then Add to Home Screen.
Attention all company grade officers…Hear from your own at the 148th General Conference & Exhibition in Indianapolis, Aug. 29 to 31.
The CGO Officer Professional Development on those three days will feature multiple CGOx – TEDx style talks - where attendees will share stimulating presentations leading to conversational engagement among their peers.
Individuals interested in being a CGOx speaker can find more information on how to submit an application at their website.
"We're excited to empower the next generation of National Guard leaders in Indianapolis this year through an outstanding lineup of guest speakers, CGOx sessions, and meaningful networking opportunities,” said Capt. Ashlyn Garrett, the NGAUS company grade air representative. “We're blending the traditional elements of officer professional development with fresh perspectives from industry partners while creating opportunities to connect across the 54."
Garrett, along with Capt. Ryan Peterson, the association’s company grade army representative, is providing three days of development sessions for NGAUS junior officers focused around one theme: Changing Times: Defining the Guard’s Next Chapter.
Peterson and Garrett serve on the NGAUS board and also lead the NGAUS CGO Committee. The committee includes the directors, and an Army and Air representative from the association’s six areas. Peterson serves as the chair of the committee’s education subcommittee.
For this year’s conference, the National Guard Bureau has authorized each state, territory and the District of Columbia to fund participation for a small number of officers during the conference. Gen. Thomas M. Carden, the NGB vice chief, signed the memo in early-June before NGB sent it to all relevant joint force headquarters.
Peterson anticipates the NGB leadership will address the CGOs during their OPD as they have done at recent conferences.
Parts of the agenda were shaped by input from the AARs from 2025 conference participants. Another new session will be a networking breakout and a former CGO panel discussion on lessons learned.
In response to increased demand from warrant officers for more WO-relevant content, there will be a senior warrant officer panel featuring Army National Guard leadership addressing best practices on working with your warrants.
Peterson said 90% of the agenda is set for Indy.
The conference will open with the Company Grade/Warrant Officer Mixer on Friday, Aug. 28, at Victory Field, home of the Indianapolis Indians, the AAA-affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates. The CGOs will gather at the Corona Premier Pavilion. A fireworks show will begin minutes after the last out.
The first OPD takes place on Saturday, Aug. 29, from 9 to 10:30, in Sagamore Ballroom 4 inside the Indiana Convention Center. CGOs will be given time to attend their area caucuses that morning.
Afterwards, participants should visit the opening of the tradeshow before going to the First Business/Professional Development Session in Hall F from noon to 5 p.m. Here, attendees will hear from senior leaders including Gen. Steve Nordhaus, the chief of the National Guard Bureau.
That evening, CGOs will join all conference attendees at the States Dinner inside the ICC. A no-host cocktail reception starts at 6:30 p.m., then guests will sit down for the evening’s festivities at 7:30.
This year, the States Dinner will take place on Saturday, with the Governor’s Farewell scheduled at the end of the conference on Aug. 31. This is a flip-flop from recent years.
The Second Business/Professional Development session starts in Hall F at 8 a.m., on Sunday, Aug. 30, and runs until noon.
The CGOs will return to their ballroom to start their second session from 1 to 4:15 p.m. The Army and Air side will breakout from 1 to 2:30 p.m. to hold elections and cover branch-specific topics.
All conference attendees are invited to participate in Hospitality Night that evening.
On Monday, Aug. 31, CGOs will attend the Army and Air separate sessions from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m., followed by the Third Business/Professional Development Session from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The CGO/OPD third session runs from 2 to 4:30 p.m. After a short break, junior officers will gather at the Indiana State Museum with all conference goers for the Governor’s Farewell Reception, starting at 6 p.m.
Learn more about this year’s conference here.
—By Richard Arnold
