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Maj. Gen. Craig N. Gourley, Air Force Reserve Command vice commander, speaks to a class at the AFRC?Professional Development Center. The PDC?is seeking accreditation to become a premier Center of Excellence.
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Center of Excellence: Professional Development Center seeking accreditation
Posted 9/27/2012 Updated 9/28/2012
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from Staff Reports
Headquarters Air Force Reserve Command
9/27/2012 - Citizen Airman/Oct. 2012 -- Over the years, the Air Force Reserve Command Professional Development Center has established a strong reputation for providing world-class leadership and training opportunities for the command's more than 70,000 officer and enlisted Reservists.
Through its various courses, the PDC schoolhouse teaches newly appointed squadron, group and wing commanders what they need know to be successful in their new assignments. In addition, it's a place where members of the enlisted corps learn theories and concepts of leadership and management to be the very best they can be.
With that reputation solidly in place, the PDC is embarking on a plan to formally solidify its position as an Air Force Reserve premiere Center of Excellence. The goal is to work in collaboration and partnership with key Air Force agencies, the Department of Defense and other accreditation bodies to become an accredited institution. With a professional and seasoned faculty, facilitators and support staff, accreditation will establish the PDC as a higher learning institute positioned and primed to meet AFRC's shifting needs.
"Our leadership strongly believes in our impact and capability to teach the future of this command," said Col. James Kerr, chief of the PDC. "The strategic plan is to be the one source for Reserve-centric education and professional development focusing on all levels of leadership and management. The mission is to provide a continuum of educational opportunities to develop 21st century Air Force Airmen and leaders."
Kerr said the PDC has a staff that is passionate about taking care of Airmen from "cradle to grave." As the center's chief, it is his responsibility to make sure the organization grows, develops and matures in preparation for this new credential.
In addition to pursuing accreditation, the PDC is also in the beginning stages of developing an Air Force Reserve Leadership Academy.
Kerr said the goal of the Leadership Academy will be to develop personnel skills and capabilities to produce well-prepared, capable managers and leaders to fulfill the Air Force Reserve's evolving mission. It will provide an active approach to promoting operational readiness through leadership and team efficiency.
"We are really good at orientations, but when you talk about building a Leadership Academy, we have a lot of work to do; but we are ready," Kerr said. "This is an exciting time for the PDC and for the future of our Airmen.
"The vision is to establish a system of training and development activities focused on team building, effective self-development, communication methods, change management techniques, resource procurement processes and individual assessment measurement tools," he said. "Rather than simply being a one-time training session, the Leadership Academy will build upon existing Air Education and Training Command career progression modules, providing access to leadership training on development tracks.
"In short, AFRC's Professional Development Center has begun navigating a vision to become a 'premiere Center of Excellence' providing a world-class academic and training experience," the colonel said.
For more information on the PDC, visit the center's site on the Air Force Portal (https://afkm.wpafb.af.mil/community/views/home.aspx?Filter=OO-ED-RC-17) or "like" the center's Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Professional DevelopmentCenterpdc?ref=ts.
(Information for this article provided by Mickey McGalliard, program manager for junior officer courses at the PDC.) |
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