The First Class Petty Officer Association (FCPOA) hosted a dynamic Leadership Symposium on June 5, 2025, uniting active-duty service members, reservists, civilians, and leadership professionals to explore the heart of leadership in today’s Navy and beyond. Held at the Millington Performing Arts Center, the event featured opening remarks by Mayor Larry Dagen and showcased a panel of esteemed speakers focused on informed decision-making, emotional intelligence, conflict navigation, and sustained motivation.
Mayor Dagen opened by stressing the importance of empathy and accountability in leadership. Keynote speakers included CAPT Janette Jose (CNPC Transformation Director), Isaiah Rucker Jr. (CEO of Unloaded, LLC and President of Big Impact Alliance, Inc.), Pastor Timothy VanDouse (Journey Church), FORCM William P. Houlihan (Navy Personnel Command), LT Jeffrey B. Brown (Navy Personnel Command), and Allison Baskett (Registered Nurse and active-duty military spouse).
Force Master Chief Houlihan emphasized trust, stating, “They’re only going to trust you as a person if you treat them like a person.” Reflecting on personal leadership missteps, he acknowledged, “I could have led them better,” referring to Sailors he felt he had lost touch with.
Leadership coach Tuck Williams echoed this message, advocating for reconciliation and relationship-building: “If you’ve got Sailors you may have winged in your past, take the time to try and right the wrong.” He stressed that care and communication often succeed where yelling fails.
LT Jeffrey Brown spoke on workplace conflict resolution, underscoring the value of psychological safety: “We want both parties to win something—through compromise.” He emphasized understanding others’ perspectives as central to navigating team dynamics.
Allison Baskett offered a unique viewpoint on emotional intelligence in the home, highlighting the resilience required of military families. She underscored the importance of empathy not just in uniform, but in day-to-day family life.
The event concluded with a final panel and open Q&A, with themes centering on authentic leadership, emotional awareness, and strategies for team resilience. Navy Reservists were notably welcomed to the event, providing access to professional development opportunities not typically available to them, a step toward equity across the force.
| Date Taken: | 06.06.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 06.06.2025 14:49 |
| Story ID: | 499883 |
| Location: | MILLINGTON, TENNESSEE, US |
| Web Views: | 12 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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