings and tours. Some of the material presented is sensitive and is meant to be kept behind closed doors. It's not that we don't trust your spouse. Besides, there are so many more interesting things for them to do during the day, anyway!
Previous Conferences
2008
If you have any photos from the conference, please send them to the webmaster. We will post a selection of them as we receive them.
Awards
Western Region
CGO of the Year -
CGOC of the Year -
Eastern Region
CGO of the Year -
CGOC of the Year -
Pacific Region
CGO of the Year -
CGOC of the Year -
Elections
Western Region
President -
Vice President -
Exec -
Eastern Region
President -
Vice-President -
Exec -
2007
| May 14-17, 2007 |
| Washington, D.C. |
| Sponsored by the AFCGOC |
| Hosted by the National Capital Region CGOCs: |
| National Reconnaissance Office, Bolling AFB and the Pentagon |
If you have any photos from the conference, please send them to the webmaster. We will post a selection of them as we receive them.
Awards
Western Region
CGO of the Year - Lt Michelle Richards - Schriever AFB
CGOC of the Year - Schriever AFB
Eastern Region
CGO of the Year - Capt J. Scott Spencer - Fort George Meade
CGOC of the Year - NRO
Pacific Region
CGO of the Year - Capt Angela J. Taravella - Elmendorf AFB
CGOC of the Year - Hickam AFB
Elections
Western Region
President - Capt David Wilson - Randolph AFB
Vice President - Lt Michelle Richards - Schriever AFB
Exec - Lt Mike Straw - Offutt AFB
Eastern Region
President - Capt Sheila Johnston - Langley AFB
Vice-President - Lt Josh Hawkins - Bolling AFB
Exec - Lt Megan Schmid - Dover AFB
Materials
2007 Conference Materials are available for download (registration required)
2006
The 2006 COGC Professional Development Conference took place from 14-19 May 2006 at the Nellis AFB Officers Club. Following 6 months of intense planning by the Nellis AFB Staff the event was a huge success. 155 attendee's representing 43 bases attended making this the biggest CGOC ever! Topics ranging from Professional Development to Ethics to CGOC Development were covered by a wide range of excellent speakers. Below you will find the briefings covered at the conference as well as the award winners from WR and ER for the previous year! Thanks to the Nellis AFB staff and all that attended for making this event a huge success.
Awards
Western Region
CGO of the Year - Lt Sheila Johnston - Laughlin AFB
CGOC of the Year - Malmstrom AFB - President: Lt Hanif Flood
Eastern Region
CGO of the Year - Lt Kaight Cichon - NRO
CGOC of the Year - Eglin AFB - President: Lt Eiler
Elections
Western Region
President - Lt David Wilson - Randolph AFB
Vice President - Capt Keith Benko - Cannon AFB
Exec - Capt Robert Reed - Little Rock AFB
Eastern Region
President - Capt Kelli Moon - Hurlburt AFB
Vice-President - Lt Sheila Johnston - Langley AFB
Exec - Capt Steven Coffee - Fort Meade
Materials
- Final Agenda
- Conference Fee Letter
- Monday Slides
- Tuesday Slides
- Thursday Slides
- Colonel Maurmann - AFPC Briefing
- Franklin Covey Briefing
- Gen Weida Briefing Slides - Long War
- OSI Local Conditions Briefing
- Olmsted Scholar Program Briefing
Region Advisors' Memos to Commanders
2005
The 2005 Conference held at Arnold AFB was a huge success. We had over 50 attendee's representing bases from the Eastern Region and the Western Region (and one from Europe). We heard from some great leaders and speakers and had a chance to talk to each other and learn from our experiences. The staff from Arnold AFB led by Capt Carmen Evans put on a wonderful show for us ... the facilities were top notch and the after hours activities were great. Below is a small synopsis of the events. You will also find links to the conference materials as well as some other odds & ends.
Thanks to all who attended and I look forward to seeing you all next year at Nellis!!
Lt Hendrickson
WRCGOC President
Awards
Western Region
CGO of the Year - Lt Matt Baril - Lackland/Nellis AFB CGOC of the Year - Tinker AFB - President: Lt Maria Lamas
Eastern Region
CGO of the Year - Capt McCarthy - Andrews AFB, MD CGOC of the Year - Arnold AFB, TN - President: Capt Carmen Evans
