Outstanding Program held with Ohio Women in Defense and Aerospace Law Panel at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force

Members and guests joined the Ohio Women's Bar Association for lunch and an Ohio Women in Defense and Aerospace Law Panel Session on September 29 at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force.  Wright-Patterson Air Force Base is the largest single site employer in the State of Ohio with an economic impact of $4.2 billion per year. The event highlighted government, civilian, active duty, and private sector attorneys, their legal careers in defense and aerospace, and how their work impacts the mission of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.  
     Panelists included Ms. Suzanne Sumner, Partner, Government Contracts Group at Taft Law; Ms. Alana Kitchen, Deputy Chief, Labor and Employment Law Division, 88th Air Base Wing, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio; Ms. Stephanie Burris, Acquisition Attorney, Headquarters Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio; Maj. Kristin Carl, Department of the Air Force's Environmental Law and Litigation Division, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, Ms. Juli McCammon, Chief of Information Law and the Magistrate Court Program, 88th Air Base Wing, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio and moderator, Ms. Sabra Tomb, Attorney-Advisor, Air Force Research Laboratory.
     Ms. Tomb noted that according to a July 2021 Defense Manpower Data Center report, women make up only about 20% of the active duty population in the military. Only about 27% of the DoD civilian workforce are women, with a meager 7% holding senior executive service (SES) positions. She went on to explain that according to a 2021 American Bar Association survey, women make up about 37% of lawyers in the United States. Although the number of women attorneys has risen in recent years (from 33% in 2011 to 37% in 2021), only about 23% of women in law hold partner level positions in law firms. Women attorneys will earn significantly less than their male counterparts. According to a 2018 Forbes article, "Female Lawyers Face Widespread Gender Bias, According to New Study", male partners in law firms earn 44% more than female partners. 
     One question as of the panelists was if working in male dominated fields like the military and/or defense and aerospace sector and the law, had affected their career choices or their day-to-day behaviors or career developments.
    With the interest in the panel, OWBA is looking at offering the panel discussion again virtually.  More information to follow.

Thank you to our sponsors: Waite, Tomb & Eberly, Faruki, Taft and the Greater Ohio Valley Women in Defense.

OWBA is excited to offer a two-part online program led by nationally recognized coach and trainer, Jamie Martin. Registration is open to members, friends and future members and each registration is transferable and both sessions will be recorded in case you can make one but not the other.

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You used to know what you wanted in life. You had it all laid out for yourself. Your plan! Your vision! You were going to rock this thing called life because you had it figured out. Lately, you’ve noticed that has changed. You feel like you are suspended in space questioning all the plans you laid out for yourself. Asking yourself: Do I really want that promotion? Job? Go back to school? Or should I do something else instead? Join us online on October 27 and learn some simple solutions so you can clear the clouds and let your imagination run wild.

How to Make Time for Your Goals Even if You're Drowning in To-Dos
     Time is the most important resource we have… but many people find themselves strapped for it. We end up overwhelmed and exhausted with nothing left to give to our own goals. It doesn’t have to be that way. Join us online on October 29 to learn some simple solutions so you can find the time and the energy to go after YOUR goals.

For more information or to register, click here.