CONGRESSWOMAN JOHNSON AND CBC MEET WITH TOP MILITARY OFFICIALS TO
Washington, DC – (Tuesday, October 2, 2007) Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson along with CBC Chairwoman Kilpatrick, Majority Whip Clyburn, Congressmen Bobby Scott (VA), Meeks (NY), Meek (FL) and Congresswomen Christenson (VI), Clarke (NY), Richardson (CA), Jackson Lee (TX) met with some of the top officials at the Department of Defense this morning in order to discuss diversity within the military's senior ranks.
Participating at the meeting were Mr. Gordon England, Deputy Secretaryof Defense; David Chu, Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel; General George W. Casey, Chief of Staff of the United States Army; Admiral Michael G. Mullen, Chief of Naval Operations; GeneralT. Michael Moseley, Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force; General James T. Conway, Commandant of the United States Marine Corps.
"The United States military strives to produce an array of fully qualified military leaders that represent its diverse nature," said Congresswoman Johnson. "This morning's dialogue was a candid talk from the CBC members to the senior ranking officials reflecting what our constituents are conveying. They want to know if the military is truly providing the appropriate skills, training, education, career management guidance, and leadership to nurture and retain minority personnel to become senior leaders."
"During the meeting we reviewed the military branches personnel policy reform initiatives designed to help meet future objectives and provide an analysis of the promotion rates of senior officers. By highlighting the methodology and the results of our talks I hope that we, as Members of Congress, can assist strategic military leaders in nurturing, developing, and retaining minority officers to become successful leaders of the future U.S. Armed Forces."
