Travis AFB hosts TEDxTravisAFB event

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Alexander Merchak
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs

TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif.— Eight Team Travis Airmen presented briefings covering a multitude of subjects at the base theater, Oct. 24, 2022. The theme for the event was, “Igniting the Cross-Functional Airman of 2032.”


Topics included a wide spectrum of professional development focus areas highlighting U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown, Jr.’s “Action Orders” to “Accelerate Change or Lose.”


As part of the planning for the event, each presenter also received the opportunity to hone in on their communication skills. During the planning process, members received personalized training to develop a professional presentation which included one-on-one discussions to refine presentations, rehearsals and speech coaching.


“These speakers have gone through a long journey refining the ideas that they want to share with you.” said Col. Ryan Garlow, 60th Air Mobility Wing vice commander. “What I challenge you to do, is to go along on their journey.”


The event, led by U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Edward Todd, 60th Dental Squadron noncommissioned officer in charge of education and training, included eight topics, designed to inspire creative solutions for current and future challenges, both personally and professionally.


Todd explained that the idea to organize the event came years prior to being stationed at Travis AFB. While stationed at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, he was an audience member for a LIFTx summit (Leaders Inspiring for Tomorrow).


“In that moment, sitting in the audience listening to the amazing presenters, I thought I can do something like this,” said Todd.


As one of the presenters, Technical Sgt. Victoria Baldwin, 60th Medical Group commander’s support staff flight chief, shared her advice on how to adapt and overcome loss, both personally and professionally.


“Sometimes when you share what it is you’ve been dealing with, you might come to realize that you’re not as alone as you thought,” she said.


Baldwin shared her methods to practice adaptability and resiliency, even after suffering a devastating personal loss.


“I encourage you to seek connection and share what’s in your path, because sometimes that can help you find a way around it,” she said. “I hope you look back on what you survived and what you learned from it.”


Col. Steven Richardson, 60th Air Mobility Wing chaplain, also presented during the event. He shared his experiences while deployed to Afghanistan, and how he overcame uncertainty and inspired others. He used his experiences to highlight finding a purpose.


“What do you do when you feel like your life doesn’t have a purpose?” asked Richardson. “Even if you don’t see the results, you got to put forth the passion to the purpose.”


Col. Derek Salmi, 60th Air Mobility Wing commander, closed the event with a call for innovation.


“We need to take the thoughts, ideas, passion, focus, action, and drive that forward,” said Col. Derek Salmi, 60th Air Mobility Wing commander. “We have heard that the clock is ticking. Make it matter. Our nation counts on us and Team Travis counts on us.”


To view the event in its entirety, visit here