When Dana Born, the first female dean of the Air Force Academy, was asked to help guide the Department of Defense’s repeal of its Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy, she was faced with big questions.
As a member of the official working group, Born and others needed to answer questions like “How are we going to do this effectively to maintain military readiness?” she recalled.
The group was not asked whether the DOD should repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, but how to do it. The policy that prevented gay, lesbian and bisexual people from serving openly in the armed forces was repealed under the Obama administration in 2010.
Her group prepared for the transition, in part, by listening to and embracing different experiences. The DOD also solicited expertise.
“It was an incredibly effective process,” Born said
The 30-year Air Force veteran expects to share some leadership lessons when she takes the stage at the International Women’s Forum World Leadership Conference in Denver this week.
She now shares leadership insights professionally as a senior distinguished fellow at The HOW Institute for Society.
The nonprofit provides moral leadership training, focused on “connection, inspiration and a deep...