ALCOAST 008/25 - JAN 2025 20TH ANNUAL OFFICER WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP SYMPOSIUM (OWLS) 2025

R 131600Z JAN 25 MID180001537451U
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC
TO ALCOAST
BT
UNCLAS
ALCOAST 008/25
SSIC 5420
SUBJ: 20TH ANNUAL OFFICER WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP SYMPOSIUM (OWLS) 2025
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 v2.1, DTD 22
November 2024
1. The annual Officer Women's Leadership Symposium (OWLS) and
Career Workshop, will be held on 2-3 April 2025 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 02 April 2025. The Officer Women's
Leadership Symposium (OWLS) will be held on 03 April 2025. This
year's theme is "Power of Connection".
All event details and agenda can be found at:
(Copy and Paste URL Below into Browser)

https://www.eventcreate.com/e/academywomen-ccw-owls?refcode=
coastguard

2. CG-DCMS-DPR-4 will manage the symposium attendance
process and provide a final count of all USCG participants
to DHS. Members should expect their units to cover their
registration fees unless told otherwise. CG-DCMS-DPR-4 will fund
registration fees on a first-come first-serve basis, subject to
availability. Travel, lodging, per diem, and incidentals will be
at the member's unit expense regardless of how registration fees
are covered. Early bird pricing will be available until 15 March
2025. Please note that pricing varies based on in-person and
virtual attendance. All members interested in attending are required
to fill out the following SharePoint form on the CG-DCMS-DPR-4
website NLT 31 January 2025. Do not register for OWLS until you have
completed the SharePoint form on CG-DCMS-DPR-4's website.
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. Commanding Officers/OICs are strongly encouraged to support the
professional development of all civilian and military personnel.
Supporting members participating in affinity groups and
conferences not only fosters individual growth and satisfaction but
also benefits the organization through a more skilled, connected,
and innovative workforce.
4. OWLS will inspire and assist attendees in accelerating change
and advancing themselves, their teams, and organizations. This
event seeks to offer women leaders in the military and veteran
community valuable networking and mentoring opportunities, enhance
their skills, and turn insights into actionable strategies for
positive change. Keynote Speakers and distinguished panelists will
share their experiences, creating an immersive, supportive, and
engaging opportunity for attendees to meet women counterparts in
all services and roles.
5. All employees (active duty, Reservists, civilians, and
Auxiliarists) are encouraged to attend. While the focus of OWLS 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 conferences and
symposiums as part of efforts to increase the retention of a
diverse and talented workforce.
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 2-3 April 2025. 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:
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. Mr. Gary C. Rasicot, Deputy for Personnel Readiness
(CG-DCMS-DPR), sends.
10. Internet release is authorized.