Hosted by Sevice Women's Action Network and Women in International Security

On April 1, 2016, the U.S. military will begin integrating women into historically all-male ground combat units and occupations. This historic decision will permanently alter the face of the military, representing a significant organizational change effort. To help facilitate this transition, the Service Women’s Action Network and Women in International Security are convening a half-day conference that will feature analyses of the services’ implementation plans and discussion of best practices to ensure that the combat integration process is successful.

The conference will feature academic experts, organizational change practitioners and military professionals providing advice on how to successfully implement change. This conference is intended to educate past and present service members, the media, policymakers, and DOD civilians and military leaders responsible for implementing this change. Topics include the following:

* Managing Organizational Change: Organizational change theorists and practitioners will outline best practices for managing and monitoring large scale organizational change.

* Analysis and Recommendations for the Service Implementation Plans: Military professionals will present an analysis of the Services’ and SOCOM’s implementation plans. They will point out the strengths, identify potential weakness, and make recommendations for improvement.

* Best Practices for Combat Units: A panel of experts will offer best practices for integration that address leadership selection, education, and mentoring