ALCOAST 013/24 - JAN 2024 19TH ANNUAL OFFICER WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP SYMPOSIUM (OWLS) 2024

R 121157Z JAN 24   MID120000802819U
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC
TO ALCOAST
BT
UNCLAS
ALCOAST 013/24
SSIC 5420
SUBJ: 19TH ANNUAL OFFICER WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP SYMPOSIUM (OWLS) 2024
A. DHS Financial Management Policy Manual, Section 7
B. Military Assignments and Authorized Absences, COMDTINST M1000.8A
C. COMDT (CG-81) U. S. Coast Guard Conference Guidance v1.5, DTD 14
December 2022
1. The annual Officer Women's Leadership Symposium (OWLS) and Career
Workshop, will be held on 11-12 April 2024 at George Mason
University in Arlington, Virginia. This is a hybrid event with the
options to attend both in-person and virtually. The Career Coaching
Workshop will be held on 11 April 2024. The Officer Women's
Leadership Symposium (OWLS) will be held on 12 April 2024. This
year's theme is "Rooted in Service, Growing the Future Together".
All event details and agenda can be found at:
(Copy and Paste URL Below into Browser)

https://www.militaryowls.org/owls/

2. COMDT (CG-DCMS-DPR-4) will manage the symposium attendance
process and account for attendance and overall cost. COMDT
(CG-DCMS-DPR-4) must provide a final count of all USCG participants
to DHS. All members interested in attending are required to fill out
the following SharePoint form on the COMDT (CG-DCMS-DPR-4) website
NLT 31 January 2024. Early bird pricing will be available until
15 March 2024. Please note that pricing varies based on in-person
and virtual attendance. Do not register for OWLS until you have
completed the SharePoint form on COMDT (CG-DCMS-DPR-4)'s website.
A registration code provided on the SharePoint registration site.
Link to the form can be found under "Outreach Event Signup Form":
(Copy and Paste URL Below into Browser)

https://uscg.sharepoint-mil.us/sites/cg1d1/Outreach/SitePages/Confer
ence-Attendance-Request.aspx

3. Affinity groups and their conferences are force multipliers for
recruiting, retention, and professional development, supporting
the 2021-2024 DHS Inclusive Diversity Strategic Plan. OWLS will
inspire and assist attendees in accelerating change and advancing
themselves, their teams, and organizations. This event aims to
provide women leaders in the military and veteran community with
networking and mentoring opportunities, strengthen skills, and
transform observations into actionable insights that lead to
positive change. Keynote Speakers and distinguished panelists, are
comprised of inspiring thought-leaders and experts, who share their
experiences and insights, creating an immersive, supportive, and
engaging opportunity for attendees to meet women counterparts in
various services and roles. Participants will have tremendous
opportunities for mentorship, connecting with active duty and
veteran servicewomen from every level of leadership and service
branch.
4. All employees (active duty, Reservists, civilians, and
Auxiliarists) are encouraged to attend. While the focus of the
affinity conference is identified in the theme, conferences are open
for ALL employees to attend, regardless of rank, gender, race, or
background. The Coast Guard supports and encourages participation
in affinity group symposiums as part of efforts to increase the
retention of a diverse and talented workforce.
5. Commanding Officers/OICs are strongly encouraged to support the
professional development of all civilian and military personnel.
6. Permissive orders for military members are authorized. Whether
on official orders or self-funded, civilian employees' attendance
including travel time is considered work time. For civilian
employees, supervisory approval to attend during work time
(including a reasonable amount of travel time) must be indicated
by email, and reflected in the remarks section of the employee's
timecard. The remarks must state the employee is approved work and
travel time to attend the OWL Symposium during their scheduled
tour of duty on 11-12 April 2024. The employee's attendance at
events outside of the employee's scheduled tour of duty is not
required and is at the employee's discretion; therefore, overtime
and compensatory time for work cannot be approved.
7. Please direct all questions and concerns to the following email:
HQS-SMB-OWLS@uscg.mil
8. POC: LT Olivia Chang, COMDT (CG-DCMS-DPR-4), at 202-475-5004 or
Olivia.chang@uscg.mil
9. Dr. Donna M. Navarro, Senior Advisor for Diversity and
Inclusion (SADI), sends.
10. Internet release is authorized.