Leadership Connect ‘kicks-off’ and is ‘flying high’ on its launch

Published Oct. 19, 2021
By HNCC Leadership Connect

NORWICH, England --

"Leadership Connect," a unique leadership development program, officially launched on Oct. 6 with a group of United States Air Force participants selected from each of the U.K.-based wings.

Set to run across the U.K.’s academic year, the program is designed to bring together highly respected community leaders from a variety of backgrounds in East Anglia to share their unique insights into leadership with the class members.

Developed by the U.S. Country Representative and the Host Nation Coordination Cell, Leadership Connect is a first for the United Kingdom.

“This program is really exciting! It provides the class members with a unique, once-in-a lifetime opportunity to discuss personal leadership techniques with U.K. leaders who have excelled in their field,” Col. Jason Camilletti, 48^th Fighter Wing Commander and U.S. Country Representative. “This program broadens the perspective of the class members and enhances their leadership toolkit, and I can’t wait to see how this interaction will expand our teams’ leadership skills across all of our wings.

Class members are field grade officers, senior non-commissioned officers and their civilian counterparts, but to enhance partnerships, the 2021-2022 program welcomes a RAF officer from RAF Honington and a Suffolk Fire and Rescue Area Manager that will share in this experience along the U.S. Air Force class members.

The program will visit a variety of organizations to meet with a wide range of leaders, with one visit per month until the graduation ceremony, slated for May 2022. Local government, academia, emergency services, business, sport and non-profit organizations feature in the schedule to ensure a varied approach, with broad perspectives and opinions on leadership.

Connect Day 1 saw Leadership Connect visit Premier League soccer team Norwich City Football Club and the East Anglian Air Ambulance.

NCFC’s state-of-the-art training facility provided the backdrop for the inaugural visit where Stuart Webber, the Sporting Director and his Assistant, Neil Adams, talked to the group about leadership in this fast-paced, and highly scrutinized environment. Following the session, Webber said; “It was an honour and a privilege for us to welcome the guys from the U.S. Air Force to the Lotus Training Center last week. We found it very beneficial discussing and sharing some of our practices around behavior and culture.”

EAAA’s recently opened headquarters provided the location for the remainder of Connect Day 1. Chief Executive, Matthew Jones took center stage alongside Sarah Atkins, Director of People and Culture, to communicate their leadership vision from a non-profit organization’s perspective. With a 24/7 life-saving mission, the EAAA team are in a constant state of readiness.