Association offers officer development courses Published Jan. 7, 2009 ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- Twice a year the Reserve Officers Association and Headquarters Air Force Reserve Command work together to provide professional development opportunities for reserve officers. The first program takes place in conjunction with the ROA Mid-Winter Conference and Reserve Component Expo Feb. 1-4 in Washington, D.C. About 150 to 200 officers typically attend the Reserve Component Joint Officer Professional Development Seminar. The RCJOPDS offers junior officers a chance to hear and meet senior officers and learn from their perspectives. In conjunction with the same conference, Air Force majors and lieutenant colonels can attend the Air Force Leadership Today and Tomorrow program. Like RCJOPDS, field grade officers will have the opportunity to hear from high profile speakers. This year's featured speaker is Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Other speakers will include Lt. Gen. Charles E. Stenner, chief of Air Force Reserve and AFRC commander; Maj. Gen. James W. Graves, assistant to the chairman of the JCS for reserve matters; and other senior officers and members of Congress as well as a senior NCO panel from all the components. Junior officers who are unable to attend the February event can apply for the ROA seminar in July in Orlando, Fla. All attendees must go through their chain of command and obtain approval from their respective wing commanders. More information is available by going online to ROA Web site at www.roa.org/midwinter or by contacting Dave Small of the ROA at (202) 646-7719 dsmall@roa.org or by contacting Mickey Crawford of Headquarters AFRC at Mickey.crawford@afrc.af.mil