President’s Message (D-30)
Joint NNOA/ANSO Symposium
29 July-2 August 2024
Norfolk, Va

Greetings Fellow Members and Supporters!

We are less than a month away from our second-ever Joint National Naval Officers Association (NNOA) & Association of Naval Services Officers (ANSO) Professional Development and Leadership Training Symposium. This partnership builds on our highly successful first joint event, held over a decade ago, and reinforces our longstanding relationship. We remain more relevant than ever to the success of our U.S. Sea Services, and we are honored to collaborate with like-minded organizations like ANSO. With the hard work and support of our members, partners, and sponsors, our efforts in the recruitment, retention, and career development of a more diverse and effective total force make a positive impact on unifying and strengthening our nation daily.

This year’s theme is “Advancing Leaders: Connected, Committed, and Ready to Fight for Our Future.” Our primary objectives are to educate, inspire, engage, and elevate current and future leaders by learning from our past to better prepare for success in the future. You will hear more about those four words (Educate, Inspire, Engage, and Elevate) in the upcoming weeks and during the Symposium. However, in the meantime, please focus on a few other action items that are important to the long-term health and wellness of our 52-year-old all-volunteer organization. First, please visit our website at www.NNOA.org to register for the Symposium, if you haven’t already done so. You can also use the same link to reserve a room at Norfolk Waterside Marriott. For your awareness, our blocked room reservations close on 8 July, so please act now if you require lodging. Second, be prepared to participate in our electoral process by nominating candidates for our Board of Directors and voting during the conference. Additional details and guidance are available via our website. Third, invite at least two non-NNOA members to attend our Symposium. We all know officers who will benefit from the coaching, mentoring, and networking that we provide across all communities, so please invite them so that they can learn more about who we are and what we do. Lastly, please be prepared to serve, or continue serving, in leadership positions at the national and chapter levels. We have accomplished a lot and there is a lot more to be done, so let’s keep pressing!

We are stronger together!

Cedric E. Pringle
RDML (Retired) USN
25^th President