In response to the Secretary of the Air Force’s directive and response to Great Power Competition, the reintroduction of Warrant Officer ranks in the Air Force has become a critical initiative for enhancing operational capability and personnel management. Adapting rank structures is critical to ensuring operational readiness and efficiency in today’s evolving military environment. This presentation, “Project Benchmarking: Reintegrating Air Force Warrant Officer Ranks to Enhance Force Capability,” explores the comprehensive methodologies and strategic planning behind the Air Force’s Warrant Officer Re-Integration Project. It will focus on how project management, stakeholder engagement, and data-driven decision-making were leveraged to successfully reintroduce Warrant Officer ranks and meet the demands of a modern military force by leveraging strategic portfolio management (SPM) practices and framework.
Participants will gain insights into the full spectrum of challenges and solutions encountered throughout the project, including navigating complex regulatory requirements, securing cross-functional collaboration, and balancing strategic objectives with practical execution. Through real-world examples, attendees will learn how to approach large-scale organizational change projects and apply key strategies to drive transformation.
Presentation Learning Objectives:
- Understand Strategic Project Leadership:
- Gain an understanding of how strategic leadership principles can be applied to military projects. You will explore how Mr. Groff led the Warrant Officer Project from conceptualization to execution, developing a robust framework that aligned with the Secretary of the Air Force’s directives.
- Identify Key Challenges and Solutions in Rank Re-integration:
- Learn about the key challenges Mr. Groff faced during the re-integration of Warrant Officers, including regulatory compliance, coordination across multiple Air Force commands, and integrating new rank structures into existing systems like MilPDS and DJMS.
- Hear about the solutions devised to ensure timely, efficient execution while balancing strategic goals with the technical complexity of reintroducing Warrant Officers into the Air Force.
- Explore Best Practices for Stakeholder Engagement and Collaboration:
- Discover how early and continuous stakeholder engagement played a vital role in the success of the project. Mr. Groff’s efforts in securing buy-in from high-ranking officials and leading cross-functional teams across divisions such as AETC, AU, AFPC, and A2/6 will be highlighted as key factors for success.
- Analyze Real-World Case Studies:
- Review the Warrant Officer Project as a case study of successful large-scale project management in the Air Force, focusing on how Mr. Groff developed an Integrated Master Schedule and project tracking system using ServiceNow’s SaaS SPM/SPM to ensure compliance and efficient execution.
- Understand how comprehensive portfolio assessments across 80+ HR systems informed the prioritization of IT capabilities and improved organizational efficiency.
- Develop a Strategic Action Plan for Complex Organizational Change:
- Learn how to create a strategic roadmap for similar large-scale organizational change initiatives, incorporating lessons from Mr. Groff’s experience leading the Warrant Officer Project.
- Explore strategies for ensuring that complex projects meet regulatory and operational goals while maintaining flexibility for evolving requirements.
Presenter Bio:
Jonathan Groff is the Senior IT Portfolio Management Integrator and SaaS Platform Executive Sponsor for HAF/A1, where he leads the strategic modernization of critical systems for the U.S. Air Force. With a focus on aligning technology initiatives with mission objectives, Jon has a proven track record of driving innovation and optimization in complex IT environments. His experience in Systems Engineering and Technical Assistance (SETA) further enhances his ability to deliver impactful results. He is also actively involved in the Civil Air Patrol (CAP), where his mentoring and leadership contribute to future leaders’ development. His unique combination of technical expertise and a commitment to service positions him as a trusted authority on organizational transformation and project management.
Speaker will be briefing remotely with video option available via Zoom
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Zoom Meeting Room opens up at 11:30 am
Opening Chapter Remarks – Starts at 11:45 am
Mr. Groff’s Presentation w/ Q&A to follow – NLT 11:50 am