Highlights from the Recent General Flag Officer Level Conference

Overview of the General/Flag Officer Conference

The recent General and Flag Officer-level Conference marked a key milestone in advancing leadership development and fostering collaboration across the U.S. military’s highest ranks. This year’s gathering was particularly distinguished by the presence of retired Vice Admiral Ann Rondeau, President of the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS), whose keynote address set the tone for a forward-thinking and inclusive dialogue around leadership in a rapidly evolving defense landscape.

Drawing upon her extensive career in naval operations, policy, and education, Vice Admiral Rondeau offered strategic insights into how today’s senior leaders must embrace innovation, diversity, and adaptability. Her message highlighted the increasing importance of integrating cutting-edge technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI) and quantum computing, into both tactical and institutional thinking.

My Role in Organizing the Conference

As a key member of the organizing team, I contributed to both the strategic planning and day-to-day execution of the event. My responsibilities extended beyond logistics to include content design, program development, and speaker engagement. I worked closely with senior faculty and administrative leadership to craft a meaningful and engaging experience for over 40 high-ranking attendees, including generals, admirals, and Senior Executive Service (SES) civilians.

I was directly involved in:

• Coordinating with key stakeholders from the Department of Defense, the Naval Postgraduate School, and partner organizations.

• Designing an agenda that balanced technical depth with strategic relevance—curating panels, briefings, and interactive sessions that addressed leadership in AI-enabled defense environments.

• Managing communications with invited speakers and ensuring alignment between session topics and broader conference goals.

• Supporting on-site operations to ensure the seamless flow of events and maximizing opportunities for cross-service dialogue and networking.

By ensuring each component of the symposium—content, logistics, and participant engagement—was aligned with our strategic objectives, I helped foster a high-impact environment for collaborative learning and idea exchange.

Highlights from Vice Admiral Rondeau’s Address

Vice Admiral Rondeau’s remarks were a central moment of the conference. Her keynote emphasized the imperative of adaptive leadership in a future defined by constant technological disruption. She spoke to the need for senior leaders to cultivate digital and data literacy—not as technologists, but as visionary decision-makers capable of asking the right questions and empowering interdisciplinary teams to execute at the edge.

She also championed diversity, mentorship, and institutional learning as cornerstones of readiness. Her call to build inclusive leadership cultures resonated deeply with participants and echoed throughout subsequent panel discussions. It underscored the importance of both technical literacy and emotional intelligence in steering large, complex organizations through change.

Driving Momentum Through Strategic Collaboration

This conference built upon the success of NPS’ broader AI-focused initiatives, including the Leading Data and AI-Enabled Organizations executive education program—now in its 13th iteration. Designed in partnership with the Office of the Secretary of Defense’s Chief Digital and AI Office and the Defense Innovation Unit, this course has already equipped over 350 senior leaders with the tools to manage digital transformation within their commands.

Throughout the event, I facilitated discussions that bridged operational challenges with strategic innovation. From enabling high-level dialogue on AI adoption to supporting conversations around ethics, trust, and change management, I saw firsthand how crucial these engagements are for preparing our leadership to meet today’s—and tomorrow’s—defense challenges.

Looking Ahead

The momentum generated by this year’s conference will continue to shape future collaborations across services and agencies. The insights shared—particularly those by Vice Admiral Rondeau—reinforce our commitment to equipping military leadership with the frameworks and confidence to embrace data-driven, AI-enabled solutions.

It was a privilege to contribute to the success of this landmark event. As we look toward the next iteration, I remain committed to supporting the Naval Postgraduate School’s mission to lead in defense innovation and strategic education. Please see the LinkedIn Post from NPS here:https://www.linkedin.com/posts/nps-monterey_ai-artificialintelligence-executive-activity-7316237811093762048-IOIL?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAADoACBIBPCFKD61mZs4RwwNyRtmGXq3bvEM

Upper left, green shirt, black coat is me!