WASHINGTON, March 13, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Army Women's Foundation will convene service members and veterans, leading employers, senior military members, policy and legislative experts, and other guests for its Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Summit March 17 and 18 in the nation's capital.

The Hall of Fame ceremony will honor Army women who led the way for others to follow or who were decorated for heroism or extraordinary achievement. Lieutenant General Karen E. Dyson, USA, Military Deputy to the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Financial Management & Comptroller), will deliver the keynote speech.

The Summit will focus on two key issues facing Army women:

  • Leadership on the battlefield and in business, to examine military and civilian professional opportunities and career transitions.
  • Political empowerment and engagement, to focus on transitioning Army leadership skills from military service to community and public service.

Presented with support from The Home Depot Foundation and other partners, the two-day event opens with an evening Hall of Fame Reception on Capitol Hill and ends with a Summit in Arlington, VA to address important leadership issues for Army women.

"The mission of the Army Women's Foundation is to honor and preserve the contributions of women who serve in the Army and help them prepare for ongoing success whether they continue a career as soldiers or return to civilian life," said retired Maj. Gen. Dee Ann McWilliams, president of the Army Women's Foundation. "Every March, as our nation observes Women's History Month, we gather to address issues that affect the future of Army women."

"As we continue our nationwide efforts to improve the homes and lives of U.S. military veterans and their families, we are honored to join the Army Women's Foundation in recognizing these remarkable women, who have given so much to protect us all," said Heather Pritchard, senior manager of national partnerships for The Home Depot Foundation.

The 2015 Army Women's Foundation Hall of Fame Ceremony and Reception, Honoring Service & Preserving History, will be held at 5 p.m., Tuesday, March 17 at the Rayburn House Office Building foyer to induct into the Hall of Fame:

  • Command Sergeant Major Mary Sutherland, USA (Ret) *Deceased – Served 35 years; First Woman CSM for USMA and Corps of Cadets
  • Colonel Sally Murphy, USA (Ret) – First Army Woman Helicopter Pilot
  • Army Women Distinguished Flying Cross Recipients
  • Colonel Jill Chambers, USA (Ret), Founder, This Able Vet, LLC

Others to be honored are recognized for their efforts to champion the issues of Army women:

  • V-WISE Program at Syracuse University – Army Women Entrepreneurship and Research
  • Ron Howard and Frank Martin – Unsung Heroes documentary

The Seventh Annual Summit, held at The Women in Military Service for America Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery, consists of two panels. The first panel, Army Women: Leading the Workforce Today & Tomorrow, will begin at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, March 18 and will feature panel discussions focused on military and civilian professional and business opportunities, career transitions, and other leadership issues affecting Army women.  Speakers and panelists will include nationally recognized thought leaders in business and Veterans issues.  Scheduled to appear are:

  • Dr. J. Michael Haynie, Vice Chancellor Syracuse University, Executive Director, Institute for Veterans and Military Families
  • Colonel Kevin Preston, USA (Ret), Director, Human Resources – Veterans Initiative, ESPN, Inc.
  • Chief Warrant Officer 05 Phyllis Wilson, Command Chief Warrant Officer, U.S. Army Reserve
  • Mrs. Cathy Christian, Vice President, Enterprise Services and Financial Systems, Prudential Financial, Inc.; formerly Captain, USAF  

The afternoon panel, Army Women: Political Empowerment & Engagement, is designed to help military women recognize their leadership skills and put those skills to use in their local communities and beyond. This panel will feature:

  • Captain Lori Manning, USN (Ret), Senior Fellow, Women's Research and Education Institute
  • Major Seth Lynn, USMCR, Veterans Campaign, Executive Director
  • Sergeant Major Tonia Walker, USA, U.S. Army Legislative Liaison
  • Lieutenant Colonel Michelle Greene, USA (Ret), Vice President, Cassidy & Associates

During lunch, the Army Women's Foundation and its partners will award scholarships totaling $75,000. The Army Women's Foundation Legacy Scholarship program supports education for Army women and their children through tuition assistance for technical certificate programs, community college coursework, and undergraduate and graduate degrees. Scholarships are based on merit, academic potential, community service and need. Including the 2015 awards, the Army Women's Foundation has awarded $219,000 to 121 recipients through the Legacy Scholarship program.

"American Airlines has a long history of recognizing women as leaders in the aviation industry and partnering with the Army Women's Foundation advances that mission," said Capt. Jim Palmersheim, American's senior manager – Veterans Initiatives. "By supporting the annual Summit and Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, we pay tribute to the contributions of women who have been essential to the defense of the freedoms we enjoy as a Nation. We simply cannot thank them enough for their service and sacrifice."

ABOUT THE U.S. ARMY WOMEN'S FOUNDATION

The U.S. Army Women's Foundation is the premier center for educational excellence, the national network for today's Army women, and a dynamic advocate for telling the history of Army women. The Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to promote public interest in the Army and recognize and honor the service of all Army women through programs, research and scholarships.

For more information, visit www.awfdn.org.

SOURCE Army Women's Foundation